The Patrick Rowland Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £94,237 (year ending March 2025)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not specified (rolling basis)
• Grant Range: Typically £2,000 (with occasional larger grants)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (and overseas)

Contact Details

Address:

Edmund Carr

146 New London Road

Chelmsford

CM2 0AW

Phone: 01245 261818

Email: tprfoundation@gmail.com

Website: None

Overview

The Patrick Rowland Foundation is a Chelmsford-based grant-making charity registered in 2011 (charity number 1141689, company number 07566325). With an annual expenditure of £94,237 (year ending March 2025), the Foundation makes small grants typically averaging around £2,000, augmented by occasional larger grants, to registered charities working in England and Wales and overseas. The Foundation has exceptionally broad charitable objectives, allowing the trustees significant discretion to support causes ranging from education and health to the arts, conservation, and religious harmony. The Foundation operates without a website and maintains a streamlined approach to grant-making, accepting written applications on a rolling basis throughout the year. No trustees receive remuneration from the charity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates a single flexible grant program with rolling applications:

• General Grants: Typically £2,000 with occasional larger grants available
• Application Method: Written applications accepted at any time (rolling basis)
• No formal deadlines: Applications may be submitted throughout the year

Priority Areas

The Foundation has wide-ranging charitable objectives and can support registered charities working in:

• Education: Advancement of education
• Health: Health and the saving of lives
• Arts and Culture: Arts, culture, heritage, and science
• Poverty Relief: Prevention and relief of poverty
• Environmental Protection: Environmental protection and improvement
• Conservation: Conservation initiatives
• Religious Harmony: Promotion of religious or racial harmony, equality and diversity
• Human Rights: Advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation
• Community Development: Citizenship and community development
• Animal Welfare: Animal welfare initiatives
• Amateur Sport: Advancement of amateur sport
• Emergency Services: Promotion of the efficiency of Armed Forces, Police, Fire and Rescue Services, or Ambulance Services

The Foundation's donations "may be wide ranging or focussed on one charitable cause at the Trustees' discretion," indicating flexibility in their funding approach.

What They Don't Fund

While the Foundation has broad objectives, based on their stated focus:

• Non-registered charities (they explicitly support registered charities in England and Wales)
• Individuals (the Foundation makes donations to charities, not individuals)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Foundation is governed by three trustees:

• Mr. Rory Landman: Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and former Senior Bursar (2006-2021) where he managed the college's £1.5bn endowment. Mr. Landman has 35 years of investment experience, including launching and managing emerging markets equity funds of approximately $3 billion at Thames River Capital (2000-2006). He currently serves on Cambridge University's Financial Investments sub-Committee and as a trustee of Schoolreaders.
• Mrs. Louise Landman
• Mr. Simon Jay

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, emphasizing the Foundation's entirely voluntary governance structure.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Patrick Rowland Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines.

Application Method:

• Applications should be made in writing
• Send applications to: Edmund Carr, 146 New London Road, Chelmsford CM2 0AW
• Alternatively, email applications to: tprfoundation@gmail.com
• Phone enquiries: 01245 261818

What to Include:

While specific application requirements are not published, applicants should clearly articulate:

• Your organization's charitable status (registered charity number)
• The purpose of the grant request
• How the funding aligns with the Foundation's broad charitable objectives
• The amount requested (noting that typical grants are around £2,000)
• Geographic scope of your work (England, Wales, or overseas)

Decision Timeline

The Foundation does not publish specific decision timelines. As a small foundation with rolling applications and trustee discretion, applicants should expect:

• Decisions made at trustee meetings (frequency not specified)
• Responses communicated in writing or by email
• No published timeframe from submission to decision

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publish data on:

• Number of applications received annually
• Number of grants awarded
• Application success rates
• Total number of beneficiary organizations supported

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Given the rolling application process and trustee discretion, organizations may wish to contact the Foundation directly to discuss reapplication after an unsuccessful attempt.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information available, the following factors appear important for successful applications:

1. Alignment with Broad Objectives

The Foundation's exceptionally wide-ranging charitable objectives mean most registered charities will find alignment. However, applications should clearly demonstrate how the proposed work fits within at least one of the Foundation's stated priority areas.

2. Registered Charity Status

The Foundation explicitly makes “donations to registered Charities,” so valid registration with the Charity Commission (for charities in England and Wales) is essential.

3. Appropriate Grant Size

With typical grants of £2,000, the Foundation appears to favor smaller-scale projects or contributions to larger initiatives. While occasional larger grants are made, applicants should be realistic about the scale of funding typically available.

4. Written Communication Quality

With applications made “in writing” and no formal application form or website, the quality of written communication is likely crucial. Clear, concise proposals that demonstrate impact and need will stand out.

5. Geographic Scope

The Foundation supports work in “England and Wales and/or overseas,” giving it a broad reach. Clearly stating the geographic scope of your work helps trustees understand the reach of their potential support.

6. Trustee Discretion

The Foundation explicitly notes that donations can be "wide ranging or focussed on one charitable cause at the Trustees' discretion." This suggests that funding priorities may shift based on trustee interests and external circumstances, meaning there is no guaranteed formula for success.

7. Timing

With rolling applications and no deadlines, the Foundation offers flexibility. However, with limited annual giving (under £100,000), funds may be committed at various points throughout the year.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Simple, accessible process: No website, formal application forms, or complex requirements—just a written application to a straightforward email or postal address
• Small grants focus: Budget for around £2,000 in your planning, though larger grants are occasionally possible
• Exceptional flexibility: With one of the broadest sets of charitable objectives seen in UK grant-making, almost any registered charity could find alignment
• Trustee-led discretion: Three experienced trustees make funding decisions with significant discretion, allowing for responsive and flexible grant-making
• Rolling applications: No deadlines mean you can apply when the need arises, but also no guarantee of timing for decisions
• Limited information: Without published success rates, grant lists, or detailed criteria, applications require a degree of faith in the process
• No overhead for governance: With no trustee remuneration and a lean operation, the Foundation maximizes the proportion of funds going to charitable causes

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FOUNDATION
• The Arts Council of England
• The Henry Smith Foundation
• The London Community Foundation
• John Ellerman Foundation
• The Apax Foundation
• THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY
• P F Charitable Trust
• The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
• The Shanly Foundation
• THE EVELYN TRUST
• The Clare Milne Trust
• FRAZER TRUST
• THE PAUL BASSHAM CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE BOLTINI TRUST
• THE EVESON TRUST
• The Marchus Trust
• The Grace Trust
• National Lottery
• THE FOYLE FOUNDATION

References

1. Charity Commission Register of Charities. “The Patrick Rowland Foundation - Charity 1141689.”. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5017027

1. Charity Commission Register of Charities. “Trustees - The Patrick Rowland Foundation.”. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5017027/trustees

1. Bath and North East Somerset Council. “The Patrick Rowland Foundation.”. https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/node/88605

1. Companies House. “The Patrick Rowland Foundation - Company 07566325 - Filing History.”. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07566325/filing-history

1. Charity Choice. “The Patrick Rowland Foundation - Charity Directory.”. https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-patrick-rowland-foundation-183821

1. Cambridge Ahead. “Rory Landman - Our People.”. https://cambridgeahead.co.uk/news-insights/our-people/rory-landman/

1. Trinity College Cambridge. “Trinity launches global search for next Senior Bursar.”. https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/news/trinity-launches-global-search-for-next-senior-bursar/