The Osteopathic Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £94,780 (2024 estimate - £57,980 in open grants + £36,800 in student grants)
• Success Rate: Approximately 20-25% (5 awards from competitive pool)
• Decision Time: 8-12 weeks (July deadline, September notification)
• Grant Range: £500 - £20,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-focused with international comparative elements

Contact Details

General Enquiries:

• Email: enquiries@iosteopathy.org
• Phone: 01582 488455
• Address: The Institute of Osteopathy, 3 Park Terrace, Manor Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 3HN
• Website: https://www.iosteopathy.org/about-the-io/the-osteopathic-foundation/

Grant Programme Contact:

• Manjeet Kaur, iO Projects & Osteopathic Foundation Manager
• Email: Manjeet@iOsteopathy.org
• For questions or to discuss potential projects before applying

Overview

The Osteopathic Foundation (charity no. 313785) was founded in 1947 as the Osteopathic Education Foundation and has been supporting the osteopathic profession for over 70 years. In 2017, the Institute of Osteopathy officially accepted stewardship of the foundation, renaming it The Osteopathic Foundation. Since 2001, the foundation has provided over £1 million in support to advance osteopathic practice for the benefit of public health. Operating entirely on donations from the public and the osteopathic profession without government funding, the foundation's mission is to raise, administer and distribute funds in support of all aspects of osteopathic education, development and research. In recent years, the foundation has intensified its grant-making activities, awarding nearly £58,000 to three innovative projects in the 2024 Open Grants Programme alone, alongside substantial student support grants totalling £36,800.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Open Grants Programme: £500 - £20,000

• Research projects advancing osteopathic evidence base
• Educational innovation and curriculum development
• Professional development initiatives
• Practice improvement projects
• Application method: Expression of Interest followed by full application (rolling basis closed annually)

Student Grants: Variable amounts (typically up to several thousand pounds)

• Financial assistance for osteopathic students during their education
• Supporting students in financial need to complete their training
• Application process managed through osteopathic colleges

Priority Areas

Projects funded must demonstrate support for the foundation's charitable aims: “to advance osteopathic practice by funding education and research, and by promoting productive relationships both within and outside of the profession, for the benefit of public health.”

The foundation particularly values:

• Collaborative projects working in partnership with other organizations
• Innovative approaches that bring fresh perspectives to osteopathic practice
• Match funding demonstrating wider support and sustainability
• Broad professional benefit serving the osteopathic community widely
• Evidence-based research strengthening the profession's scientific foundation
• Educational modernization aligning teaching with current evidence-based practices
• Workforce development supporting professional retention and career progression

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus on advancing osteopathic practice suggests they do not fund:

• Projects outside the osteopathic field
• Individual clinical practice establishment costs
• Overseas projects without UK benefit
• Commercial ventures or profit-making activities

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Governance and Leadership

Chairman: Dr. Jonathan Shapiro (appointed 2017)

The foundation operates with a small trustee board (currently 1 trustee according to Charity Commission records), with day-to-day management handled by the Institute of Osteopathy staff. Trustees receive no remuneration, though the Charity Commission notes that one or more trustees receive payments or benefits for providing services to the charity.

The foundation works closely with key stakeholders including:

• The National Council for Osteopathic Research (NCOR)
• Osteopathic educational institutions across the UK
• The Institute of Osteopathy membership body

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation operates a two-stage application process for the Open Grants Programme:

Stage 1: Expression of Interest

• Submit by early July (typically July 1st or 4th)
• Brief overview of proposed project
• Available via the Institute of Osteopathy website
• Decisions announced by end of July

Stage 2: Full Application

• Invited applicants submit detailed proposals
• Deadline typically late September/early October
• Final decisions announced in September (some years December)

Important Notes:

• If your study involves NHS sites in England, you must apply for Health Research Authority Approval
• Applicants should contact Manjeet Kaur to discuss potential projects before applying
• Applications open annually mid-year; check website for current cycle dates
• The 2025 grant programme applications are expected to open in mid-2025

Decision Timeline

• Expression of Interest deadline: Early July
• Stage 1 decisions: End of July (4 weeks)
• Full application deadline: Late September
• Final decisions announced: September-December (8-12 weeks from full application)
• Total process: Approximately 3-5 months from initial expression of interest

Success Rates

The foundation expects to make approximately five grants through its competitive Open Grants Programme. With grants up to £20,000 available and the foundation awarding nearly £58,000 in 2024 across three projects, the competition is significant. Based on the foundation's statements about competitive processes and the small number of awards, applicants should expect an approximate success rate of 20-25%, though exact application numbers are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publicly state a reapplication policy. Given the annual grant cycle and the foundation's encouragement to contact Manjeet Kaur to discuss potential projects, unsuccessful applicants are advised to:

• Seek feedback on their previous application
• Discuss improvements with foundation staff before reapplying
• Consider reapplying in subsequent years with strengthened proposals

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's funded projects and stated priorities, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Alignment with Charitable Aims

The 2024 grant recipients exemplify this: NCOR's adverse events study (£20,000) directly addresses patient safety and evidence-based practice; UCO's OsMoSys Project (£20,000) modernizes educational frameworks to align with current evidence; and UCO's Osteo-TAQ national study (£17,980) maps clinical practice to support professional development and workforce retention. Each project clearly advances osteopathic practice for public health benefit.

2. Collaborative Partnerships

The foundation explicitly states that “applicants are advised to work in collaboration with others.” Successful 2024 projects involved partnerships between the foundation and established institutions (NCOR, University College of Osteopathy), demonstrating the value placed on collaborative work.

3. Match Funding and Sustainability

Projects should demonstrate match funding from other sources, showing wider support and long-term viability beyond the foundation grant.

4. Innovation with Evidence Base

The OsMoSys Project exemplifies this balance—it's innovative in modernizing osteopathic models while being grounded in evidence-based practice, ensuring educational content translates to clinical excellence.

5. Broad Professional Impact

The Osteo-TAQ study demonstrates this criterion well—it benefits the entire UK osteopathic profession through workforce retention support, CPD compliance, and skills enhancement, rather than serving a narrow subset.

6. Research Quality and Methodology

Projects involving research should use validated tools (like the Osteo-TAQ survey) and rigorous methodologies, including international comparisons where relevant.

7. Early Engagement with Foundation Staff

The foundation encourages applicants to “contact Manjeet Kaur at Manjeet@iOsteopathy.org” to discuss potential projects, suggesting that early dialogue increases application success.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Start with a conversation: Contact Manjeet Kaur before applying to discuss your project and ensure alignment with foundation priorities—this is explicitly encouraged and likely increases success rates.

• Emphasize collaboration and match funding: The foundation values partnerships with other organizations and expects applicants to secure match funding, demonstrating broader support and sustainability.

• Focus on profession-wide benefit: Successful grants serve the osteopathic community broadly rather than narrow interests—think workforce development, educational modernization, or evidence-base strengthening.

• Balance innovation with evidence: The foundation funds cutting-edge projects, but they must be grounded in sound methodology and evidence-based practice, as demonstrated by the OsMoSys and Osteo-TAQ projects.

• Two-stage process requires strategic timing: The Expression of Interest (early July) is your first hurdle—make it compelling enough to be invited to submit a full application. Only about 5 projects receive funding from the competitive pool.

• Plan for regulatory requirements early: If your project involves NHS sites in England, factor in time for Health Research Authority Approval—this can significantly extend your timeline.

• Study recent grant recipients: The 2024 awards to NCOR (adverse events research), and two UCO projects (educational modernization and national practice mapping) reveal what the foundation values—patient safety, evidence-based education, and professional development.

References

• Institute of Osteopathy - The Osteopathic Foundation. Available at: https://www.iosteopathy.org/about-the-io/the-osteopathic-foundation/

• Institute of Osteopathy - Grant Applications. Available at: https://www.iosteopathy.org/about-the-io/the-osteopathic-foundation/grant-applications/

• Institute of Osteopathy - Osteopathic Foundation announces successful grant recipients. Available at: https://www.iosteopathy.org/osteopathic-foundation-announces-successful-grant-recipients/

• Charity Commission - The Osteopathic Foundation (313785). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/313785

• KESO - Institute of Osteopathy officially accepts stewardship of Osteopathic Foundation. Available at: https://www.keso.org.uk/institute-of-osteopathy-officially-accepts-stewardship-of-osteopathic-foundation/

• Giving is Great - The Osteopathic Foundation Charity Factsheet. Available at: https://givingisgreat.org/charitydetail/?regNo=313785