The Hilden Charitable Fund

Charity Number: 232591

Annual Expenditure: £0.8M

Geographic Focus: Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £750,000 (approximately £400,000 for UK programmes)
Success Rate: 12.5% (approximately 100 grants awarded from around 800 applications)
Decision Time: 12-14 weeks (by end of November for August deadline)
Grant Range: £5,000 - £7,000 per year
Grant Duration: Up to 2 years
Geographic Focus: UK-wide (preference for outside Greater London); overseas only in Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda

Contact Details

Website: www.hildencharitablefund.org.uk

Email: admin@hildencharitablefund.org

Phone: 020 7603 1525

Address: c/o 20 Dawes Road, London, SW6 7EN

Key Personnel:

Director: Ciaran Rafferty
Consultant Assessor: Gilly Green

Overview

The Hilden Charitable Fund was established in 1963 by Joan and Tony Rampton as an endowed grant-making foundation. Registered charity number 232591, the Fund awards approximately £750,000 annually in grants to smaller charitable organisations. The Fund's mission is to address disadvantage by supporting causes which are unlikely to raise funds from public subscriptions or statutory sources. With approximately £400,000 dedicated to UK programmes, the Fund focuses on asylum seekers and refugees, and penal affairs, providing both unrestricted and project funding. The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising Rampton family members and independent trustees, including Chair Prof Ben Rampton, Bandi Mbubi, Dan Rodeck, and Elizabeth Rodeck. The Fund is committed to the IVAR Open and Trusting Initiative to make fund-seeking clearer and less bureaucratic for applicants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

UK Programmes (approximately £400,000 available)

Asylum Seekers and Refugees: £5,000 - £7,000 per year for up to 2 years
Organisations providing essential services
Projects helping meet needs of asylum seekers and refugees
Support for participation within the wider community

Penal Affairs: £5,000 - £7,000 per year for up to 2 years
“Through the door” work in prisons (especially for women prisoners)
Projects helping prisoners cope and maintain family bonds
Post-release projects supporting positive resettlement
Programmes reducing likelihood of reoffending

Overseas Programme (approximately 15 grants annually from total £750,000)

Limited to projects in Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda
Preference for organisations physically based in those countries and run by local people
Grant amounts: £5,000 - £7,000 per year

Application Method: Fixed deadline system with online applications only. Applications open annually in July and close in August, with decisions by end of November.

Priority Areas

Small UK-based charitable organisations (annual income no more than £200,000)
Social justice and tackling disadvantage
Organisations with lived experience representation on boards/staff teams
Clear track record and expertise in delivering services
Organisations with less than 50% of annual income held in free unrestricted reserves
Organisations based outside Greater London (if demand is high)
Full-cost recovery applications welcomed (typically 15-20% of total request)

What They Don't Fund

Individuals
Community Interest Companies
Religious promotion or political organizations
Medical research
Statutory services or residential care
Employment agencies or job-search projects
Individual bursaries or scholarships
Migrants (focus is specifically on asylum seekers and refugees)
Well-funded national charities
Organisations with annual income over £200,000
Projects outside UK (unless in Malawi, Tanzania, or Uganda)
Organisations that received two-year funding in the previous funding round
Applications outside of specified open periods

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

Prof Ben Rampton (Chair)
Bandi Mbubi
Dan Rodeck
Elizabeth Rodeck
Additional Rampton family members

Staff:

Ciaran Rafferty, Director
Gilly Green, Consultant Assessor

The Board comprises Rampton family members and independent trustees. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. All applications are considered by the Trustees, who make final funding decisions. The Fund is committed to the IVAR Open and Trusting Initiative, demonstrating their commitment to making the application process clearer and less bureaucratic.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Submit Before Deadline: Do not leave submission until last minute due to potential technical difficulties
Confirmation: Automated email confirmation sent upon successful submission

Eligible Organisation Types:

Registered Charity
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Charitable Company
Excepted Charity

Governance Requirements:

Must have at least 4 unrelated trustees
Demonstrate good governance and financial management
Show organisational solvency

Decision Timeline

UK Programmes Typical Timeline:

Applications open: Mid-July
Deadline: Late August
Assessment period: September - November (may include telephone/Zoom interview)
Decisions communicated: End of November
First year grant payment: December (for successful applicants)
Total time from submission to decision: Approximately 12-14 weeks

Note: Applications reopen annually. The Fund only accepts applications during specified open periods.

Success Rates

Applications received: Approximately 800 per funding round
Grants awarded: Approximately 100 annually (85 UK, 15 overseas)
Success rate: 12.5%
Available UK funding: Approximately £400,000

The Fund explicitly acknowledges that “it is more difficult than ever to secure funding and that we will receive more applications than we can fund” due to their limited budget.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants:

Can reapply in subsequent funding rounds
No waiting period required between applications
Feedback available upon request: “If your application is declined we can provide feedback if you wish – just get in touch”

Previously funded organisations:

Organisations that received one-year grants may reapply
Organisations that received two-year funding must wait until their funding period is complete
Organisations with overdue reports are ineligible until reports are submitted

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

On AI-Generated Applications:

The Fund has issued a strong warning: "Many funders are seeing an increase in AI-generated applications and in many cases this is not giving groups the best chance of success. These applications are often generic, do not present the true voice of the charity, and do not highlight the unique strengths of your organisation. It's crucial that we hear your unique voice, so please ensure your application is specific to your organisation and its work and conveys your story or approach."

Application Quality:

"Resist making a 'might as well' application"
Keep answers concise and respect word limits
Use plain language and avoid jargon
Ensure close fit with the Fund's priorities
Demonstrate clear track record in proposed work

Key Prioritization Factors

Lived Experience: “Priority given to organisations which either have a significant number of people on their boards and/or staff team who have lived experience of the issues they are addressing, or have robust systems in place for people with lived experience to be able to shape the services provided”

Track Record and Expertise: “Organisations which have a clear track record and/or expertise in delivering the services you wish us to support. In some cases a recognised qualification or quality mark may be required (eg for formal advice services; or delivery of ESOL)”

Financial Position: Organisations holding less than 50% of annual income in free unrestricted reserves

Geographic Location: If demand is high, may prioritise organisations based outside Greater London “as they typically have less access to potential funding”

Qualifications: For certain services (formal advice services, ESOL delivery), recognised qualifications or quality marks required

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Authentic voice: Applications that genuinely convey the organisation's unique story and approach
Lived experience integration: Clear demonstration of how lived experience shapes services
Specific expertise: Evidence of qualifications, track record, or quality marks relevant to the work
Financial sustainability: Demonstrates appropriate reserve levels and sound financial management
Strong governance: At least 4 unrelated trustees with clear decision-making structures
Full-cost recovery: Inclusion of appropriate overhead costs (15-20%) shows financial maturity
Strategic fit: Clear alignment with specific priority areas (not a general “might as well” application)

Application Interview Process

The Fund may wish to speak with applicants by telephone or Zoom as part of the assessment process. This is an opportunity to:

Clarify aspects of the application
Discuss the organisation's work in more depth
Demonstrate expertise and passion for the cause

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Authenticity is Critical: Avoid AI-generated or generic applications. The Fund explicitly prioritizes hearing your unique organizational voice and approach. Generic applications significantly reduce your chances of success.

Lived Experience Matters Most: Organizations with significant lived experience representation on boards/staff teams, or robust systems for lived experience to shape services, receive priority. Make this a central part of your application if applicable.

Be Strategic, Not Speculative: The Fund explicitly warns against “might as well” applications. Only apply if you have a strong, clear fit with their specific priorities (asylum seekers/refugees or penal affairs). With a 12.5% success rate, strategic alignment is essential.

Financial Positioning Counts: Demonstrate appropriate reserve levels (less than 50% of annual income), include full-cost recovery (15-20% overheads), and show sound financial management. These signals of financial maturity are valued.

Location May Give an Edge: If based outside Greater London, mention this, as the Fund prioritizes geographic diversity when demand is high, recognizing that organizations outside London typically have less access to funding.

Track Record and Expertise Required: The Fund requires clear evidence of track record and expertise. For certain services (formal advice, ESOL), recognised qualifications or quality marks are mandatory. Don't apply if you can't demonstrate established capability.

Plan for Long Assessment: With 12-14 weeks from submission to decision, plan your cash flow accordingly. However, successful applicants receive payment in December, providing year-end funding if awarded.