The James Tudor Foundation

Charity Number: 1105916

Annual Expenditure: £1.1M
Throughout England And Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Contact Info

Website:www.jamestudor.org.uk

Phone:0117 959 6496

Email:grants@jamestudor.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,045,000 (2024-25)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 10 working days for Expression of Interest; approximately 5-6 months for full application process
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £50,000
  • Typical Grant: £10,000 - £15,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK (national); South West England and South Wales for Hospice Care

Contact Details

Website: www.jamestudor.org.uk

Email: grants@jamestudor.org.uk

Phone: 0117 959 6496

The Foundation encourages applicants to contact them with questions about eligibility and suitability before applying.

Overview

The James Tudor Foundation was established in 2004 with an initial investment of £25 million, with a principal object of the relief of sickness. Over its first two decades, the Foundation has awarded close to 1,700 grants, distributing more than £19 million. As of September 2024, their investment portfolio was valued at £35.5 million. In April 2025, the Foundation underwent a significant strategic review, closing its Medical Research programme to focus on charities with direct and immediate impact, merging the Health Education and Relief of Sickness programmes into a single Physical Health programme, and launching a dedicated Mental Health programme. Laura Serratrice has served as Chief Executive since June 2023. The Foundation operates without geographic limitation for most programmes but solely through UK registered charities, with a specific geographical restriction for the Hospice Care programme.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Physical Health Programme (£1,000 - £50,000)

  • Supports UK-registered charities delivering health services in the UK
  • Funds service delivery staff including nurses, doctors, therapists, family support workers, helplines, and patient support
  • Generally offers one-year grants for costs related to service delivery, including staff costs
  • Prioritises costs related to enhancement of services but will also consider ongoing costs
  • Note: Vision support charities providing reablement services (independent living services, assistive technology, home visiting) are not eligible
  • Applications assessed through two-stage process with grant rounds in June and September

Mental Health Programme (£1,000 - £50,000)

  • Open only to charities with a specialist, single focus on addressing and preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
  • Charities providing some ACE support but not as sole focus are not eligible
  • Charities supporting through sport, leisure activities, mentoring, befriending, or peer support are not eligible
  • Applications assessed through two-stage process with grant rounds in June and September

Hospice Care Programme (£1,000 - £50,000)

  • Supports independent adult and children's hospices in South West England and South Wales only
  • Single-stage application process
  • Applications accepted once annually, opening in October 2025 with decisions made at March 2026 board meeting

International Programme

  • No longer open to applications; grants made at trustees' discretion only
  • Historical budget approximately £90,000 annually with grants typically around £5,000

Priority Areas

  • Service delivery staff costs (nurses, doctors, therapists, family support workers)
  • Helplines and patient support services
  • Information provision for patients and families
  • Enhancement of existing health services
  • Ongoing service costs for established programmes
  • Organisations prioritised if not holding high reserves (50% above charity's reserves target or policy)

What They Don't Fund

  • UK registered charities delivering services internationally
  • Charities with fewer than 5 years' audited or independently examined accounts
  • Charities with annual income exceeding £20 million
  • One-off activities already concluded (conferences, websites, training courses that have taken place)
  • Capital costs
  • Student bursaries
  • Direct replacement of statutory funding
  • Vision support charities providing reablement services (Physical Health programme)
  • Mental health charities that don't solely focus on ACEs (Mental Health programme)

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive: Laura Serratrice (appointed June 2023)

The Foundation is governed by a board of trustees who meet quarterly (March, June, September, December) to make grant decisions. Specific trustee names are available through Companies House (company number 05178537) and the Charity Commission register (charity number 1105916).

The Foundation undertook a strategic review in 2024-25, reflecting on the evolving needs of the health charity sector and challenges facing service delivery charities, particularly hospices. This resulted in the restructuring of programmes effective April 2025.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Physical Health and Mental Health Programmes (Two-stage process):

  • Complete online Eligibility Checker at jamestudor.org.uk
  • If eligible, submit brief Expression of Interest form (250 words maximum)
  • Foundation aims to respond within 10 working days
  • Submit as early as possible in the grant round
  • Invited applicants submit detailed Full Application through online portal
  • Applications considered at quarterly board meetings

Hospice Care Programme (Single-stage process):

  • Applications open once annually
  • Single application form submitted
  • Decisions made at March board meeting

Grant Round Schedule (2025)

June 2025 Round:

  • Expression of Interest: December 1, 2024 - January 31, 2025 (17:00hrs)
  • Full Application invitations sent: Week commencing March 31, 2025
  • Full Application deadline: May 2, 2025 (17:00hrs)
  • Board meeting: June 24, 2025
  • Outcomes announced: Week commencing June 23, 2025

September 2025 Round:

  • Board meeting: September 23, 2025
  • Outcomes announced: Week commencing September 22, 2025
  • Application timeline to be confirmed

Hospice Care 2025:

  • Applications open: October 2025
  • Board meeting: March 2026

Decision Timeline

  • Expression of Interest responses: 10 working days
  • Full application process: Approximately 4-5 months from full application deadline to decision
  • Total process from Expression of Interest to decision: Approximately 5-6 months

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. In 2024-25, the Foundation awarded 101 grants totaling £1,045,000. In 2022-23, they awarded 106 grants totaling over £816,000. The Foundation published 305 grants through 360Giving between December 2022 and June 2025.

Reapplication Policy

If the Foundation declines an Expression of Interest or Full Application, the organisation must wait until the corresponding grant round in the following year before reapplying.

Example: If declined for June 2024 grant round (at either stage), earliest reapplication is June 2025 grant round.

Organisations uncertain about previous application dates should contact the Foundation before applying.

Application Success Factors

Key Advice from the Foundation

  1. First-time applicants: Unlikely to receive more than £10,000, even though maximum grant is £50,000
  2. Reserve levels matter: Foundation prioritises organisations not holding high reserves (50% or more above their reserves target or policy)
  3. Service delivery focus: Strong preference for direct service costs, particularly staff delivering health services
  4. Contact before applying: Foundation encourages questions about eligibility and suitability before submitting applications
  5. Submit early: Expression of Interest should be submitted early in the grant round to allow adequate time for full application if invited
  6. Programme specificity: Ensure organisation meets specific programme criteria, particularly for Mental Health (ACE focus only) and Hospice Care (geographic restriction)

Standing Out

  • Demonstrate direct impact on health outcomes for beneficiaries
  • Show how grant will enhance or sustain essential health services
  • Clearly articulate service delivery staff costs and their role in relief of sickness
  • Provide evidence of being an established charity (minimum 2 years registration, 5 years' accounts)
  • Demonstrate appropriate reserve levels aligned with charity's reserves policy
  • For Mental Health programme: Demonstrate specialist, single focus on ACEs
  • Align language with Foundation's terminology around “relief of sickness” and “service delivery”

Application Quality

  • Keep Expression of Interest concise (250 words maximum) but impactful
  • Focus on “why” the funding is needed, not just “what” you will do
  • Use the consultation resources and guidance documents provided for each programme
  • Ensure accounts demonstrate financial stability without excessive reserves

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Build relationships early: Contact the Foundation before applying if uncertain about eligibility or fit - they actively encourage this
  • Timing is critical: Submit Expression of Interest early in grant round to maximise time for full application preparation if invited
  • Manage expectations for first grant: First-time applicants typically receive maximum £10,000, even though programme maximum is £50,000
  • Reserve levels scrutinised: High reserves (50%+ above policy) will disadvantage your application - address this proactively
  • Programme specificity matters: Mental Health programme requires sole focus on ACEs; Hospice Care limited to SW England and South Wales
  • Service delivery over capital: Focus applications on staff costs and service delivery rather than capital projects or one-off activities
  • Strategic timing changed: Medical Research closed, new Physical and Mental Health programmes launched April 2025 - ensure you're applying to correct programme
  • One-year wait rule: If declined, must wait full year before reapplying to corresponding grant round

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

  • The Davies Foundation

References