The Fidelity Uk Foundation

Charity Number: 327899

Annual Expenditure: £13.8M
Throughout England And Wales, Scotland

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £15.56m (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only process)
  • Decision Time: 4 weeks for concept note; variable for full application
  • Grant Range: £10,000 minimum (regional funds: £5,000-£20,000)
  • Geographic Focus: UK (national/regional reach organizations)

Contact Details

Website: www.fidelityukfoundation.com / filfoundations.fidelityinternational.com

Email: foundation@fil.com

Phone: 01732 777364

Address: Beech Gate, Millfield Lane, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 6RP, UK

Overview

Established in 1988, the Fidelity UK Foundation (Charity Number 327899) is an independent grant-making foundation proudly supported by Fidelity International. With annual charitable expenditure of £15.56 million (2024), the Foundation strengthens the capacity of UK-focused non-profit organisations to enhance their impact, sustainability, and efficiency. Led by Chief Executive Lenka Setkova since 2019, the Foundation has significantly expanded its reach, more than doubling the number of charities it supports. The Foundation focuses on organisations with annual budgets over £1 million and most have regional or national reach. It operates an invitation-only application process, proactively identifying organisations through research and insights from funders with shared interests.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme (invitation-only)

  • Minimum grant: £10,000 (should not be a significant part of annual operating budget)
  • Focus: Capacity-building grants for organizations with budgets over £1m
  • Application: Invitation-only, rolling basis throughout the year

Regional Community Development Funds

  • Kent & Surrey: £5,000-£20,000
  • Administered through local community foundations
  • Open to small/mid-sized registered charities
  • Focus: Capital and infrastructure projects

Priority Areas

The Foundation has four priority programme areas:

  1. Enabling disadvantaged children and young people to achieve their potential
  2. Health and wellbeing
  3. Arts, culture and heritage
  4. Environmental conservation

Types of Projects Funded

  • Capital Improvements: Large-scale projects central to overall growth and sustainability (new construction, renovations, expansions, equipment)
  • Technology Projects: High-impact technology initiatives that substantially increase efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability
  • Organisational Development: Projects establishing new, transformational strategic paths (achieving scale efficiencies, franchise models, mergers)
  • Planning Initiatives: Expert/external consultants for strategic, business, technology and other planning
  • Field-building organisations: Capacity-building programmes benefiting multiple charities in priority areas

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly listed, the Foundation:

  • Does not accept unsolicited proposals
  • Focuses on organisations with annual budgets over £1m (except for regional funds)
  • Supports registered charities and organisations of charitable status under England and Wales law
  • Expects grants to strengthen long-term capacity rather than provide general operating support

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive: Lenka Setkova

The Foundation has a small dedicated team led by Lenka Setkova, who was appointed Chief Executive in August 2019. Commenting on her appointment, Setkova stated: "Fidelity International's foundations have made significant strides under my predecessor in expanding their reach from eight countries to 20 and more than doubling the amount of charities they support over the past seven years. The objective of the foundations is to support strategic initiatives that strengthen the impact and sustainability of charitable organisations."

Trustees are actively involved in grant-making decisions. Specific trustee names can be accessed through the Charity Commission register.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Invitation-Only Process:

The Foundation does not seek unsolicited proposals. The team proactively identifies organisations through:

  • Research and due diligence
  • Insights from funders with shared interests
  • Insights from organisations they support

Two-Stage Process:

  • Timeline varies based on due diligence requirements
  • Highly interactive with ongoing communication

Regional Funds: Applications to Kent and Surrey community development funds follow separate processes through local community foundations.

Decision Timeline

  • Concept Note Response: 4 weeks
  • Full Application: Variable timeline
  • Grants considered on a rolling basis throughout the year
  • Several factors influence timeline
  • Foundation team communicates anticipated timelines throughout
  • Site visits conducted where possible before grant approval

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The invitation-only model means organisations are pre-screened for alignment before being invited to apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified. Given the invitation-only approach, organisations interested in reapplying would need to remain engaged with the Foundation's network and potentially reconnect through shared funder relationships.

Application Success Factors

Due Diligence Focus Areas

The Foundation evaluates organisations holistically:

  • Leadership and governance
  • Impact measurement and results
  • Strategic plans and vision
  • Community engagement (how they engage with communities served)
  • Approach to collaboration
  • Operations and financial management
  • Potential for capacity enhancement

Project Examples

Funding for All (Kent): Received grant to develop their Salesforce CRM platform to streamline processes through automated administration, target services effectively, and capture qualitative/quantitative data for new efficiency levels.

Strategic Positioning

  • Focus on capacity-building rather than project funding
  • Emphasis on long-term sustainability and impact
  • Preference for organisations demonstrating potential for transformational change
  • Interest in efficiency gains through technology and strategic planning
  • Support for field-building that benefits multiple organisations

Language and Terminology

The Foundation uses terms like:

  • “Strengthen the capacity”
  • “Enhance impact, sustainability and/or efficiency”
  • “Transformational strategic path”
  • “Scale efficiencies”
  • “Long-term impact”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only means relationship-building is crucial - Connect with funders in their network, ensure your organisation is visible to foundations with shared interests
  • Size matters - Target organisations have budgets over £1m and regional/national reach; smaller organisations should explore regional fund options (£5k-£20k in Kent/Surrey)
  • Capacity-building, not projects - Frame proposals around strengthening organisational effectiveness, not just delivering programmes
  • Think transformational - The Foundation seeks investments that fundamentally strengthen organisations (technology systems, strategic planning, mergers, scaling)
  • Demonstrate robust governance - Strong leadership, financial management, and strategic planning are essential screening criteria
  • Be patient and collaborative - The process is highly interactive with variable timelines; expect thorough due diligence including potential site visits
  • Efficiency and sustainability are key - Show how the investment will create lasting improvements in how your organisation operates

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References