The Frances And Augustus Newman Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £361,090 (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Unknown
• Grant Range: £50,000 - £250,000 (based on known grants)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (primarily England and Wales)

Contact Details

• Website: None
• Phone: 01908 687800
• Email: sharon.monteith@rsmuk.com
• Address: RSM, The Pinnacle, 170 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 1BP

Overview

The Frances and Augustus Newman Foundation is a UK charitable trust established in 1979 with total funds of £17.97 million as of March 2024. The foundation makes strategic grants to support medical research and medically related charitable endeavors, with a particular focus on advancing health and saving lives. Operating through trustee discretion rather than public applications, the foundation has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to supporting major research institutions including the University of Cambridge, where they funded the Sir Rodney Sweetnam Laboratory for Micro and Nanoscale Biomedical Science. The foundation's conservative spending approach (distributing approximately 2.7% of assets annually) focuses on substantial, strategic grants rather than numerous smaller awards.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Research Infrastructure Grants: £250,000 (capital funding for laboratory facilities and equipment)
• Next Generation Fellowships: £50,000 per year for up to 5 years (supporting early career researchers)
• Research Project Grants: £100,000+ (multi-year research projects at universities)

Priority Areas

• Medical research and biomedical sciences
• Early career researcher development
• University research infrastructure
• Neurodegenerative disease research
• Protein research and microfluidics
• Health advancement and life-saving innovations

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, based on their grant history they appear not to fund:

• Individual medical treatment
• General appeals
• Non-medical charitable causes
• Small community organizations
• Projects outside the UK

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• David Ian Staveley Sweetnam FRCS - Chairman (appointed 2012)
• John Llewellyn Williams CBE FRCS FDSRCS
• The Lord Hugh Rathcavan
• Stephen Robert Cannon FRCS

The foundation has strong connections to the medical profession, particularly orthopaedic surgery. The late Sir David Rodney Sweetnam (1927-2013), former chairman, was a renowned orthopaedic surgeon, President of the Royal College of Surgeons (1995), and orthopaedic surgeon to HM The Queen.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and established institutional relationships. The foundation identifies and approaches organizations they wish to support rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's grant history and trustee backgrounds:

• Excellence in medical research at major UK universities
• Building relationships through the medical and surgical professional networks (Royal College of Surgeons connections)
• Demonstrating innovative approaches to biomedical research
• The foundation has shown particular interest in Cambridge University projects, suggesting established institutional partnerships may be key

Decision Timeline

Unknown - decisions appear to be made at trustee meetings without public timelines

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation only funding

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's known grants and trustee backgrounds:

• Strong institutional credibility (all known recipients are major universities)
• Focus on translational medical research with clear patient benefit potential
• Projects that honor the medical legacy of the foundation's leaders
• Infrastructure projects that create lasting research capabilities
• Support for the next generation of medical researchers
• Connection to surgical or orthopaedic specialties may be advantageous given trustee expertise

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only funder with no public application process - do not submit unsolicited proposals
• Focus on building institutional relationships and research excellence to get on their radar
• The foundation makes substantial, strategic grants (£50,000-£250,000) rather than small awards
• Strong preference for major research universities with established track records
• Medical professionals on the board suggest networking through Royal College of Surgeons and similar bodies may be valuable
• With £17.97 million in assets but only £361,090 annual spending, there may be capacity for increased giving to the right projects
• Consider approaches through universities that have existing relationships (particularly Cambridge)

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Masonic Charitable Foundation
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• THE HEALTH FOUNDATION
• The Grace Trust
• The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation
• MOONDANCE FOUNDATION
• Rosetrees Trust
• The Dunhill Medical Trust (Vivensa Foundation)
• PROJECT GIVING BACK
• P F Charitable Trust
• ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH UK
• The True Colours Trust
• THE BRIDGE TRUST
• THE SHEARS FOUNDATION
• THE ANNANDALE CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Adint Charitable Trust
• TRANSFORMING LIVES
• FRONTIERS
• THE LINDER FOUNDATION
• GLOBAL REACH

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales - The Frances and Augustus Newman Foundation (Charity Number: 277964).
• Charity Commission Annual Return 2024 - Financial statements for year ending 31 March 2024
• University of Cambridge Department of Chemistry - Next Generation Fellowship program announcement and recipients (2006-2015)
• University of Cambridge News - “New laboratory celebrates legacy of Sir Rodney Sweetnam” (2017)
• King's College London Research Grants Database - Newman Foundation grant record (2003-2006)
• Royal College of Surgeons biographical records - Sir David Rodney Sweetnam (1927-2013)