The Happold Foundation

Charity Number: 1050814

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M
Geographic Focus: Germany, India, Poland, United States, Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £264,125 (expenditure year ending April 2025)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: £30,000 - £90,000 (three-year grants)
  • Geographic Focus: National (UK), with international work in human development

Contact Details

Website: www.happoldfoundation.org

Email: rhea.kilgour@burohappold.com

Phone: 020 7927 9700

Charity Number: 1050814

Overview

The Happold Foundation was established in 1995 by Ted Happold and founding partners of BuroHappold Engineering, with “the firm belief that engineering firms have a responsibility beyond their professional practice.” Celebrating over 30 years of operation, the Foundation is a charity dedicated to using engineering skills and experience to make a positive impact on people's lives. With total income of £368,512 and annual expenditure of £264,125 (year ending April 2025), the Foundation works with students, educators, engineers, and researchers to shape a community committed to improving the performance of the built environment. The Foundation is generously funded through the partners of Buro Happold and operates with 8 trustees and 20 volunteers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Organisational Grants: £30,000 per year for three years (total £90,000)

  • Core funding grant providing unrestricted support
  • Four grants available in 2025: three for Human Development organisations, one for Engineering Futures
  • Next application window: Q4 2026/Q1 2027 for 2027/28 financial year
  • Two-stage application process
  • Application deadline: 24 February 2025 (for current round)

Smaller Project Grants: £500 - £10,000

  • For specific projects in engineering for human development
  • Must demonstrate knowledge and learning focus
  • Fixed deadlines (check website for current availability)

Priority Areas

The Foundation operates across four key focus areas:

Human Development: Providing aid to people and communities at disadvantage, helping engineers and organisations access training and funds for humanitarian projects globally. Recent grantees include Renewable World (tackling poverty through renewable energy).

Futures (Engineering Education): Supporting organisations working in areas of education (Year 1-13) and the built environment, focusing on educational opportunities for children from all backgrounds with emphasis on overcoming inequality and embracing diversity. Recent grantees include Class of Your Own (education for young people ages 5-19).

Education: Scholarships and work experience opportunities for aspiring engineers ages 16-18, including Arkwright Scholarships (five students annually on two-year programmes), mentoring, and university life opportunities.

Thinking: Events and workshops addressing industry challenges, including City Conversations (free online events in partnership with ngenuity) and NRAC Inclusive Design Training sponsorship.

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects which are not primarily about knowledge and learning
  • Projects starting more than 12 months after submission
  • Projects unable to receive grants into UK bank accounts (international organisations without UK banking facilities)
  • Projects without clear clients or client support
  • Projects lacking clear dissemination plans or broader impact
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Governance and Leadership

Chair: Ian Maddocks (appointed May 2018)

A global director for building specialisms at BuroHappold Engineering with over 25 years' experience in the sector. Ian stated upon appointment: “I believe that by creating an environment in which we can discuss the issues that affect us all we can really make an impact on the places where people live.”

Board: 11 trustees including:

  • Ian Maddocks (Chair)
  • Lorraine Milne
  • Matthew Happold
  • Fergus Anderson (Engineering Futures lead)
  • Steve Williamson (Engineering Thinking programme lead)
  • Sarah Sachs, Patti Harburg-Patrich, Trevor Reynolds (ACE involvement)

Historical: Founded by Ted Happold in 1995 as 'The Happold Trust', with founding trustees Michael Dickson, Rod MacDonald, and David Reed (Financial Treasurer).

The Foundation also maintains an ambassador network across the UK and USA.

Leadership Quote: Ian Maddocks: “The Happold Foundation is generously funded through the partners of Buro Happold. I have always observed the benefits for our people in helping us define how we contribute to society and the planet. It aligns with our purpose, vision, and values, providing context for giving back to the societies they live and work in.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation operates a two-stage application process for Organisational Grants. Applications open periodically with specific deadlines announced on their website.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a not-for-profit organisation
  • Must be able to receive grants into UK bank accounts (mandatory requirement due to limitations on transferring money overseas)
  • Work must fall under Human Development or Futures focus areas
  • Projects must be primarily about knowledge and learning
  • Must start within 12 months of submission

Application Process:

  • Stage 1: Initial application (details vary by grant programme)
  • Stage 2: Full application (for shortlisted applicants)
  • Visit www.happoldfoundation.org/funding/ for current application forms and guidelines

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation announces successful grants periodically throughout the year.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. In 2025, four Organisational Grants are available from what is likely a competitive applicant pool.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. Contact the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's guidance documents and stated priorities, successful applications should demonstrate:

Clear Knowledge and Learning Focus: “Projects which are not primarily about knowledge and learning are unlikely to be funded.” Applications must clearly show how the project furthers knowledge and learning, and for whom.

Client Identification and Support: “It should be clear who the client(s) is/are, and where possible, evidence should be provided that the named clients are aware of and support the project.” Projects should provide clear potential to address the needs of the client(s) and/or others.

Leveraging Resources: “Projects that demonstrate they leverage additional resources or capacity using the Foundation contribution will be particularly well regarded.” Show how the grant will enable wider impact beyond the immediate funding.

Strategic Impact Over Direct Implementation: The Foundation prioritizes “providing targeted and strategically important funding to allow people and organisations to better understand and deliver technical and engineering interventions, which can include gathering evidence, undertaking research, running pilot or demonstration projects, testing new ideas, spreading good practice or providing critical expertise.”

Clear Budget Justification: Applications should clearly explain budget usage and demonstrate why grant funding is needed for the specified expenses.

Dissemination Plans: Include clear plans for disseminating project outputs and achieving broader impact beyond the immediate project.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

  • Renewable World: Tackling poverty through renewable energy
  • Class of Your Own: Education for young people ages 5-19
  • upReach: Supporting students from socio-economic backgrounds through undergraduate education and access to graduate jobs
  • Design Tech Truck: Mobile STEM workshop for Greater London schools
  • Teach the Future: Introducing climate emergency and climate justice to UK education
  • LA Promise Fund: Internship program for students showing promise in engineering and design

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • UK Banking Mandatory: Only organisations able to receive grants into UK bank accounts are eligible—this is non-negotiable due to overseas transfer limitations
  • Knowledge Focus Essential: Projects not primarily about knowledge and learning are unlikely to be funded; emphasize educational and capacity-building aspects
  • Three-Year Core Funding: The Organisational Grant provides unrestricted funding allowing maximum flexibility—£90,000 total over three years
  • Leverage Your Impact: Applications demonstrating how the Foundation's contribution will leverage additional resources or capacity are “particularly well regarded”
  • Competitive Process: Only four grants available in 2025 (three Human Development, one Engineering Futures) suggests high competition
  • Built Environment Connection: Strongest alignment for projects connecting engineering, education, and improving communities through the built environment
  • Plan Ahead: Applications close 24 February 2025 for current round; next window not until Q4 2026/Q1 2027

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References

Accessed: 27 December 2025