The Liz And Terry Bramall Foundation

Charity Number: 1121670

Annual Expenditure: £8.8M
Throughout England And Wales

Contact Info

Website: www.bramallfoundation.org

Phone: 01423 566666

Email: bramallfoundation@raworths.co.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £8.42 million (charitable expenditure)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 6-10 weeks (quarterly trustee meetings)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £275,000
  • Geographic Focus: Yorkshire (strong preference), England and Wales

Contact Details

Website: www.bramallfoundation.org

Email: bramallfoundation@raworths.co.uk

Phone: 01423 566666

Address: Eton House, 89 Station Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1HF

Applications acknowledged within 10 working days. Response expected within 6 weeks of quarterly trustees' meeting.

Overview

The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation was established in 2008 with a £100 million endowment by businessman Terry Bramall CBE and his wife Elizabeth. The foundation has become one of Yorkshire's most significant charitable funders, with charitable expenditure of £8.42 million and total income of £2.5 million (primarily from investments). The foundation's mission centers on promoting Christian faith in accordance with Church of England beliefs, advancing education (particularly music and arts), supporting urban and rural regeneration, promoting health, and enhancing public amenities. Terry Bramall, former chairman of Keepmoat construction group, was appointed CBE in 2013 for services to charity and received The Prince of Wales Medal for Arts Philanthropy in 2014. The foundation maintains a strong commitment to Yorkshire, reflecting the Bramalls' deep roots in the region where Terry grew up in a South Yorkshire mining community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grant program on a rolling basis with quarterly decision points:

  • General Grants: £1,000 - £275,000 (applications accepted year-round)
  • Applications reviewed quarterly at trustee meetings held in January, April, August, and November
  • Both organizations and individuals may apply

Priority Areas

Christian Faith: Advancement of Christian faith in accordance with Church of England beliefs and practices

Education: Advancement of education for public benefit, with particular emphasis on music and arts education; support for schools and higher education facilities

Arts & Culture: Promotion of the arts for public benefit, including study of music and other artistic disciplines. Major example: £2.5 million to National Railway Museum for Wonderlab interactive gallery (the museum's largest single donation excluding lottery grants)

Health: Enhancement of lives of those with illness; advancement of health for public benefit

Urban & Rural Regeneration: Projects addressing social and economic deprivation; community development initiatives

Public Amenities: Recreational facilities for those in need due to age, infirmity, disability, financial hardship, or social/economic circumstances

Economic Development: Relief of unemployment; projects supporting economic opportunity

Environment: Environmental conservation and public safety initiatives

Geographic Priority: Strong preference for projects benefiting Yorkshire communities, though charities across England and Wales are eligible. National charities typically only considered if demonstrating clear public benefit to Yorkshire.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publish explicit exclusions. Based on their stated charitable objects, funding is restricted to activities aligned with their core priorities listed above. Individual feedback on unsuccessful applications is not provided due to high application volumes.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by six trustees who receive no remuneration:

Trustees:

  • Dr. Terence George Bramall CBE (Founder) - Businessman and philanthropist, former chairman of Keepmoat, appointed CBE 2013, received Prince of Wales Medal for Arts Philanthropy 2014, High Sheriff of West Yorkshire 2017-18
  • Elizabeth Bramall (Founder)
  • Anthony Richard Sharp (appointed 18 October 2011)
  • Rachel Shirley Tunnicliffe (appointed 18 October 2011)
  • Suzannah Clare Allard
  • Rebecca Helen Bletcher (also associated with Opera North Future Fund)

Terry Bramall has emphasized the foundation's roots in his Yorkshire upbringing: “When I was young we lived in a South Yorkshire mining community,” reflecting his commitment to supporting the region that shaped him. His business success with Keepmoat, which specialized in social housing and community regeneration, directly informs the foundation's focus on urban regeneration and addressing social deprivation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: Rolling basis via letter or email

Letter: Eton House, 89 Station Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1HF

Email: bramallfoundation@raworths.co.uk

Required Elements:

  1. 120-word summary paragraph (mandatory - applications without this may not be processed)
  2. Synopsis of your organization's aims and activities
  3. Detailed project description
  4. Funding level requested
  5. Evidence of sustainability and other funding sources
  6. No requirement to submit full organizational accounts

Decision Timeline

  • Acknowledgement: Within 10 working days of application receipt
  • Trustee Meetings: Quarterly (January, April, August, November - subject to change)
  • Decision Notification: Within 6 weeks of relevant trustees' meeting
  • Total Timeline: Typically 8-12 weeks from submission to decision, depending on when application is received in relation to quarterly meeting cycle

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The foundation reports receiving a large volume of applications, suggesting competitive selection. With charitable expenditure of £8.42 million distributed across grants ranging from £1,000 to £275,000, the foundation likely supports dozens of projects annually.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish explicit reapplication restrictions. Their privacy policy references “the probability of reapplications,” suggesting unsuccessful applicants may reapply. However, no individual feedback is provided on unsuccessful applications due to application volumes, which may make it challenging to improve subsequent applications without direct guidance.

Application Success Factors

Yorkshire Connection is Critical: The foundation has an “established preference” for Yorkshire-based projects. National charities should clearly demonstrate specific benefits to Yorkshire communities. Unsolicited applications from national charities without Yorkshire connection are rarely successful.

Alignment with Church of England Values: For faith-based projects, alignment with Church of England beliefs and practices is essential. The foundation specifically supports Christian faith “in accordance with the statements of belief of the Church of England.”

Community Impact Focus: The founders' background in social housing and community regeneration suggests strong preference for projects with tangible community benefit, particularly addressing social and economic deprivation.

Arts and Education Synergy: The foundation shows particular interest where arts and education intersect. Terry Bramall's £2 million donation to Birmingham University's Bramall Music Building and the foundation's £2.5 million to the National Railway Museum's educational Wonderlab demonstrate commitment to transformative educational and cultural projects.

The 120-Word Summary is Non-Negotiable: This mandatory element appears designed to assess applicants' ability to articulate their case concisely. Failure to include this may result in application rejection.

Sustainability Matters: Applications must demonstrate how the project will be sustained beyond the grant period and identify other funding sources, suggesting the foundation prefers to be part of a broader funding package rather than sole supporter.

Recent Funded Projects (through Leeds Community Foundation 2019):

  • ACAP (African Caribbean Achievement Project)
  • Aire Wharfe & Craven Counselling
  • Bangladeshi Youth Organisation (BYO)
  • Behind Closed Doors
  • Bradford Young Signers Group
  • Hyde Park Source
  • Love Your Garden
  • Margaret Carey Foundation (MCF)
  • Step 2
  • Young Peoples Health Project

These examples show support for diverse community organizations addressing youth development, mental health, accessibility, and community cohesion - all aligned with the foundation's urban regeneration and social welfare priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Lead with Yorkshire: If your project benefits Yorkshire communities, make this central to your application. For national organizations, clearly articulate specific Yorkshire impact from the outset.
  • Master the 120-word summary: This is your critical first impression. Use it to concisely convey your project's alignment with foundation priorities, Yorkshire connection, and transformative potential.
  • Timing is strategic: Submit applications with quarterly meeting cycles in mind (January, April, August, November). Submitting shortly after a meeting means longer wait times.
  • Think sustainability from the start: Demonstrate how your project will continue beyond grant funding and identify complementary funding sources. The foundation wants to catalyze sustainable change, not create dependency.
  • Bridge multiple priorities: Applications that span multiple foundation interests (e.g., arts education for disadvantaged youth in Yorkshire) may be particularly compelling given the breadth of charitable objects.
  • Scale appropriately: With grants ranging from £1,000 to £275,000 and annual giving of £8.42 million, the foundation supports both small community projects and major capital initiatives. Match your request to your project's genuine needs and potential impact.
  • Don't expect feedback: With no individual feedback provided, ensure your application is as strong as possible before submission. Consider seeking pre-application advice from the foundation if you have questions about fit.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References

  1. Bramall Foundation Official Website - www.bramallfoundation.org
  2. UK Charity Commission Register - Charity No. 1121670, The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1121670
  3. Ecclesiastical Insurance - Church Fundraising: Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation, https://www.ecclesiastical.com/church/fundraising/funds/liz-and-terry-bramall-foundation/
  4. Making Music - The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation funding opportunity, https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/funding-opportunity/liz-and-terry-bramall-foundation
  5. National Railway Museum Press Release - "National Railway Museum's Wonderlab to receive £2.5m from the Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation," https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/about-us/press-office/national-railway-museums-wonderlab-receive-ps25m-liz-and-terry-bramall
  6. Leeds Community Foundation - “The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation Fund 2019,” https://www.leedscf.org.uk/what-weve-funded/the-liz-and-terry-bramall-foundation-fund-2019/
  7. Wikipedia - Terry Bramall, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Bramall
  8. Yorkshire Post - "Yorkshire couple's millions make them top philanthropists," https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/yorkshire-couples-millions-make-them-top-philanthropists-1876363
  9. Yorkshire Post - "Money gives you the freedom... it's what you do with that freedom that counts," https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/money-gives-you-the-freedom-its-what-you-do-with-that-freedom-that-counts-1872954