The Miles Morland Foundation

Charity Number: 1150755

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £309,534 (FY 2023)
  • Success Rate: <1% (approximately 0.5% - 4 awards from 800+ applications in 2025)
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months (applications close late September, winners announced November)
  • Grant Range: £18,000 - £27,000 (for writing scholarships)
  • Geographic Focus: Africa and African diaspora

Contact Details

Website: www.milesmorlandfoundation.com

Email: MMF@MILESMORLANDFOUNDATION.COM

Phone: 07823880659

Address: Battersea Power Station, London

Charity Number: 1150755

Overview

The Miles Morland Foundation was established in 2013 by Miles Morland, a British philanthropist who spent his career investing in Africa through Blakeney Management and DPI (Development Partners International). The foundation's main aim is “to support entities in Africa which allow Africans to get their voices better heard,” with particular focus on African writing and African literature. Operating with minimal infrastructure and only one full-time staff member, the foundation has awarded over £400,000 in writing scholarships since inception, supporting 21+ writers over its first five years. The foundation also supports literary festivals across Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and Somaliland, cultural initiatives throughout Africa, London's Film Africa festival, the Caine Prize for African Writing, and various educational initiatives. In recent years, the foundation has shifted focus to concentrate spending on in-house activities, particularly the annual writing scholarship program.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Morland African Writing Scholarships (Main Program)

  • Amount: £18,000 for fiction (12 months) or up to £27,000 for non-fiction (up to 18 months)
  • Awards: 4 scholarships awarded annually
  • Application method: Fixed annual deadline (applications accepted July 1 - September 22)
  • Payment structure: Monthly installments over scholarship period
  • Key requirement: Scholars must submit 10,000 new words monthly via email
  • Unique condition: If scholars secure a book contract, they must donate 20% of advance back to the foundation

Organizational Funding (Limited)

  • The foundation previously supported various literary festivals, cultural initiatives, and educational programs
  • Now focusing spending on in-house activities and “unlikely to offer funding to outside initiatives”
  • Previous grant amounts not publicly disclosed

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

  • African writing and literature (fiction and non-fiction in English)
  • Literary festivals and book fairs across Africa
  • Cultural initiatives that amplify African voices
  • African writers from the continent or diaspora

Secondary Areas (historical support, now limited):

  • Educational initiatives in Africa
  • Human rights organizations
  • Film festivals celebrating African content
  • Writing workshops and development programs

Past Supported Organizations Include: African Writers Trust, Ake International Book Fair, Hargeysa International Book Fair, Kwani, Saraba, Writivism, The Caine Prize, Short Story Day Africa, Commonwealth Writers, Film Africa, African Leadership Academy, and many others.

What They Don't Fund

Explicitly Excluded:

  • Education programs (general)
  • Literacy initiatives
  • Healthcare
  • Periodicals and magazines
  • Poetry, plays, or scripts (for writing scholarship)
  • Works not in English language
  • Applicants without previous publication record
  • Completed manuscripts or books under publisher review
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Governance and Leadership

Founder: Miles Morland

  • Former investment professional (Blakeney Management, DPI)
  • Lives on a houseboat on the Thames
  • Active writer and motorcyclist
  • Quote: “Every year that goes by we are more impressed by the freshness, talent, and sheer energy of the writers we come to know.”

Trustees:

  1. Natasha Morland (Miles Morland's daughter) - Artist and interior designer
  2. Coco Ferguson - Co-founder of Maris group (investment company in African markets); studied Persian and international politics
  3. Alice Bragg - Film industry background, script writing; founded World Film Collective charity

Staff:

  • Mathilda Edwards, Foundation Manager - Previously worked for MP and in publishing with Penguin, Bloomsbury, and Eve White Literary Agency

Consultants:

  • Giles Foden - Novelist and Professor of Creative Writing at University of East Anglia; lived in multiple African countries; judged Man Booker Prize 2007
  • Michela Wrong - Journalist with nearly two decades reporting on Africa for Reuters and Financial Times; published multiple books about African countries

Governance Note: No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The foundation is funded by Miles Morland personally and will receive a portion of his estate to continue operations.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply - Writing Scholarship

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Born in Africa, OR both parents born in Africa, OR one parent born in Africa with proof of full-time African residency (9 of previous 12 months)
  • Must have previously published work in prose (not poetry, plays, scripts) in a book, journal, or magazine offered for sale
  • Must write in English language

Application Requirements:

  • 2,000-5,000 word excerpt from previously published work (as Word document)
  • Proof of publication and proof of sale
  • Book proposal of 400-1,000 words describing the new book to be written
  • Scan of official document (passport/birth certificate) proving African birth or parentage
  • Brief biography of 200-300 words
  • No official application form required - submit via online form on website

Application Window: July 1 - September 22 annually

Portal: Online application form at milesmorlandfoundation.com

Important Notes:

  • Applications submitted outside the designated period will not be reviewed
  • Kindle publication acceptable; other online/free publications are not eligible
  • Work does not need to be about Africa, though Africa-related work may be preferred
  • Scholarship for writing a completely new work, not finishing existing manuscripts

How to Apply - Organizational Funding

Current Status: The foundation is “now focusing spending on in-house activities and are unlikely to offer funding to outside initiatives”

If applying anyway, requirements include:

  • Online application form with organization details
  • Financial spreadsheet documenting income/expenditure for last year plus projections for current and next year
  • Focus must align with African writing and African literature
  • Foundation operates as “a catalyst rather than a crutch”

Decision Timeline

Writing Scholarship Process:

  • July 1: Applications open
  • September 22: Applications close
  • October/November: Shortlist announced (approximately 15-20 candidates)
  • Mid-to-late November: Judges meet to select winners (typically around 21st)
  • Late November: Winners announced (typically around 22nd)
  • Early following year: New scholarship cycle rules and dates announced

Total Timeline: Approximately 2-3 months from application deadline to decision

Notification Method:

  • Applicants receive acknowledgment of receipt
  • No further contact unless shortlisted
  • Shortlisted candidates contacted in November for additional information
  • Unsuccessful candidates receive thank you email after winners announced
  • Winners announced publicly on foundation website and through press releases

Success Rates

2025 Statistics:

  • Applications received: 800+
  • Awards granted: 4
  • Success rate: <1% (approximately 0.5%)

2024 Statistics:

  • Applications received: Nearly 500
  • Awards granted: 4
  • Success rate: <1% (approximately 0.8%)

2023 Statistics:

  • Applications received: 500+
  • Awards granted: 4
  • Success rate: <1% (approximately 0.8%)

Historical Context: Over 2,000 entries received for 21 scholarships awarded in first five years.

Reapplication Policy

Encouraged to Reapply: The foundation welcomes unsuccessful applicants to apply again in subsequent years.

Expectations for Reapplicants:

  • Strongly prefer new book proposals and writing samples not previously submitted
  • At minimum, expect “significant development” in both proposal and sample from previous submission
  • Improvement and evolution in submissions “positively regarded by the judging panel”
  • No waiting period required between applications

Application Success Factors

Judging Criteria - Primary:

  • Literary merit is the sole evaluation criterion
  • Judges look for “freshness, talent, and sheer energy” in writing
  • Quality of both the submitted sample AND the book proposal matters
  • Proposal is “scrutinized closely” - must be compelling and well-developed

What Works:

  • Diverse voices and perspectives (foundation celebrates “diversity, wit, imagination, and energy coming out of African writing”)
  • Strong published track record in commercial publications
  • Clear, compelling book proposal that demonstrates feasibility
  • Work that gives African voices a platform to be heard
  • Both fiction and non-fiction considered equally (though non-fiction may receive longer grant periods)

Recent Winners' Projects (examples of successful applications):

  • 2024: Nonfiction account of cult killings exploring socio-political factors fueling religious extremism (Carey Baraka, Kenya)
  • 2024: Darkly absurd satire on colonialism and environmental devastation in 1950s Algeria (Fayssal Bensalah, Algeria)
  • 2024: AfroSurrealist fable following journalist-turned-revolutionary in fictional Zimbabwe (Yvette Ndlovu, Zimbabwe)

What Doesn't Work:

  • No previous publication record
  • Publications that were not commercially available for sale
  • Poetry, plays, scripts, or screenplays
  • Already completed manuscripts or works under publisher review
  • Resubmitting identical proposals/samples from previous years without development
  • Works not written in English

Founder's Perspective:

Miles Morland emphasizes being “surprised, entertained, impressed, and humbled by the energy, wit, entrepreneurialism and talent of the Africans he has got to know.” The foundation values writers who embody these qualities.

Strategic Tip: The foundation aims to be “a catalyst, not a crutch” - they want to support writers who will use the year productively to complete a strong first draft, not those seeking indefinite support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Competition is fierce: With success rates consistently below 1%, applications must demonstrate exceptional literary merit and a compelling, feasible book proposal
  • Publication record is non-negotiable: Must have commercially published prose work - free online publications, poetry, or plays don't qualify
  • Proposal matters as much as sample: Judges scrutinize the book proposal closely; invest significant time crafting a clear, compelling description of your planned work
  • Africa-related content may have edge: While not required, work that amplifies African voices and addresses African themes aligns with foundation mission
  • Reapplication is genuinely welcomed: But only if you've significantly developed your proposal and writing - show clear growth between applications
  • Timeline is strict: Applications outside July 1-September 22 window are not reviewed - no exceptions
  • Monthly accountability required: Selected scholars must deliver 10,000 words monthly - only apply if you can commit to this rigorous schedule
  • For organizational funding: Currently extremely unlikely unless aligned with African literature/writing and representing exceptional strategic value

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References

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Miles Morland Foundation fund?

Grant Programs Morland African Writing Scholarships (Main Program) Amount: £18,000 for fiction (12 months) or up to £27,000 for non-fiction (up to 18 months) Awards: 4 scholarships awarded annually Application method: Fixed annual deadline (applications accepted July 1 - September 22) Payment structure: Monthly installments over scholarship period Key requirement: Scholars must submit 10,000 new words monthly via email Unique condition: If scholars secure a book contract, they must donate 20% of advance back to the foundation Organizational Funding (Limited) The foundation previously supported various literary festivals, cultural initiatives, and educational programs Now focusing spending on in-house activities and "unlikely to offer funding to outside initiatives" Previous grant amounts not publicly disclosed Priority Areas Primary Focus: African writing and literature (fiction and non-fiction in English) Literary festivals and book fairs across Africa Cultural initiatives that amplify African voices African writers from the continent or diaspora Secondary Areas (historical support, now limited): Educational initiatives in Africa Human rights organizations Film festivals celebrating African content Writing workshops and development programs Past Supported Organizations Include: African Writers Trust, Ake International Book Fair, Hargeysa International Book Fair, Kwani, Saraba, Writivism, The Caine Prize, Short Story Day Africa, Commonwealth Writers, Film Africa, African Leadership Academy, and many others.

How much funding does The Miles Morland Foundation provide?

The Miles Morland Foundation provides grants ranging from £18,000 - £27,000 (for writing scholarships), with total annual giving of approximately £309,534 (FY 2023).

How do I contact The Miles Morland Foundation?

Website: www. milesmorlandfoundation.

Is The Miles Morland Foundation a registered charity?

Yes, The Miles Morland Foundation is a registered charity with the Charity Commission (charity number 1150755). They primarily serve organisations in Throughout England.

How do I apply to The Miles Morland Foundation?

How to Apply - Writing Scholarship Eligibility Requirements: Born in Africa, OR both parents born in Africa, OR one parent born in Africa with proof of full-time African residency (9 of previous 12 months) Must have previously published work in prose (not poetry, plays, scripts) in a book, journal, or magazine offered for sale Must write in English language Application Requirements: 2,000-5,000 word excerpt from previously published work (as Word document) Proof of publication and proof of sale Book proposal of 400-1,000 words describing the new book to be written Scan of official document (passport/birth certificate) proving African birth or parentage Brief biography of 200-300 words No official application form required - submit via online form on website Application Window: July 1 - September 22 annually Portal: Online application form at milesmorlandfoundation. com Important Notes: Applications submitted outside the designated period will not be reviewed Kindle publication acceptable; other online/free publications are not eligible Work does not need to be about Africa, though Africa-related work may be preferred Scholarship for writing a completely new work, not finishing existing manuscripts How to Apply - Organizational Funding Current Status: The foundation is "now focusing spending on in-house activities and are unlikely to offer funding to outside initiatives" If applying anyway, requirements include: Online application form with organization details Financial spreadsheet documenting income/expenditure for last year plus projections for current and next year Focus must align with African writing and African literature Foundation operates as "a catalyst rather than a crutch" Decision Timeline Writing Scholarship Process: July 1: Applications open September 22: Applications close October/November: Shortlist announced (approximately 15-20 candidates) Mid-to-late November: Judges meet to select winners (typically around 21st) Late November: Winners announced (typically around 22nd) Early following year: New scholarship cycle rules and dates announced Total Timeline: Approximately 2-3 months from application deadline to decision Notification Method: Applicants receive acknowledgment of receipt No further contact unless shortlisted Shortlisted candidates contacted in November for additional information Unsuccessful candidates receive thank you email after winners announced Winners announced publicly on foundation website and through press releases Success Rates 2025 Statistics: Applications received: 800+ Awards granted: 4 Success rate: <1% (approximately 0. 5%) 2024 Statistics: Applications received: Nearly 500 Awards granted: 4 Success rate: <1% (approximately 0.

Where is The Miles Morland Foundation based?

The Miles Morland Foundation is based in London. They fund organisations in Throughout England.