The Noël Coward Foundation
Charity Number: 1178029
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £349,870 (FY 2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
- Decision Time: Applications reviewed twice yearly (late spring and late autumn)
- Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed - varies by project
- Geographic Focus: UK and international (including US-based projects)
Contact Details
Website: https://www.noelcoward.com/foundation
Email: ncf@alanbrodie.com
Phone: 020 7253 6226
Pre-application contact: Strongly encouraged, particularly for organisations working exclusively in music, opera and dance
Overview
The Noël Coward Foundation was established as a charitable trust in 2000 by Graham Payn and Dany Dasto, and registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (charity number 1178029) in 2018. Over its existence, the Foundation has donated nearly £2 million to help companies and organisations develop their arts and education projects. With an annual expenditure of approximately £350,000, the Foundation's mission is to award grants to educational and professional development projects across the performing arts and to continue the keen interest Coward himself took in charitable work during his lifetime. The Foundation is entirely dependent on royalty income from producing Coward works, which directly impacts its grant-making capacity. The Foundation supports a diverse range of outstanding organisations working in theatre, music, playwriting, technical training, academic research and many other areas.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The Foundation operates a single grant programme supporting educational and professional development projects across the performing arts. Grant amounts vary by project and are not publicly disclosed. Applications are accepted during specific windows ahead of twice-yearly committee meetings (typically late spring and late autumn).
Application Method: Fixed application windows with rolling review after window closes. Applications are not accepted outside designated windows.
Priority Areas
The Foundation gives priority to applications that demonstrate:
- Strong educational element aimed at the 16+ age group
- Early-career support - emphasis on supporting people entering or in the early stages of a career in the performing arts
- Access and inclusion - projects that extend access for groups who have not traditionally engaged with performing arts
- Coward's legacy - projects exploring Noël Coward's work in educational settings
The Foundation supports diverse projects across theatre, music, playwriting, technical training, and academic research.
What They Don't Fund
- Production costs in any form
- Individual grants for university or drama school fees (will only award money to individuals through organisations and companies)
- Applications submitted outside designated application windows
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Governance and Leadership
Trustees
The Foundation has 3 trustees. Specific names are not publicly listed on the Charity Commission register, though the Executive Committee is known.
Executive Committee
- Alan Brodie - Chair (also founder of Alan Brodie Representation Ltd, which represents the Noël Coward Estate)
- Peter Kyle - Executive Committee member
- Robert Lee - Executive Committee member
Patrons
- Michael Attenborough, CBE
- André Bishop
- Patricia Hodge, OBE
- Sir Cameron Mackintosh
- Indira Varma
- Sir Matthew Bourne
Key Quote from Leadership: Alan Brodie has noted that the Foundation “is entirely dependent on royalty income from producing Coward works, and that no theatre means no royalties and therefore zero income for the Foundation.” This transparency about the Foundation's income streams reflects their pragmatic approach to grant-making.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
- Submit: Email PDF to ncf@alanbrodie.com with organisation name clearly stated in filename
Decision Timeline
- Application windows: Twice per year, typically aligned with late spring and late autumn committee meetings
- Committee meetings: Late spring and late autumn
- Decision timeframe: Not publicly disclosed - likely within weeks to a couple of months after application window closes
- Notification method: Not publicly disclosed
Success Rates
Success rates and number of applications received are not publicly disclosed.
Reapplication Policy
No specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is publicly documented. Applicants may wish to contact the Foundation directly at ncf@alanbrodie.com to inquire about reapplying after an unsuccessful application.
Application Success Factors
What the Foundation Values
Pre-application engagement: The Foundation “strongly encourages interested organisations to get in touch prior to applying so that they can advise them of the suitability of their request.” This suggests relationship-building and ensuring alignment before formal application submission is valued.
Educational focus: Projects with strong educational elements for 16+ age groups are prioritized, reflecting Coward's own commitment to arts education.
Career development: The Foundation emphasizes supporting people “entering or in the early stages of a career in the Arts,” indicating preference for projects with mentorship, training, or professional development components.
Access and inclusion: Projects extending access to groups who have not traditionally engaged with performing arts demonstrate alignment with the Foundation's values.
Recent Grant Recipients as Examples
Understanding what the Foundation has recently funded provides insight into their priorities:
- Rhinebeck Writers Retreat - Supported to run early career musical theatre writers' retreats
- Complicité - Delivered Mudlarks, a one-week pilot training programme in devised theatre for theatre makers aged 18-29
- HB Studio - Educational project for a new generation of artists
- Old Fire Station - Offbeat Festival's Supported Artists programme 2024
- LAMDA - Series of workshops and panel talks delivered alongside the 2024 LAMDA MishMash Festival
- Wise Children - Open Residency for performers in 2024
- British Youth Music Theatre - Opportunities for emerging Musical Directors
These examples demonstrate the Foundation's commitment to training, mentorship, and creating opportunities for emerging artists.
Application Format Matters
The Foundation is explicit about format requirements: 4 pages maximum including cover sheet and budget, submitted as a single PDF. This suggests they value concise, well-organized proposals that respect committee members' time.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Contact them first: Pre-application engagement is strongly encouraged and can help ensure your project is suitable before investing time in a full application
- Timing is critical: Applications are only accepted during specific windows - plan ahead and mark your calendar for late summer/early autumn and early spring windows
- Focus on early-career and education: The Foundation prioritizes supporting emerging artists and educational projects for 16+ age groups
- Connection to Coward helps but isn't essential: While projects exploring Coward's work are welcomed, many funded projects have no direct Coward connection but align with his charitable interests
- Be concise: The 4-page limit requires clear, focused writing - make every word count
- No production funding: Don't apply for production costs - focus on training, education, professional development, and access initiatives
- Understand their funding model: The Foundation's income depends on royalties from Coward productions, which can fluctuate - be prepared for potential variations in available funding
Similar Funders
These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:
- The Eranda Rothschild Foundation
- THE T. S. ELIOT FOUNDATION
- THE MACKINTOSH FOUNDATION
- The Gaudio Family Foundation (UK) Limited
- HUO FAMILY FOUNDATION (UK) LIMITED
- The David and Claudia Harding Foundation
- Alliance Family Foundation Limited
- THE VARDY FOUNDATION
- The Sam and Bella Sebba Charitable Foundation
- UGGLA FAMILY FOUNDATION
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References
- The Noël Coward Foundation official website: https://www.noelcoward.com/foundation
- The Noël Coward Foundation application page: https://www.noelcoward.com/ncf-apply
- UK Charity Commission Register - The Noel Coward Foundation (1178029): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1178029&subId=0
- Official London Theatre: “The Noel Coward Foundation donates further £65,000 to support theatre organisations”: https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/the-noel-coward-foundation-donates-further-65000-to-support-theatre-organisations-impacted-by-covid-19/
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Noël Coward Foundation fund?
Grant Programs The Foundation operates a single grant programme supporting educational and professional development projects across the performing arts. Grant amounts vary by project and are not publicly disclosed.
How much funding does The Noël Coward Foundation provide?
The Noël Coward Foundation provides grants ranging from Not publicly disclosed - varies by project, with total annual giving of approximately £349,870 (FY 2024).
How do I contact The Noël Coward Foundation?
Website: https://www. noelcoward.
Is The Noël Coward Foundation a registered charity?
Yes, The Noël Coward Foundation is a registered charity with the Charity Commission (charity number 1178029). They primarily serve organisations in Throughout England And Wales, United States.
How do I apply to The Noël Coward Foundation?
How to Apply Pre-application contact strongly encouraged: Contact ncf@alanbrodie. com before applying for advice on suitability, particularly for organisations working exclusively in music, opera and dance Wait for application window: Applications are only accepted during designated windows (not rolling) Prepare single PDF: Maximum 4 pages including cover sheet and budget Required contents: - Completed NCF Application Form as first page - Introduction to organisation - Reasons for applying - Connection to Noël Coward (if applicable) - Detailed project proposal - Funding amount requested with clear cost breakdown - Project timeline - Planned acknowledgement of Foundation support Submit: Email PDF to ncf@alanbrodie. com with organisation name clearly stated in filename Decision Timeline Application windows: Twice per year, typically aligned with late spring and late autumn committee meetings Committee meetings: Late spring and late autumn Decision timeframe: Not publicly disclosed - likely within weeks to a couple of months after application window closes Notification method: Not publicly disclosed Success Rates Success rates and number of applications received are not publicly disclosed.
Where is The Noël Coward Foundation based?
They fund organisations in Throughout England And Wales, United States.