The Generations Foundation

Charity Number: 1110565

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £167,081 (FY 2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: UK (particularly Borough of Merton) and international (India, Sri Lanka, Romania, Madagascar, Paraguay, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa)

Contact Details

Website: www.generationsct.co.uk

Phone: 020 8946 7760

Email: generationstrust@mail.com

Application Process: Applicants are encouraged to contact the foundation by email first to gauge if their request for funding is likely to be successful before submitting a full application.

Overview

The Generations Foundation was established in 2005 by the Finch family to provide a better quality of life for children who need it most—those living with disability, disadvantaged circumstances, or struggling with ill health. With an annual expenditure of £167,081 (financial year ending April 2024) and total income of £228,226, the foundation operates with three trustees and two volunteers. The foundation has a deliberately broad charitable mandate, believing that “charity should not be confined to an overly narrow range of issues.” Their projects span several continents and support children in an ever-growing variety of ways, from building schools for blind and disabled children in Gujarat to supporting extremely poor communities in Ghana through sport and education.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grant-making program with no fixed deadlines. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Application Method:

  • Initial email contact to generationstrust@mail.com recommended before formal application
  • Application forms available for download in PDF and Word formats on the Contact page
  • Rolling basis—no fixed deadlines

Priority Areas

The Generations Foundation funds projects across the following themes:

Children & Youth Support:

  • Supporting disabled children
  • Helping disadvantaged children
  • Children struggling with ill health
  • Improving teenage mental health
  • Reducing gang membership
  • Providing access to role models and mentoring
  • Supporting families in need

International Development:

  • Education access (particularly secondary education in rural areas)
  • Healthcare (eye care, cleft surgery, clubfoot treatment, palliative care)
  • Community infrastructure (water, solar panels, school buildings)
  • Sports and leadership academies
  • Teacher training

UK Projects (particularly Borough of Merton):

  • Family support services
  • Youth mental health
  • Support for care leavers transitioning to independent living
  • Marine conservation

Environmental Conservation:

  • Environmental protection for future generations
  • Habitat conservation
  • Marine mammal conservation

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. Applicants should contact the foundation to discuss eligibility.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Bob Finch (Co-founder and Trustee)

  • Over 30 years' experience in the oil industry
  • Private investor and co-founder of Talis Capital and Finch Investments
  • Passionate about improving the quality of life of disadvantaged and disabled children around the world
  • Quote: "Improving the quality of life of disadvantaged and disabled children around the world is one of Bob's biggest passions, rivaled only by his love of sport."

Rohini Finch (Co-founder and Trustee)

  • Business woman with almost 25 years' experience in investment and trading
  • MBA from London Business School
  • Worked for Texaco UK, Neste OY, and Vitol SA
  • Board member of UK charities focused on helping disenfranchised people
  • Trustee of World Land Trust
  • Involved in land conservation efforts

Stephen Finch (Trustee)

  • Partner at international law firm Locke Lord
  • Member of firm's Executive Board
  • Over 30 years' experience as a banking and finance lawyer
  • Previously worked as in-house counsel for Lloyds Bank and Citicorp

The foundation is funded by Bob and Rohini Finch, with all three trustees providing governance oversight. The foundation has no paid staff and operates with two volunteers.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Initial Contact: Email generationstrust@mail.com to discuss your project and gauge if your request for funding is likely to be successful
  2. Application Forms: If encouraged to proceed, download the application form from the Contact page (available in PDF or Word format)
  3. Submit: Complete and return the application form via email

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Applicants should inquire about expected timeframes during initial email contact.

Success Rates

Success rates and application volumes are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly documented. Applicants should inquire about reapplication policies during initial contact.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and funded projects, successful applications likely demonstrate:

1. Focus on Children's Welfare

The foundation's core mission centers on children who are disabled, disadvantaged, or struggling with ill health. Applications should clearly articulate the impact on children's quality of life.

2. Alignment with Broad Charitable Philosophy

The trustees explicitly state they "don't believe charity should be confined to an overly narrow range of issues." The foundation values diverse approaches to improving children's lives, from education and healthcare to sports and conservation.

3. Follow-Through and Sustainability

The trustees have asked: “My only question would be what is the follow through with the kids?” This suggests they value projects with clear plans for sustained impact beyond initial intervention.

4. Practical Solutions to Real Needs

The foundation identifies itself as providing “practical solutions and resources” to “real needs.” Applications should demonstrate tangible, actionable approaches rather than theoretical or research-focused projects.

5. Geographic Connection or Strategic Fit

The foundation supports projects in specific geographies: the Borough of Merton (where the trustees live) and certain international locations (India, Sri Lanka, Romania, Madagascar, Paraguay, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa). Projects in these areas may have an advantage.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects:

  • British Red Cross (Beirut, India, Ukraine)
  • Home-Start Merton (family support)
  • Jigsaw4u (tenancy support for care leavers)
  • Regenerate (youth mentoring in Roehampton)
  • Momentum Children's Charity (supporting children with cancer)
  • STEM4 (teenage mental health)
  • Right to Dream (sports and education academy in Ghana)
  • Second Sight (addressing curable blindness in India)
  • CURE Clubfoot India
  • Malawi Schools Trust
  • Prodigal Bikes (bicycle distribution in Kenya and Malawi)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Make initial email contact before submitting a full application to save time and increase chances of success
  • Emphasize child-focused impact, particularly for disabled, disadvantaged, or ill children
  • Demonstrate practical, tangible solutions with clear follow-through plans
  • Consider geographic alignment: projects in Merton or the foundation's established international locations (India, Sri Lanka, Romania, Madagascar, Paraguay, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa) may align better
  • Embrace diverse approaches: the foundation values variety in charitable work and is not confined to narrow issues
  • Show sustainability: trustees care about long-term impact, not just immediate intervention
  • Leverage multi-faceted approaches: projects combining education, healthcare, sports, or conservation may resonate with the trustees' diverse interests

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