The Moulding Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £250,259 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Up to £10,000 (smaller requests) | Major grants: £100,000-£5,000,000
• Geographic Focus: North of England

Contact Details

Website: https://www.themouldingfoundation.com/

Email: enquiries@mouldingfoundation.com

Instagram: @themouldingfoundation

To Apply: Submit an expression of interest via the contact page on their website

Overview

The Moulding Foundation was established in 2020 by Jodie and Matt Moulding in response to the pandemic's impact on disadvantaged communities in Northern England. In April 2021, Matt Moulding donated £100 million in THG shares to the foundation. The foundation has pledged over £10 million to charities and good causes since inception. The foundation operates with a small team of three trustees and eight volunteers, focusing on alleviating social and economic inequalities across the North of England. The foundation demonstrates flexibility in its funding approach, supporting both smaller grassroots projects (up to £10,000) and major strategic initiatives (£100,000-£5,000,000), with a particular emphasis on disability support, education access, homelessness, and healthcare.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates two distinct funding streams:

• Small Grants: Up to £10,000 for smaller fundraising requests; can be structured as one-off grants of up to £5,000 or annual grants of up to £3,000 for 3 years
• Major Strategic Grants: £100,000-£5,000,000 for significant infrastructure and transformative projects
• Application Method: Rolling basis via expression of interest through website contact form

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on four main pillars:

1. Social Exclusion: Relief of poverty, financial hardship, and social exclusion, including homelessness support
2. Young People with Disabilities: Removing barriers and creating opportunities for young people with complex needs and disabilities
3. Education: Advancing education, research, and training to raise awareness of social issues; removing financial barriers to education
4. Health: Relief of sickness, advancing health, and saving lives

Geographic Requirement: All projects must be based in the North of England and serve local/regional communities

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the foundation only funds projects aligned with their four priority pillars and located in the North of England.

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Governance and Leadership

Founders and Co-Trustees:

• Jodie Moulding: Co-founder and Trustee Chair
• Matt Moulding: Co-founder (founder and CEO of THG plc)

Additional Trustees/Advisors:

• Max Moulding
• Ian Armstrong
• Jessica Hart
• Steph Wright

Key Quotes from Leadership

Jodie Moulding on the Foundation's Mission:

“Removing barriers and creating equal opportunities is at the core of our mission.”

On Partnership Values:

“Lifeshare, like us, believe that everyone, no matter what their personal situation, deserves an education, access to healthcare, and a safe place to call home.”

On Working with Local Charities:

Jodie emphasized “the importance of working alongside independent charities who are deeply embedded in their local community, to shine a light on the work they are doing and drive support for their causes.”

On Disability Support:

When discussing the Seashell Trust project, Jodie stated: "Royal School Manchester is a world-class facility for children with complex needs and we are proud to have The Moulding Foundation associated with it. It's right here in Greater Manchester, showing the world how it's done."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Visit the foundation's website at www.themouldingfoundation.com
2. Navigate to the contact page
3. Submit an expression of interest describing your project
4. Ensure your project aligns with one or more of the foundation's four funding pillars
5. Confirm your organization/project is based in the North of England

Application Type: Rolling basis - no fixed deadlines

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The foundation appears to operate on a case-by-case basis, with major strategic grants likely requiring longer consideration periods.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly stated. Organizations are encouraged to contact the foundation directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Based on recent grants and foundation statements, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Strong Alignment with Core Values

• Projects that remove barriers to opportunity
• Initiatives creating equal access to education, healthcare, or housing
• Programs serving vulnerable and disadvantaged populations in Northern England

2. Evidence of Transformative Impact

• The foundation supports projects described as “transformative experiences” rather than just services
• Focus on long-term outcomes and life-changing opportunities
• Projects that build confidence, independence, and connections

3. Community Embeddedness

• Preference for organizations “deeply embedded in their local community”
• Demonstrated understanding of local needs
• Track record of community engagement

4. Educational Opportunities

• Projects that provide “excellent independent learning, research, skills acquisition, and personal development”
• Initiatives removing financial barriers to education
• Programs with reach beyond direct beneficiaries (e.g., benefiting multiple schools)

5. Disability Focus Prioritized

• Current emphasis on projects that “remove barriers and create opportunities for young people with disabilities”
• Supporting organizations working with people with sight loss, complex needs, and various disabilities

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

• Seashell Trust: £5 million for Project Transformation building at Royal School Manchester
• Embassy Village: £3.5 million to create UK's largest purpose-built village for rough sleepers (40 homes)
• UA92: £250,000 for bursary scheme supporting 25 students from Greater Manchester
• The Cransley Foundation: £100,000 for new Food and Nutrition Laboratory and Kitchen
• Lifeshare: £70,000 raised through foundation's first fundraising event
• Henshaws: Funding for 10 summer trips for 57 visually impaired children

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Scale flexibility: The foundation funds both small grassroots projects (up to £10,000) and major strategic initiatives (£100,000+), so don't self-select out based on project size
• Values-driven: Demonstrate how your project embodies the foundation's core value of “removing barriers and creating equal opportunities”
• Local focus required: Projects must be based in North of England and serve local/regional communities - this is non-negotiable
• Current priority: Disability support is explicitly prioritized, particularly for young people with disabilities
• Transformative language: Frame your project as creating life-changing opportunities, not just providing services
• Community connection: Emphasize your organization's deep roots in the local community and track record
• Educational component: Projects with educational elements or that advance learning appear strongly favored
• Partnership potential: The foundation values organizations that can collaborate and amplify impact across communities

References

1. The Moulding Foundation official website - https://www.themouldingfoundation.com/
2. The Moulding Foundation “Our Focus” page - https://www.themouldingfoundation.com/our-focus
3. The Moulding Foundation “About Us” page - https://www.themouldingfoundation.com/about-us
4. Charity Commission Register - THE MOULDING FOUNDATION (1192727) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1192727&subid=0
5. The Moulding Foundation funding update: Cransley Foundation grant - https://www.themouldingfoundation.com/our-news/funding-updates/the-moulding-foundation-donates-100-000-to-the-cransley-foundation
6. The Moulding Foundation funding update: Henshaws grant - https://www.themouldingfoundation.com/our-news/funding-updates/the-moulding-foundation-funds-10-trips-for-visually-impaired-children
7. VODA - The Moulding Foundation information - https://voda.org.uk/the-moulding-foundation/
8. Lifeshare news: "The Moulding Foundation's first event raises £70,000" - https://www.lifeshare.org.uk/the-moulding-foundations-first-event-raises-70000-for-lifeshare/
9. Prolific North: "THG founder's family foundation gifts £250k in bursaries to UA92"
10. The Seashell Trust: “The Moulding Foundation donates £5million to Seashell” - https://www.seashelltrust.org.uk/moulding-foundation/
11. Peel Group Foundation: “Embassy Village homelessness project” - https://peelgroupfoundation.org/news/embassy-donation