The James Weir Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £330,912 (2023)
• Total Income: £340,061 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Up to £10,000 per speciality (for research grants)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide with preference for Scottish institutions

Contact Details

Address: Gloucester House, 72 London Road, St Albans, AL1 1NS

Phone: 01727 869141

Website: www.jamesweirfoundation.org

Overview

The James Weir Foundation was established in January 1967 by James George Weir, a Scottish industrialist and early aviator committed to philanthropy. The foundation was created to promote growth and excellence in high-quality institutions and to support advancement in engineering, medicine, and education. With assets of approximately £340,061 as of December 2023 and annual grant expenditure of £330,912, the foundation has maintained a 58-year partnership with institutions such as the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. The founder was a proud Scot who particularly wished to support constructive Scottish institutions and their causes, emphasizing "aerodynamic engineering and Scottish thinkers' tradition of empiric analysis." Important Note: The foundation announced in 2025 that from May 1st, 2025, it will only support charities specified in the original Trust Deed and will no longer consider external applications for grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

James Weir Foundation Research Grants (in partnership with Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh):

• Amount: Up to £10,000 per speciality area
• Eligible Specialties: General Surgery, ENT Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Dentistry
• James Weir Scottish Research Grant: Available for all surgical and dental specialties for research conducted in Scotland
• Eligibility: UK and International Members who are trainees or within 5 years of consultancy appointment
• Application Deadline: November 2nd (inaugural deadline in 2025)
• Application Method: Online portal at https://rcsed.grantplatform.com/

Priority Areas

Historically, the foundation has supported:

• Education and training
• Advancement of health or saving of lives
• Engineering research and innovation
• Support for people with disabilities
• Health and well-being initiatives
• Scottish institutions and causes
• High-quality research promoting innovative thinking

Beneficiaries Supported

The foundation has historically funded organizations serving: carers, economically/socially disadvantaged individuals, families, people with mental health conditions, older people, those with ill-health, people with learning disabilities, people with physical disabilities, people with sensory impairments, local communities, and veterans & armed forces personnel.

What They Don't Fund

As of May 1st, 2025, the foundation will not fund:

• Organizations not specified in the original Trust Deed
• External applications from new applicants
• Previous beneficiaries not named in the Trust Deed are not exempt from this restriction

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Governance and Leadership

Chairman: Edward Weir (assumed chairmanship in May 2025)

Trustees: The foundation is governed by 5 trustees (names include Simon Bonham, Elizabeth Bonham, and William Ducas). No trustees receive remuneration or payments from the charity.

Leadership Quote: Edward Weir, Foundation Chairman, stated: "The trustees firmly believe that the five chosen areas closely align with the founder's vision to support improvements in health."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important Change: As of May 1st, 2025, this funder does not have a public application process for general grants. The foundation website states: “No external applications will be considered for grants.”

Exception - Research Grants Only: The James Weir Foundation Research Grants programme (in partnership with Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh) does accept applications through a specific portal:

• Application Platform: https://rcsed.grantplatform.com/
• Deadline: November 2nd (for inaugural round in 2025)
• Eligibility: UK and International Members who are trainees or within 5 years of consultancy appointment conducting research in General Surgery, ENT Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Dentistry, or Scottish surgical/dental research

For all other grants, awards are made at the trustees' discretion to charities specified in the original 1967 Trust Deed.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available for general grants. For research grants programme, timelines will be communicated through the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh portal.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

As external applications are no longer accepted (except for the specific research grants programme), reapplication is not applicable for general funding.

Application Success Factors

For Research Grants Programme:

Based on the foundation's stated values and the chairman's guidance:

1. Alignment with Founder's Vision: Edward Weir emphasized that chosen research areas must "closely align with the founder's vision to support improvements in health." Applications should demonstrate clear health improvement outcomes.

1. Scottish Connection: While UK and international applicants are eligible, the foundation has a particular interest in Scottish institutions and research conducted in Scotland (note the separate Scottish Research Grant category).

1. Innovation and Quality: The foundation states it “particularly wished to encourage innovative thinking and high quality research.” Applications should emphasize novel approaches and rigorous methodology.

1. Engineering Principles: The founder valued "aerodynamic engineering and Scottish thinkers' tradition of empiric analysis“ and ”fundamental science and engineering principles." Research proposals that incorporate systematic, evidence-based approaches aligned with these principles may be viewed favorably.

1. Institutional Excellence: The foundation seeks to “promote growth and excellence in high quality institutions.” Demonstrating institutional support and excellence in your field strengthens applications.

1. Early-Career Focus: The research grants specifically target trainees or those within 5 years of consultancy appointment, suggesting the foundation values supporting emerging talent.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Major Policy Change: From May 1st, 2025, the foundation will only support charities specified in its original 1967 Trust Deed and will not consider external applications for general grants
• Research Grants Exception: The partnership with Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh continues to offer opportunities for eligible surgical and dental researchers through a competitive application process
• Scottish Preference: While not exclusive, the foundation has a strong historical preference for Scottish institutions and research conducted in Scotland
• Scientific Rigor: Applications should emphasize empirical analysis, fundamental science, and engineering principles in line with the founder's values
• Health Improvement Focus: Successful research proposals must demonstrate clear alignment with health improvement outcomes
• Partnership Approach: The foundation operates through long-term institutional partnerships (e.g., 58 years with RCSEd) rather than ad-hoc grant-making
• No Public Application for Most Grants: Organizations not already specified in the Trust Deed should not submit unsolicited applications, as these will not be considered

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Welsh Government
• AKO Foundation
• Baron Davenport's Charity
• The Education Endowment Foundation
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
• Charity of Sir Richard Whittington
• Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
• The Wimbledon Foundation
• THE ZOCHONIS CHARITABLE TRUST
• P F Charitable Trust
• The Medlock Charitable Trust
• The Shanly Foundation
• The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust
• Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
• The Hiscox Foundation
• THE THOMAS J HORNE MEMORIAL TRUST
• SIR JOHN PRIESTMAN CHARITY TRUST
• The Royal Academy of Engineering
• GIVE OUT

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales. (2025). “THE JAMES WEIR FOUNDATION - Charity 251764.” Retrieved from https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=251764&subid=0

• The James Weir Foundation. (2025). Official Website. Retrieved from https://www.jamesweirfoundation.org/

• Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. (2025). “Launch of the James Weir Foundation Research Grants.” Retrieved from https://www.rcsed.ac.uk/news-resources/rcsed-news/2025/september/launch-of-the-james-weir-foundation-research-grants/

• Funding Scotland. (2025). “James Weir Foundation.” Retrieved from https://funding.scot/funders/001b000000St0StAAJ/james-weir-foundation

• Find that Charity. (2025). “The James Weir Foundation - GB-CHC-251764.” Retrieved from https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-251764