The Randal Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £770,000 (2022)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Up to 12 weeks
• Grant Range: £3,000 - £30,000 (depending on funding call)
• Geographic Focus: UK national (some global work)
• Application Method: Fixed calls only (no open rolling applications)

Contact Details

Website: www.randalfoundation.org.uk

Email: grants@randalfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 0116 237 4998

Address: Nene House, 4 Rushmills, Northampton, NN4 7YB, UK

Overview

Founded in 2017 by Dr. Nik Kotecha OBE DL and Monica (Moni) Huang, The Randal Charitable Foundation operates with the mission of “saving and significantly improving lives, one act of compassion at a time.” The Foundation aims to save and significantly improve 1 million lives across the UK and globally. By 2023, the Foundation had awarded 143 grants across 26 countries, with 51% supporting UK projects and 49% international initiatives, resulting in 192,000 lives saved and over 558,000 lives significantly improved. In 2022, the Foundation distributed £770,226 in grants. In 2023, the Foundation underwent a strategic shift, moving away from open rolling applications to a focused approach with specific funding calls linked to trustee priorities. A new strategy for 2024-2027 further refined their thematic focus areas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: £5,000 - £30,000

• Covers up to 50% of total project costs
• Projects must be completed within 12 months
• Application method: Fixed calls announced on website
• Primarily funds one-off projects or interventions
• Multi-year strategic partnerships available by invitation only

Northamptonshire Community Fund (Partnership Programme): Up to £3,000

• Administered through Northamptonshire Community Foundation
• Rolling programme for Northamptonshire-based groups
• For organizations with annual turnover of £50,000 or less
• Can fund core costs, capital costs, and project delivery
• Contact: 01604 230033

Education Bursary Programme: Up to £1,200

• Support for disadvantaged students with barriers to learning
• Example partnership with Loughborough College

Priority Areas

UK Focus:

• Healthcare for vulnerable populations (including older people and those in vulnerable circumstances)
• Tackling mental ill-health (peer support groups, therapeutic activities)
• Alleviating poverty (community gardens, access to free youth clubs)
• Women and children at risk of violence or exploitation
• Prisoner rehabilitation (supporting individuals into work or volunteering)
• Education of the most disadvantaged (educational opportunities, new skills development)

Global Focus:

• Healthcare and nutrition for vulnerable populations
• Emergency response
• Clean water and sanitation
• Education
• Poverty alleviation
• Advancement of primary and secondary healthcare in lower and middle-income countries

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited applications from non-UK based organizations
• General enquiries outside of open funding calls
• Organizations that cannot demonstrate genuine funding need
• Reapplications within 3 years of project completion

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

Dr. Nik Kotecha OBE DL - Founder and Chairman

Entrepreneur and founder of Morningside Pharmaceuticals (established 1991). Arrived in the UK as a child refugee in 1972 and experienced forced displacement, homelessness, and poverty firsthand.

Key quote: “When we established the Foundation, we wanted to make sure that every penny provided, directly saved a life with the aspiration to save 1 million lives in the UK and globally.”

Mrs. Moni Kotecha FBDO - Co-Founder

Qualified optometrist and co-founder of Morningside Pharmaceuticals. Dedicated to social-focused mission and charitable work.

Mrs. Monica Huang MSc

Country Head and General Manager for UK at Zydus Group, with 15 years of previous experience at Morningside Pharmaceuticals.

Mr. Chris Hobson

Expert in public policy development across private and charity sectors, with experience in policy, housing, and business growth boards.

Mr. Matthew Thompson

Corporate partner at Howes Percival LLP, specializing in business acquisitions and corporate governance. Joined the Board in December 2021.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The Foundation no longer accepts unsolicited applications or general enquiries. Organizations must wait for specific funding calls announced on the Foundation's website.

Two-Stage Process:

1. Expression of Interest: Submit online enquiry form when a funding call is open
2. Full Application: Shortlisted applicants invited to complete detailed application form

Application Requirements:

• Complete application form with specific funding amount requested
• Evidence of project achievements
• Governance documentation
• Compliance evidence
• Safeguarding policies
• Financial details
• Clear demonstration of lives saved or significantly improved
• Cost-effectiveness analysis

Review Process:

• Enquiries reviewed by executive team
• Full applications considered by Board of Trustees
• All enquiries and applications reviewed by Trustees

Decision Timeline

• Response Time: Up to 12 weeks from completed application submission
• Notification Method: Email
• Project Duration: Funded projects must be completed within 12 months

Success Rates

Success rate statistics are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation awarded £770,226 across multiple grants in 2022, down from £889,519 in 2021.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations previously funded by the Foundation can only reapply 3 years after their funded project completion, and only in response to an open funding call.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Foundation

Be Specific About Funding Needs:

“Causes should approach funding requests by stating the exact amount needed to enable them to continue their work/project. It is important that charities are specific about where funding is lacking and how a grant from the Randal Charitable Foundation will enable the charity to continue to carry out its operations/project effectively.”

Demonstrate Genuine Need:

The Foundation will not provide funding to organizations where they cannot demonstrate a genuine need for funding.

Evidence-Based Proposals:

Applications must “clearly provide an evidence based proposal for the grant required and show the cost effectiveness of the cause.”

Quantify Impact:

Applicants must provide "clear evidence of forecast impact against the Foundation's targets – saving lives and significantly improving lives.“ The Foundation emphasizes: ”It is very much about the difference we make and the lives we are able to save and significantly improve."

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

• EMERGENCY UK Partnership - Life-saving work in crisis zones
• Suicide Prevention UK - Reducing and preventing suicide
• The Wren Project - Mental health support
• Rape and Sexual Assault Support Service - Supporting survivors
• The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN) - Supporting refugee entrepreneurs
• Grace Enterprises - Social enterprise support
• Sharewear - Poverty alleviation through clothing redistribution
• Age UK - Healthcare for vulnerable older people
• Centre for Social Justice - Tackling social disadvantage
• Excellent Development - International development projects

Key Language and Terminology

The Foundation focuses on:

• “Saving lives” (direct, measurable life-saving interventions)
• “Significantly improving lives” (qualitative impact)
• “One act of compassion at a time”
• “Transformative change”
• “Sustainable, meaningful change”
• “Evidence-based” approaches
• “Cost-effectiveness”

Strategic Considerations

Grassroots Initiative: In 2024, the Foundation distributed over £200,000 to 60+ grassroots charitable organizations, indicating strong support for smaller community organizations.

Partnership Approach: The Foundation partners with community foundations (e.g., Northamptonshire Community Foundation) to reach local organizations.

Monitoring Requirements: Grantees must provide monitoring information during the project and an end-of-project report with detailed financial accounting and evidence of impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Wait for Open Calls: Never submit unsolicited applications. Monitor the Foundation's website for specific funding calls that match your work.

• Align with “Saving Lives” Mission: Applications must clearly demonstrate how the project will either directly save lives or significantly improve lives. Quantify impact wherever possible.

• Request Exact Amounts: Ask for the precise amount needed, not a general figure. Demonstrate genuine funding gaps and how the grant will enable project delivery.

• Emphasize Cost-Effectiveness: Show how your project delivers maximum impact per pound spent. The Foundation values efficiency in life-saving and life-improving work.

• Provide Evidence: Use data, case studies, and measurable outcomes to support your application. The Foundation prioritizes evidence-based approaches.

• Consider Regional Partnerships: For smaller grants (under £3,000), explore whether your area has a partnership fund like the Northamptonshire programme.

• Plan for 12-Month Completion: All funded projects must be completed within 12 months, so ensure your project timeline fits this requirement.

• Highlight Founder's Values: Dr. Kotecha's personal experience as a refugee and his journey from poverty to philanthropy shapes the Foundation's ethos. Emphasize compassion, resilience, and community support in applications.

References

• Randal Charitable Foundation Official Website. “About Us.” www.randalfoundation.org.uk/about-us/
• Randal Charitable Foundation. “Applications.” www.randalfoundation.org.uk/applications/
• Randal Charitable Foundation. “Grant Giving.” www.randalfoundation.org.uk/grant-giving/
• Randal Charitable Foundation. "Our Trustees & Governance." www.randalfoundation.org.uk/trustees
• Charity Commission for England and Wales. “The Randal Charitable Foundation - Charity Overview (1176129).” register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1176129
• Northamptonshire Community Foundation. “Randal Charitable Foundation Fund.” www.ncf.uk.com/grants/grants-available/randal-charitable-foundation-fund
• Carers Worldwide. "#HumansCare | Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, Founder & Chair of Trustees, Randal Charitable Foundation." carersworldwide.org/blog/humanscare-dr-nik-kotecha-obe-founder-chair-of-trustees-randal-charitable-foundation
• Supporting Communities. “Randal Charitable Foundation.” supportingcommunities.org/funding-news-1/2023/1/5/randal-charitable-foundation
• PAVO. “The Randal Charitable Foundation.” www.pavo.org.uk/news/the-randal-charitable-foundation/
• Northamptonshire Telegraph. “Vital Support for the Vulnerable: Local charities empowered by new funding partnership.” (2024)