The Lovington Foundation

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 1151072
• Annual Income: £207,447 (FY ending March 2025)
• Annual Expenditure: £149,103 (FY ending March 2025)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £170,000 (most grants £5,000 - £10,000)
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
• Organization Size Focus: Annual income under £500,000
• Target Beneficiaries: Underserved 14-25 year-olds

Contact Details

• Website: https://lovingtonfoundation.org
• Email: info@lovingtonfoundation.org
• Phone: 020 7198 7424
• Application Method: Short email submissions only (no postal applications accepted)

Overview

The Lovington Foundation is a family charitable trust established by James Lupton CBE through a Declaration of Trust dated 28 February 2013 and approved by the Charity Commission on 5 March 2013. The foundation focuses on two core areas: social welfare in the UK with particular emphasis on young people and education, and the arts in the UK with emphasis on improving people's lives through education. The foundation specifically supports organisations working with underserved 14-25 year-olds that provide education and skills development, particularly through the arts. The trust prioritizes smaller organisations with annual income less than £500,000 that are at a critical point in their development, helping them work towards long-term sustainability. In 2020, the foundation demonstrated significant flexibility by diverting all their funding to help launch the COVID-19 RAFT Fund alongside The Fore and other family foundations, contributing £100,000 as anchor funding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Lovington Foundation operates a single grant program with flexible funding amounts based on organizational needs:

• Core Grants: £5,000 - £10,000 (typical range for most applicants)
• Major Strategic Grants: £50,000 - £170,000 (for larger arts institutions or significant projects)
• Small Grants: £1,000 - £5,000 (for early-stage organizations or specific projects)
• Application Method: Rolling basis via email submissions

The foundation shows a pattern of multi-year support for organizations, with several grantees receiving funding across multiple years.

Priority Areas

• Youth Education and Skills Development: Programs serving disadvantaged 14-25 year-olds, particularly those providing pathways to employment or further education
• Arts Education: Arts-based programs that improve young people's lives through education and skill development
• Social Welfare for Young People: Support for vulnerable youth including those from migrant, refugee, or asylum-seeking backgrounds
• Rehabilitation and Reintegration: Programs supporting young people in custody or transitioning back into society
• Literacy and Language Support: Tutoring programs for children with English as an Additional Language
• Early-Stage Organizations: Support for small charities at critical development stages working towards sustainability

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated on their website, their funding history and stated priorities indicate they do not fund:

• Organizations with annual income over £500,000
• Programs not serving 14-25 year-olds
• General operating costs for large, established organizations
• Organizations outside the UK
• Programs without clear educational or arts components

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

• Annabelle Lupton - Chair
• Lord Lupton
• Sam Lupton - Treasurer
• Camilla Lupton - Secretary
• Béatrice Lupton
• Victoria Lupton

All trustees are members of the Lupton family, and none receive remuneration for their service. The foundation has no employees with benefits over £60,000 and operates without trading subsidiaries.

Leadership Insights

Annabelle (Belle) Lupton, Chair of the Board, has commented on what the foundation values in grantees. Regarding The Bridge at Waterloo's grant, she noted: “The Lovington Foundation was impressed that, while many organisations were forced to cut projects during the early months of the pandemic, The Bridge at Waterloo worked even harder to keep new projects alive.” This suggests the foundation values resilience, commitment, and organizations that maintain their mission even during challenging circumstances.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Lovington Foundation accepts short email submissions sent to: info@lovingtonfoundation.org

Important Application Requirements:

• Must be a non-profit organization
• Must be registered in the UK
• Must fall within the foundation's focus areas
• Must have annual income under £500,000
• No postal applications accepted

Grantees are selected by the board of trustees. Due to limited resources, the foundation cannot respond to every application.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Organizations should expect that:

• The foundation operates on a rolling basis rather than fixed deadlines
• Response times may vary depending on application volume
• Not all applicants will receive a response due to limited administrative resources

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. However, the foundation's history of giving shows approximately 30-40 different organizations funded over several years, suggesting selective but sustained grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation's giving history demonstrates openness to multi-year funding relationships. Several organizations have received multiple grants:

• Create: Funded in 2017, 2019, 2020
• Coram Beanstalk: Funded in 2017, 2018, 2019
• Clean Break: Funded in 2016, 2018, 2020
• Key4Life: Funded from 2015-2018
• Free to Be Kids: Funded in 2021 and 2023

This pattern suggests the foundation values ongoing relationships with effective organizations and welcomes reapplications from successful grantees.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's funding history and stated priorities, successful applications typically demonstrate:

1. Clear Focus on Target Age Group: Organizations must demonstrate direct service to underserved 14-25 year-olds. The foundation's portfolio includes youth-focused organizations like Football Beyond Borders and Key4Life.

1. Arts and Education Integration: The foundation shows particular interest in programs that combine arts with education or skills development, as evidenced by grants to Create, Art History Link-Up, and the Lovington Sculpture Meadow at Dulwich Picture Gallery.

1. Small to Mid-Size Organizations: Grant recipients typically have annual income under £500,000, suggesting the foundation seeks to support organizations where their contribution will have significant impact.

1. Critical Development Stage: The foundation explicitly states they support organizations “at a critical point in their development,” suggesting applications should articulate how funding will help achieve sustainability or growth milestones.

1. Resilience and Commitment: As noted by trustee Belle Lupton, the foundation values organizations that maintain their mission even during challenging circumstances.

1. Connection to The Fore: Several grant recipients (including Jacari) were approached by the Lovington Foundation after receiving funding from The Fore, suggesting a relationship or referral from The Fore may be beneficial.

1. Specific Project Focus: While some grants support core costs, many are tied to specific initiatives (e.g., website development for St John's Waterloo, sculpture meadow for Dulwich Picture Gallery).

1. Vulnerable Youth Populations: The foundation has supported organizations working with young people in custody (Key4Life), migrant children (Jacari), and those from areas of socio-economic disadvantage (Football Beyond Borders).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Target demographic is paramount: If your organization doesn't directly serve underserved 14-25 year-olds, this is likely not the right funder
• Size matters: Organizations with annual income over £500,000 should look elsewhere; the foundation specifically targets smaller charities
• Arts integration strengthens applications: Even if primarily an education or social welfare program, demonstrating arts components aligns with foundation priorities
• Keep email submissions concise: The foundation requests “short email submissions” - respect this by being clear and direct
• The Fore connection: If you're a Fore grantee, you may be on the Lovington Foundation's radar; don't hesitate to apply
• Don't expect responses to all applications: The foundation explicitly states they cannot respond to every application due to limited resources - lack of response doesn't necessarily reflect on your organization
• Multi-year relationships are valued: Successful grantees often receive repeat funding, so maintain relationships even after initial grants
• Demonstrate resilience and commitment: Show how your organization maintains its mission even during challenging circumstances

References

• The Lovington Foundation Official Website: https://lovingtonfoundation.org
• The Lovington Foundation - Who We Fund: https://lovingtonfoundation.org/who-we-fund/
• The Lovington Foundation - History of Giving: https://lovingtonfoundation.org/history-of-giving/
• The Lovington Foundation - Contact: https://lovingtonfoundation.org/contact/
• The Lovington Foundation - Who We Are: https://lovingtonfoundation.org/whoweare/
• UK Charity Commission Register - The Lovington Foundation (1151072): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5035814
• St John's Waterloo - "New website for St John's Waterloo": https://stjohnswaterloo.org/new-website-for-st-johns-waterloo/
• Jacari - “Jacari receives funding from the Lovington Foundation”: https://www.jacari.org/post/lovington-foundation-23
• Contemporary Art Society - Trusts and Foundations: https://contemporaryartsociety.org/support/trusts-and-foundations
• The Fore - Family Trusts and Foundations: https://thefore.org/partner/family-trusts-and-foundations/