The Graham Kirkham Foundation

Charity Number: 1002390

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £252,219 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: £2,000 - £20,000
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Address:

Andrew Varnam

The Graham Kirkham Foundation

8 Ebor Court

Redhouse Interchange

Adwick-le-Street

Doncaster

South Yorkshire

DN6 7FE

Phone: 01302 573301

Website: None

Overview

The Graham Kirkham Foundation was registered as a charity on 28 March 1991 (charity number 1002390). Founded by Lord Graham Kirkham, the billionaire founder of DFS Furniture, the foundation operates as a private grant-making trust throughout England and Wales. For the financial year ending 31 July 2023, the foundation had total income of £282,533 and total expenditure of £252,219. The foundation's stated charitable purpose is “to advance any charitable purpose for the benefit of the public as the trustees see fit,” allowing for broad discretion in grant-making across multiple sectors. The foundation awards approximately 10 grants annually to UK registered charities and voluntary organisations, typically ranging from £4,000 to £5,000, with some larger grants up to £20,000. Lord Kirkham, who sold DFS for £500 million in 2010, allocated grants totaling £455,000 in 1998/99, including £225,000 to cancer research at Bradford University. He was granted the Freedom of the City of Doncaster in May 2024 in recognition of his business contributions and philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single discretionary grant program with no specific deadlines or funding rounds. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

  • Discretionary Grants: £2,000 - £20,000 (most grants £4,000 - £5,000)
  • Application Method: Written applications accepted at any time (rolling basis)

Priority Areas

The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable causes including:

  • Education: Advancement of education for persons at any age and advancement of physical education of young people at school or university
  • Arts and Culture: Promotion or development of the study and/or appreciation of literature, art, music or science
  • Health and Social Care: Provision of support and protection to those dependent upon or in danger of becoming dependent on drugs; relief of illness and disease through providing treatment, financial assistance and accommodation
  • Poverty Relief: Relief of poverty and hardship by providing financial assistance and accommodation for affected persons and their dependants; promotion of the well-being of persons connected to the Armed Services
  • Animal Welfare: Relief of the suffering of birds and animals through support of rescue homes, hospitals, sanctuaries and similar organisations
  • Heritage and Recreation: Protection and preservation of buildings of architectural interest or sites of historical interest or natural beauty; providing facilities for public recreation

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not specify explicit exclusions in publicly available materials. However, as the foundation awards only approximately 10 grants annually from a limited pool of funds, competition is significant.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The foundation is governed by three family trustees:

  • Lord Kirkham - Founder and trustee; Deputy Patron and board member of Outward Bound; Chairman of Trustees for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE); actively involved with The Animal Health Trust and The Blue Cross
  • Lady Pauline Kirkham - Trustee
  • The Honourable Michael Kirkham - Trustee

No trustees receive remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. All three trustees are family members, indicating this is a private family foundation.

Secretary: Andy Varnam (appointed 12 January 2011)

Lord Kirkham was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2001 Birthday Honours for services to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and the Outward Bound Trust, and Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2021 Birthday Honours, demonstrating his long-standing commitment to youth development and outdoor education.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation does not have a website or online application portal. Applications must be submitted in writing to the foundation's registered address:

Written applications should be sent to:

Andrew Varnam

The Graham Kirkham Foundation

8 Ebor Court

Redhouse Interchange

Adwick-le-Street

Doncaster

South Yorkshire

DN6 7FE

Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year on a rolling basis. The foundation does not publish specific application requirements or guidelines, but applicants should clearly outline:

  • Organisation details and charitable registration number
  • Project or need requiring funding
  • Amount requested (within the £2,000 - £20,000 range)
  • Expected outcomes and beneficiaries
  • Budget breakdown

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publicly disclose its decision-making timeline. As trustees meet at their discretion to review applications on a rolling basis, response times may vary. Applicants should allow adequate time for review given that the foundation awards only approximately 10 grants per year.

Success Rates

Specific data on the number of applications received versus grants awarded is not publicly available. However, with only approximately 10 grants awarded annually, competition for funding is likely to be significant.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish a specific reapplication policy. Unsuccessful applicants should contact the foundation directly to inquire about reapplication procedures or waiting periods.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited publicly available information about the foundation's grant-making criteria and past awards, the following factors are likely to increase application success based on the trustees' known interests and charitable priorities:

Alignment with Trustee Interests:

  • Projects related to youth development, outdoor education, or character building may resonate given Lord Kirkham's leadership roles with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Outward Bound Trust
  • Animal welfare initiatives may be well-received given Lord Kirkham's involvement with The Animal Health Trust and The Blue Cross
  • Projects in South Yorkshire, particularly the Doncaster area where the foundation is based and where Lord Kirkham built his business, may receive favourable consideration

Strong Charitable Impact:

  • Clear demonstration of public benefit
  • Well-defined project outcomes and beneficiaries
  • Evidence of need for the proposed work
  • Realistic budget and project timeline

Organisational Credibility:

  • Registered UK charity or voluntary organisation
  • Strong governance and financial management
  • Track record of delivering charitable outcomes

Application Quality:

  • Concise, well-written proposal
  • Clear alignment with the foundation's broad charitable purposes
  • Specific funding request within the typical range (£2,000 - £20,000)
  • Demonstration of how the grant will make a tangible difference

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Small, selective program: With only ~10 grants awarded annually from total expenditure of ~£252,000, this is a highly selective funder. Only apply if your project strongly aligns with the foundation's priorities.
  • Trustee-driven decision making: As a private family foundation with three family trustees, grant decisions are likely influenced by the personal interests and charitable priorities of Lord and Lady Kirkham and their son.
  • Focus on trustee connections: Given Lord Kirkham's leadership roles, projects involving youth development, outdoor education, animal welfare, or the Doncaster/South Yorkshire region may be prioritised.
  • No formal process: Without a website, published guidelines, or application forms, the process is informal. Well-crafted written applications demonstrating clear need and impact are essential.
  • Broad charitable remit: The foundation's purpose allows trustees wide discretion across education, health, arts, heritage, animal welfare, and poverty relief - but this breadth doesn't guarantee success given limited funding.
  • Rolling applications: Applications can be submitted at any time, allowing flexibility for applicants but providing no predictable decision timeline.
  • Historical giving patterns: Past grants include a major £225,000 gift to Bradford University for cancer research, indicating the foundation is capable of larger awards for projects that particularly resonate with trustees.

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