The Hiscox Foundation

Charity Number: 327635

Annual Expenditure: £1.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,250,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Quarterly trustee meetings; decisions communicated by December for current round
  • Grant Range: £25,000 - £100,000 (based on recent examples)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide with preference for areas within 25 miles of Hiscox offices (5 miles for London)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.hiscoxgroup.com/hiscox-foundation-uk

Phone: 020 7645 5299

Email: Not publicly available

Note: The Foundation operates a proactive approach and does not accept unsolicited funding proposals.

Overview

Established in 1987, The Hiscox Foundation is funded by annual donations from Hiscox Group. With an annual giving of approximately £1.25 million (2024), the Foundation focuses on three strategic pillars: social mobility and entrepreneurship, environmental protection, and employee-championed causes. The Foundation takes a distinctive proactive approach to grant-making, hand-picking charity partners rather than accepting open applications. The Board of Trustees meets quarterly to review funding requests, preferring organisations with annual income under £10 million that are located within commutable distance of Hiscox offices and offer opportunities for employee volunteering and direct engagement beyond financial support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates through a selective, proactive grant-making model:

  • Standard Grants: £25,000 - £100,000 (based on recent examples)
  • Employee Matched Funding: Variable amounts, typically matching employee fundraising efforts
  • Multi-Year Partnerships: Available only to hand-picked charities; no unsolicited applications accepted

Application Method: Closed application windows with proactive selection. The current window is closed; next opening will be announced in May 2026.

Priority Areas

Social Mobility & Entrepreneurship: Programmes encouraging disadvantaged or vulnerable groups into work or training, supporting pathways to employment and economic independence.

Environmental Protection: Projects improving the environment in communities where Hiscox operates, focusing on climate resilience, biodiversity enhancement, and environmental education.

Employee-Championed Causes: Charities selected by Hiscox employees receive matched funding, particularly where employees have direct involvement and volunteering opportunities exist.

What They Don't Fund

  • Scholarship programmes
  • Event sponsorship
  • New business start-up funding
  • Carbon offset schemes
  • Organizations with religious or political bias
  • Funding requests from other charitable foundations
  • Funding requests exceeding 10% of a charity's annual income
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Governance and Leadership

The Hiscox Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising seven individuals who receive no remuneration for their service. The Board meets quarterly to review all funding requests, ensuring alignment with the Foundation's three strategic pillars. Specific trustee names are recorded with the Charity Commission but not prominently publicized on the Foundation's website, reflecting the Foundation's preference for quiet, impactful philanthropy rather than high-profile giving.

The Foundation emphasizes that “preference will be given to organisations that are very local to a Hiscox office, and where there may be opportunities for collaboration beyond funding, for example volunteering opportunities which would allow Hiscox more direct engagement and/or a chance to share specific expertise.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: Application window closed. Next opening to be announced in May 2026.

Application Method: When open, applications are submitted through an online form on the Hiscox Group website. The Foundation takes a proactive approach and does not accept unsolicited funding proposals outside of designated application windows.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Registered charity with at least one year of financial accounts
  • Annual income under £10 million preferred
  • Geographic proximity to Hiscox offices (within 25 miles of regional offices, 5 miles of London office)
  • Funding request must be below 10% of charity's annual income

Decision Timeline

  • Board of Trustees meets quarterly to review applications
  • Decisions communicated following board meetings
  • Current application round: Successful applicants will be contacted no later than December 2025
  • Unsuccessful applicants receive no communication

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation's proactive, selective approach suggests they work with a carefully curated pool of applicants rather than processing high volumes of applications.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants must wait 24 months before reapplying to the Foundation.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Funding Pillars: Applications must clearly align with at least one of the three strategic pillars. The Foundation emphasizes measurable impact within these focused areas.

Geographic Proximity: Being within commutable distance of a Hiscox office significantly increases chances, particularly if the organization can offer volunteering or skills-sharing opportunities for Hiscox employees.

Appropriate Organization Size: The Foundation explicitly states interest in charities with annual income under £10 million, suggesting they prefer supporting smaller to mid-sized organizations where their funding makes meaningful impact.

Employee Connection: Organizations that Hiscox employees are already passionate about or involved with have a distinct advantage, as employee engagement is a core pillar of the Foundation's strategy.

Beyond-Grant Opportunities: The Foundation values “collaboration beyond funding,” seeking partnerships where Hiscox can contribute expertise, volunteering, and direct engagement alongside financial support.

Recent Funded Projects

  • Action for Children: £100,000 donation supporting 387,000 children, teenagers, parents and carers annually
  • The Trussell Trust: £50,000 supporting food banks across locations near Hiscox UK offices
  • St Helena Hospice: £50,000 donation (Essex-based, near Hiscox office)
  • Andy's Man Club: £25,000+ (matched funding with employee fundraising) for men's suicide prevention
  • The Dust Project: £75,000+ over multi-year programme supporting disadvantaged children in Sri Lanka
  • Country Trust: Support for 'Climate Action Farm in a Box' scheme delivering 1,000 kits to 620 schools, benefiting 26,000 children

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic strategy is crucial: Location near a Hiscox office (London, York, or regional locations) significantly improves prospects. If you're not nearby, don't waste time applying.
  • Proactive model means limited access: This Foundation selects partners rather than responding to open calls. Building relationships with Hiscox employees or getting on their radar through other means may be more effective than waiting for application windows.
  • Employee engagement is a differentiator: Organizations that can offer volunteering opportunities or have existing employee champions within Hiscox have substantial advantages.
  • Size matters: Being a smaller to mid-sized charity (under £10 million annual income) positions you within their sweet spot for impact and engagement.
  • Two-year lockout on reapplication: With limited opportunities and mandatory 24-month waiting periods, unsuccessful applicants face significant time delays. Make every application count.
  • Focus on measurable outcomes: The Foundation emphasizes “meaningful, measurable criteria” within their three pillars. Applications should include clear KPIs and impact metrics.
  • Multi-faceted value proposition: Position your charity as offering value beyond grant receipt—volunteering opportunities, skills-sharing possibilities, and employee engagement channels strengthen applications considerably.

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