The Health Foundation
Charity Number: 286967
Contact Info
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £40 million
- Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
- Decision Time: Varies by programme (2-6 months typical)
- Grant Range: £20,000 - £500,000+ (programme dependent)
- Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
Contact Details
- Website: www.health.org.uk
- Email: info@health.org.uk
- Phone: 020 7257 8000
- Application Portal: All applications must be submitted via The Health Foundation applicant portal on their website
Overview
Established in 1998 with one of the largest charitable donations in UK history (£560 million), The Health Foundation is the second largest endowed foundation in the UK focusing on health. With an endowment now exceeding £1 billion, the foundation maintains complete independence and spends approximately £40 million annually improving health and healthcare. Led by CEO Dr Jennifer Dixon DBE (appointed Dame in 2024 for services to the NHS and public health), the foundation has funded over 150 external research projects in the last five years. Their renewed strategy for 2023-25 focuses on three core priorities: improving people's health and reducing inequalities, supporting radical innovation and improvement in health and care services, and providing evidence and analysis to improve health and care policy.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
- Q Exchange: Up to £40,000 for health improvement projects (community-voted funding, currently under review for 2025)
- Supporting Q Connections: Up to £20,000 for collaborative activities (rolling applications)
- Research Projects: Various amounts up to £500,000+ for policy analysis and health research
- Improvement Projects: £75,000 to £500,000 for scaling successful interventions
- Tech for Better Care: £2 million innovation programme for technology-enabled care
- Harkness Fellowships: 12-month fellowships in the United States for health policy leaders
- Invitation to Tender: Specific commissioned work (amounts vary by project)
Priority Areas
- Health inequalities reduction and addressing social determinants of health
- Healthcare system improvement and innovation
- Data analytics and digital health technology
- Public health policy research and analysis
- Quality improvement in primary, secondary, and social care
- Young people's mental health and emotional support
- Violence prevention and intervention programmes
- Health policy leadership development
What They Don't Fund
While specific exclusions are not publicly listed, all funded work must align with The Health Foundation's charitable objectives of building a healthier UK, improving healthcare systems, and addressing health inequalities. Projects must demonstrate clear relevance to UK health policy or practice.
Governance and Leadership
CEO: Dr Jennifer Dixon DBE, appointed 2013. Originally trained in medicine, holds Master's in public health and PhD in health services research. Former CEO of Nuffield Trust (2008-2013) and policy advisor to NHS Chief Executive (1998-2000). Awarded damehood in January 2024 for services to NHS and public health.
The foundation is governed by an independent Board of Governors responsible for strategic direction and overall governance. Recent appointments (2024) include Ravi Gurumurthy (CEO of Nesta), Professor Dawn Edge (University of Manchester), and Katie Blacklock (Edmond de Rothschild Suisse). Governors serve initial five-year terms with possible four-year reappointment.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
All applications must be completed via The Health Foundation's online applicant portal unless otherwise specified. Application criteria vary between programmes, requiring careful review of specific programme guidelines.
Decision Timeline
- Q Exchange: 6-month process from idea submission to funding announcement (March submission to July announcement)
- Research Projects: Typically 3-6 months from submission to decision
- Harkness Fellowships: Annual cycle with applications typically due November 1st
- Invitations to Tender: Specific timelines provided (example: 3-month process from tender to contract award)
Success Rates
Success rates are not publicly disclosed and likely vary significantly by programme type and funding stream.
Reapplication Policy
Specific reapplication policies are not publicly documented and may vary by programme. Applicants are encouraged to contact programme teams directly for guidance on reapplication possibilities.
Application Success Factors
Based on successful funded projects, The Health Foundation favours applications that:
- Demonstrate measurable impact: Successful projects show clear metrics for both health outcomes and, where applicable, cost savings. Example: University Hospital of North Staffordshire's heart failure clinic achieved 37% increase in same-day discharges with £3.2m annual savings.
- Address system-level challenges: Projects that work “across system boundaries” and tackle complex healthcare delivery problems are prioritized.
- Show innovation with evidence base: Tech for Better Care projects explore technology solutions while maintaining rigorous evaluation frameworks.
- Focus on health inequalities: All successful applications demonstrate consideration of equity and inclusion in their approach.
- Build on existing relationships: Q Exchange success requires Q community membership and peer support through the voting process.
- Align with strategic priorities: Current focus areas include reducing waiting times, supporting care at home, and strengthening health policy evidence base.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Join the Q community first if interested in Q Exchange funding - community membership and peer support are essential for success
- Emphasize both quality improvement and cost effectiveness - many successful projects demonstrate dual benefits
- Show clear UK health system relevance - applications must demonstrate direct applicability to UK healthcare challenges
- Consider multi-stage application processes - many programmes involve initial expressions of interest followed by full proposals
- Highlight collaborative approaches - projects working across organizational and sector boundaries are favoured
- Demonstrate measurement capabilities - successful applicants show robust evaluation and learning frameworks
- Align timing carefully - some programmes like Q Exchange have specific annual cycles, while others offer rolling submissions
Similar Funders
These funders frequently fund the same charities:
- British Heart Foundation
- The Nuffield Foundation
- Wellbeing Of Women
- The Michael And Anna Wix Charitable Trust
- Dudley And Geoffrey Cox Charitable Trust
- The Loseley Christian Trust
- Stelios Philanthropic Foundation
- The Tompkins Foundation
- The Cole Charitable Trust
- Edith Murphy Foundation
References
- The Health Foundation website (https://www.health.org.uk/) -
- “Health Foundation funding and opportunities in 2025” - The Health Foundation feature article
- "Jennifer Dixon recognised in King's New Year Honours List" - The Health Foundation news, January 2024
- “2023 annual report and financial statements” - The Health Foundation publication
- “Eight case studies that show you can improve quality while also saving money” - The Health Foundation newsletter feature
- “Q Exchange: collaborative grant funding” - Q Community website
- “The Health Foundation appoints three new governors” - The Health Foundation news, 2024
- “How the Health Foundation is funded” - The Health Foundation governance information