The Kilroot Foundation

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 1173150
• Annual Income: £154,551 (2024)
• Annual Giving: £425,718 (2024)
• Grant Type: One-off capital and/or project grants (up to 3 years)
• Geographic Focus: UK (England, Wales, Northern Ireland), plus Kenya and South Africa
• Application Process: No public application process

Contact Details

Registered Address: Holywell Farm, Wigginton, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 4LG

Phone: 07770496973

Email: Not available

Website: The Foundation does not maintain a website

Note: Further information is available on the Charity Commission website (Charity number 1173150)

Overview

The Kilroot Foundation was established in 2017 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The Foundation operates as a private grant-making trust with a focus on conservation of the natural and built environment and helping young people develop their skills, capacity and capabilities. With total expenditure of £425,718 in 2024 against income of £154,551, the Foundation appears to be spending down capital to support its charitable objectives. The Foundation works primarily in the UK across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but also supports UK charities working overseas, particularly in Kenya and South Africa. The charity is governed by three trustees and operates without employees or trading subsidiaries.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation awards one-off capital and/or project grants, which can be for up to three years.

Priority Areas

Primary Focus Areas:

• Conservation of the natural and built environment: Including conservation and protection of flora, fauna and the natural environment; preservation of the built environment including historical buildings, landscapes and artefacts
• Youth development: Helping young people develop their skills, capacity and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals
• Other charitable purposes: As deemed appropriate according to English and Welsh law

Geographic Priorities:

• UK charities (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) - primary focus
• UK charities working overseas in Kenya and South Africa

Beneficiaries: The charity helps children/young people, other charities or voluntary bodies, and the general public.

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are documented, though the Foundation appears to focus exclusively on its stated priority areas of environmental conservation and youth development.

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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by three trustees, all appointed at the charity's founding in May 2017:

Matthew Frederick Dobbs - Chair (appointed 24 May 2017)

Matthew Dobbs brings significant financial and investment expertise to the Foundation, with a career including senior roles at Schroder Investment Management and current directorships at investment trusts including European Opportunities Trust PLC and Invesco Asia Dragon Trust PLC. He is also a director of Slightly Foxed Limited, a literary magazine publisher. He also serves as a trustee of The Tew and Heythrop Churches Trust.

Katharine Dobbs - Trustee (appointed 24 May 2017)

No other trusteeships on record.

Denis Henry Clough - Trustee (appointed 24 May 2017)

Also serves as a trustee of The Saint Mary's Church, Braughing Restoration Trust.

The Foundation has no employees and no trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

Accountant: Prager Metis LLP, 5A Bear Lane, London SE1 0UH

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Kilroot Foundation does not have a public application process.

The Foundation operates as a private grant-making trust where grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees. There is no online application portal, no published application guidelines, and no fixed application deadlines. The Foundation does not maintain a website or publish information about how organizations can apply for funding.

Given the Foundation's structure and governance, grants appear to be made to organizations known to or identified by the trustees through their networks and personal knowledge of the charitable sectors they support.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process.

Success Rates

Not available. The Foundation does not publish information about application volumes or success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

As the Kilroot Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations seeking to understand alignment should note:

Foundation Priorities:

• The Foundation has demonstrated a clear commitment to environmental conservation (both natural and built environment including historic buildings) and youth development
• Geographic focus on UK, with specific interest in Kenya and South Africa for international work
• Willingness to provide multi-year support (grants can be for up to three years)
• Support for both capital and project grants, suggesting flexibility in funding type

Trustee Backgrounds:

• The trustees bring experience in investment management, church restoration, and literary publishing, which may inform their funding interests
• Connection to Oxfordshire through the registered address, and London through previous correspondence address
• Demonstrated commitment to heritage conservation through other trusteeships

Organizations working in the Foundation's priority areas may benefit from having connections to the trustees' professional or charitable networks, though there is no documented process for initial contact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This is a private foundation that awards grants at trustee discretion without accepting unsolicited applications
• Clear thematic focus: Strong alignment with environmental conservation (natural and built) and youth development is essential
• Multi-year funding available: Grants can extend up to three years, suggesting the Foundation is willing to provide sustained support
• International scope: While UK-focused, the Foundation specifically supports work in Kenya and South Africa
• Small governance structure: With just three trustees and no staff, decisions are made by a small, close-knit group
• Substantial grant-making: 2024 expenditure of £425,718 exceeded income, indicating active deployment of capital
• No web presence: Lack of website or online information confirms this is a low-profile, privately managed foundation

References

• Charity Commission Register: The Kilroot Foundation (Charity number 1173150), available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5099776
• Charity Commission What, Who, How, Where information for charity 1173150: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5099776/what-who-how-where
• Charity Commission Trustee information for charity 1173150: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5099776/trustees
• Charity Commission Contact information for charity 1173150: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5099776/contact-information
• Companies House: Matthew Frederick Dobbs personal appointments: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/bO-xdyusx3wZMyJDfPDq4vqvQZE/appointments
• Find that Charity database entry: https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1173150
• Bath and North East Somerset Council funder directory: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/node/88393