The Helvellyn Foundation

Charity Number: 1190948

Annual Expenditure: £0.8M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??824,140 (financial year ending April 2024)
  • Total Grants to Date: ??2,765,603 (as of grant history update)
  • Decision Time: Not specified (proactive approach)
  • Grant Range: ??10,000 - ??125,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK and international, with emphasis on developing countries most impacted by climate change
  • Approach: Proactive funding - no open applications

Contact Details

  • Website: www.thehelvellynfoundation.com
  • Email: hello@thehelvellynfoundation.com
  • Phone: 0161 818 2947
  • Tell Us About You Form: Available on website (takes a few minutes to complete)

Overview

The Helvellyn Foundation was founded in March 2020 by Bill Holmes and his daughters Lauren and Becky Holmes during the pandemic. It is an independent family foundation funded directly from Bill Holmes' personal wealth (estimated ??399 million), generated from his global financial services company founded near Crewe, Cheshire over 30 years ago. The foundation operates with a clear vision: “to live in a world where nature is thriving and everyone cares for it.” With total grants distributed of ??2,765,603 and annual charitable expenditure of ??824,140, the foundation has evolved from an initial dual focus on education and biodiversity to solely biodiversity funding from August 2023. The foundation is a proud Conservation Evidence Champion Funder and member of the Environmental Funders Network. Their approach is characterized by relationship-based philanthropy, unrestricted funding, and minimal bureaucracy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

From August 2023, the foundation focuses exclusively on biodiversity under 7 Core Themes:

  1. Advocacy and Policy Change - Supporting organizations that influence environmental policy
  2. Business and the Natural World - Connecting corporate sector with conservation
  3. Awareness & Behaviour Change - Education and public engagement
  4. Frontline Community Engagement - Supporting communities directly involved in conservation
  5. Species At Risk - Protecting endangered species
  6. Landscape Level Conservation - Large-scale habitat protection and restoration
  7. Data Collection & Analysis - Evidence-based conservation

Grant Amounts:

  • Small grants: ??10,000 - ??25,000
  • Medium grants: ??25,000 - ??50,000
  • Large grants: ??50,000 - ??125,000
  • Typically multi-year commitments (2-3 years)
  • All funding is unrestricted

Application Method: Proactive only - the foundation conducts its own research and reaches out to organizations. However, organizations can complete a short “Tell Us About You” form on their website (50% of partnerships discovered this way).

Priority Areas

  • Biodiversity conservation and protection
  • Wildlife conservation, particularly species at risk
  • Projects engaging young people in conservation
  • Organizations working in developing countries most impacted by climate change
  • Evidence-based conservation approaches
  • Collaborative organizations working with partners
  • Frontline conservation work

What They Don't Fund

  • The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications
  • Focus is solely on biodiversity (education funding ceased August 2023)
  • No longer making grants under their previous WILD Programme
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Bill Holmes (Founder & Chair)

  • Founder and Chairman of a global financial services company
  • Established company near Crewe, Cheshire over 30 years ago
  • Provides all funding directly from personal wealth
  • Also offers business mentoring support to beneficiaries
  • Focus: Local community projects and nature conservation

Lauren Holmes (Co-Founder & Trustee)

  • Professional background in secondary school Spanish teaching, youth employability programs, and data & impact roles in social mobility
  • MBA from Barcelona (strategy, marketing, and ethics)
  • Current roles: Youth Insights Programme Coordinator at Solutions for the Planet; Deal Manager at Daring Capital
  • Steering Group member of Northern Philanthropy Network
  • Manages daily operations of the foundation alongside Becky

Becky Holmes (Co-Founder & Trustee)

  • Head of Conservation at Langland Conservation
  • BSc in Ecology & Wildlife Conservation; BA in Graphic & Communication Design
  • Advisory Group member for Environmental Funders Network
  • Specialist knowledge in illegal wildlife trafficking, poaching, and rewilding
  • Manages daily operations of the foundation alongside Lauren

Key Quotes from Leadership

On their funding philosophy: "We don't want to have a barrier between us as the funders and the charities."

On their proactive approach: "We're the ones who should be putting the work in... By the time they approach these charities, they're almost certain they will fund them."

On getting started: "If you care, just do it. Giving doesn't require a full foundation."

Their guiding principle: “If not me, then who? If not now, then when?”

On privilege: The sisters aim to “acknowledge their privilege and use it constructively” to be “changemakers.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Helvellyn Foundation does NOT accept unsolicited applications. Instead:

  • Networking and events in the biodiversity sector
  • Desk-based research on conservation organizations
  • Conversations with sector experts
  • Environmental Funders Network membership
  • Their own professional networks
  1. “Tell Us About You” Form: Organizations can complete a quick form (2 minutes) on the foundation's website sharing basic information. Half of their funded partnerships were discovered through this form.
  • Collaboration with partner organizations
  • CEO/leadership experience
  • Engagement with young people
  • Use of evidence-based approaches
  • Track record and impact
  1. Introductory Call: When interested, the foundation conducts a 45-minute introductory call
  1. Grant Offer: If aligned, the foundation makes a grant offer (almost certain by this stage)

Decision Timeline

  • Timeline not specified publicly
  • Process is streamlined compared to traditional applications
  • By the time they approach an organization, funding is nearly certain
  • Minimal paperwork required

Success Rates

Not applicable in traditional sense - the foundation approaches organizations after thorough research, making funding nearly certain once contacted. The foundation's model deliberately avoids the high rejection rates typical of open application processes.

Monitoring and Reporting

  • Periodic catch-up calls instead of formal annual reports
  • Focus on relationship building and open communication
  • Minimal bureaucratic requirements
  • Organizations trusted to use unrestricted funds as they see fit

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates on a proactive model and typically provides multi-year grants.

Application Success Factors

How to Get Discovered

  1. Complete the “Tell Us About You” form on their website - this is the most direct route (50% success rate for partnerships)
  1. Demonstrate evidence-based approaches - The foundation requires organizations to show they use evidence in their conservation work
  1. Show collaboration - Working with partners is a key evaluation criterion
  1. Engage young people - Projects involving youth education or engagement score highly
  1. Be active in networks - The foundation discovers partners through the Environmental Funders Network and sector events
  1. Have experienced leadership - CEO experience is part of their evaluation matrix
  1. Focus on developing countries - Priority given to organizations working where climate impact is greatest

What Makes Applications Strong

Since applications aren't required, organizations should focus on:

  • Building a strong track record in biodiversity conservation
  • Being visible at sector events and networks
  • Publishing evidence of impact and effectiveness
  • Demonstrating collaborative approach with other organizations
  • Clear mission alignment with biodiversity and nature thriving
  • Youth engagement in conservation work

Foundation's Advice

From Lauren and Becky Holmes:

  • “Stay adaptable” - learned from pandemic response
  • “Be dynamic and innovative in responding to changing circumstances”
  • “Encourage honest feedback and reflection”
  • “Facilitate knowledge sharing across nonprofit networks”
  • Organizations should focus on their expertise; the foundation will trust them with unrestricted funds

Recent Funding Examples

Organizations funded include:

  • African Wildlife Foundation
  • RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)
  • Bumblebee Conservation Trust
  • Marine Conservation Society
  • Chengeta Wildlife
  • Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
  • SHARK Trust
  • The Prince's Trust
  • Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust

What Doesn't Work

  • Lengthy, formal applications (not accepted)
  • Projects outside biodiversity focus (since August 2023)
  • Organizations not using evidence-based approaches
  • Lack of collaboration with other partners

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Don't apply directly - Complete the short “Tell Us About You” form on their website instead. This has led to 50% of their funded partnerships.
  1. Focus on evidence - Demonstrate that your organization uses evidence-based conservation approaches. This is a non-negotiable requirement.
  1. Build sector visibility - Attend Environmental Funders Network events, conservation conferences, and network within the biodiversity sector.
  1. Emphasize collaboration - Highlight partnerships and collaborative projects in your organizational profile.
  1. Unrestricted funding model - If approached, you'll receive unrestricted funding with minimal reporting requirements. The foundation trusts expert organizations to deploy funds effectively.
  1. Youth engagement matters - Projects involving young people in conservation work score highly in their evaluation matrix.
  1. Relationship over bureaucracy - Expect 45-minute calls and ongoing relationship building rather than lengthy reports and applications. The foundation values open communication and honesty.
  1. Multi-year commitment - Grants are typically 2-3 years, with the foundation increasing grants by 10% during the 2022 cost of living crisis.
  1. Geographic priority - While UK-based, the foundation prioritizes work in developing countries most impacted by climate change.
  1. Non-financial support available - Beyond funding, the foundation offers business mentoring (from Bill Holmes), references, webinar opportunities, and funding advice to partners.

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References