The Lancashire Foundation

Charity Number: 1149184

Annual Expenditure: £0.6M
Geographic Focus: Philippines, United States, Bermuda

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £571,034 (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 67 charities (2023)
  • Grant Range: £2,000 minimum for staff-nominated charities
  • Geographic Focus: UK, Bermuda, and worldwide
  • Application Process: No public application process - employee-driven nominations and long-term partnerships

Contact Details

The Lancashire Foundation is administered through Lancashire Holdings Limited.

Website: https://www.lancashiregroup.com/en/responsibility/lancashire-foundation.html

Charity Number: 1149184

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from external organizations.

Overview

The Lancashire Foundation is the charitable arm of Lancashire Holdings Limited, a Bermuda-based specialty insurance group. Registered as a UK charity in September 2012 (charity number 1149184), the Foundation has distributed over $23.9 million since its first donation in 2007. In 2023, the Foundation distributed £571,034 to 67 charities, up from £498,726 to 60 charities in 2022. The Foundation operates through an employee-driven model, with an annual donation linked to Group profits (0.75% of profits, with a minimum of $250,000 and maximum of $750,000). The Foundation focuses on helping young people and the severely disadvantaged in society, with recent thematic focuses including environmental activities (2023) and charities improving individual lives and community well-being (2024).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates two main channels of grant-making:

Long-term Charity Partners: The Foundation maintains ongoing relationships with strategic charity partners including:

  • International Care Ministries (ICM) - supporting poverty alleviation in the Philippines
  • St Giles Trust - supporting offenders and their families
  • Tomorrow's Voices - supporting individuals with autism (partnership since 2007)
  • The Family Centre - community support
  • Cancer Research UK

Employee-Nominated Charities: Staff across the organization can nominate charities for support, with a minimum donation of £2,000 for employee-nominated organizations. In 2022, more than $149,000 was donated to charities nominated by employees.

Priority Areas

The Foundation's charitable objects are broad, allowing grants to “any individual, group, organisation or institution in the UK, Bermuda and worldwide,” with particular focus on:

  • Young people: Supporting youth development and opportunities
  • Severely disadvantaged individuals: Helping vulnerable populations
  • Environmental causes: Recent thematic focus (2023)
  • Community well-being: Individual lives and community improvement (2024 focus)
  • Poverty alleviation: Particularly through ICM partnerships
  • Criminal justice: Supporting rehabilitation and reintegration (St Giles Trust)
  • Health and medical research: Including Cancer Research UK

Recent Grant Recipients

Disclosed grant recipients from 2023 accounts include:

  • Malawi Community Hubs: £4,250
  • WeSeeHope: £2,000
  • Project Transform: £5,000 pledged
  • Waves Music
  • Toby's Fund
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Lancashire Foundation is governed by 5 trustees (as of 2024), including:

  • Derek Stapley - Also a trustee of Malawi Community Hubs
  • Robert Kennedy - Also a trustee of Malawi Community Hubs; married to an employee of WeSeeHope

All trustees serve without remuneration or benefits from the charity. The Foundation has no paid staff and operates with 4 volunteers.

Donations Committee

A Donations Committee composed of employees from across Lancashire Holdings meets quarterly to:

  • Review donations up for renewal with long-term partners
  • Assess new charity submissions from staff members
  • Make recommendations to Foundation Trustees for approval

The committee prioritizes causes with “personal or community connection” among employees, ensuring that charitable giving reflects the values and interests of the workforce.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Lancashire Foundation operates through an internal, employee-driven model. Charities are supported through two routes:

  1. Long-term partnerships: Established through the Foundation's strategic relationships with select organizations
  2. Employee nominations: Staff members nominate organizations they support or have personal connections to

There is no external application portal or process for organizations that do not have an existing relationship with Lancashire Holdings employees or the Foundation.

Decision Timeline

The Donations Committee meets quarterly to review submissions and make recommendations to trustees. The exact decision timeline from nomination to grant award is not publicly disclosed.

Getting on Their Radar

IMPORTANT: The following strategies are specific to The Lancashire Foundation's employee-driven model:

Employee Connections: The Foundation explicitly prioritizes causes with “personal or community connection” among Lancashire Holdings employees. Organizations already supported by or known to Lancashire staff members are most likely to receive consideration.

Long-term Relationship Building: The Foundation emphasizes developing long-term relationships with charities rather than one-off grants. Organizations supported by the Foundation often maintain multi-year partnerships (e.g., Tomorrow's Voices since 2007).

Geographic Presence: With Lancashire Holdings having offices in London, Bermuda, and other locations, organizations in these regions may have better opportunities for employee connections.

Employee Volunteering: Lancashire encourages staff volunteering alongside financial donations. In 2023, 12 employees traveled to Tanzania for Project Transform, a volunteering initiative. Organizations offering volunteering opportunities may be more attractive to employee nominators.

Thematic Alignment: The Foundation announces annual thematic focuses (environment in 2023, community well-being in 2024). Organizations working in these areas during relevant years may have better chances of employee nomination.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Insights

Employee Connection is Critical: The Foundation's website states donations are prioritized for causes with “personal or community connection” among employees. Organizations without an employee champion are unlikely to receive funding.

Minimum Donation Threshold: Staff-nominated charities receive a minimum donation of £2,000, suggesting the Foundation focuses on meaningful rather than token grants.

Trustee Relationships: The charity accounts show trustees Derek Stapley and Robert Kennedy have connections to recipient organizations (Malawi Community Hubs, WeSeeHope), indicating that trustee personal interests influence grant-making.

Long-term vs. One-off: The Foundation's communications emphasize “developing long-term relationships with charities,” suggesting preference for sustained partnerships over one-time grants.

ESG Alignment: Lancashire Holdings emphasizes Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Organizations demonstrating strong ESG practices or supporting ESG-related causes may be more attractive to employee nominators.

Volunteering Opportunities: The Foundation's Project Transform initiative shows commitment to hands-on employee engagement. Organizations offering meaningful volunteering experiences alongside funding needs may be more compelling nominations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not a Traditional Funder: The Lancashire Foundation does not accept external applications; all grants stem from employee nominations or strategic partnerships
  • Employee Connection Essential: Without a Lancashire Holdings employee champion, organizations cannot access this funding
  • Focus on Relationships: The Foundation values long-term partnerships over one-off grants
  • Strategic Themes: Annual thematic focuses (environment, community well-being) guide recent grant-making priorities
  • Broad Geographic Reach: Willing to fund in UK, Bermuda, and internationally
  • Substantial Annual Giving: Distributes over £500,000 annually across approximately 60-70 organizations
  • Employee Engagement Model: Quarterly Donations Committee meetings review staff submissions, with final trustee approval required

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