The Hiscox Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,250,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Quarterly trustee meetings
• Grant Range: £25,000 - £100,000
• 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 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 Programmes

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

• Standard Grants: £25,000 - £100,000
• 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: Application windows open periodically with proactive selection. The Foundation announces when applications are being accepted.

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
• Organisations 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 publicised on the Foundation's website, reflecting the Foundation's preference for quiet, impactful philanthropy rather than high-profile giving.

The Foundation emphasises 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.”

How to Apply to The Hiscox Foundation

How to Apply

Application Method: Applications are submitted through an online form on the Hiscox Group website during designated application windows. The Foundation takes a proactive approach and does not accept unsolicited funding proposals outside of these 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
• 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 emphasises measurable impact within these focused areas.

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

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

Employee Connection: Organisations 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 children, teenagers, parents and carers
• 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 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: Organisations 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 emphasises “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.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• National Lottery
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund
• National Highways
• The Dulverton Trust
• The Orr Mackintosh Foundation Limited
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust
• The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust
• P F Charitable Trust
• The Chalk Cliff Trust
• The D'oyly Carte Charitable Trust
• Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
• The Mackintosh Foundation
• Baron Davenport's Charity
• The Zochonis Charitable Trust
• The Britford Bridge Trust
• The Simon Gibson Charitable Trust
• Heritage Lottery Fund
• Environment Agency
• Shropshire Wildlife Trust

References

• The Hiscox Foundation UK official page: https://www.hiscoxgroup.com/hiscox-foundation-uk
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 327635: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/327635
• Hiscox Group Communities page: https://www.hiscoxgroup.com/responsibility/social-responsibility/communities
• Charity Commission Financial Returns for year ending 5 April 2024 showing income of £1,700,784 and charitable expenditure of £1,250,000