The Rank Foundation Limited

Charity Number: 276976

Annual Expenditure: £15.4M
Throughout England And Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Contact Info

Website: www.rankfoundation.com

Phone: 020 7834 7731

Email: contactus@rankfoundation.com

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £11 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Primarily invitation-only for major grants
  • Decision Time: Varies by program
  • Grant Range: £250 - £4,000 (Pebble Grants, currently closed); Major grants significantly higher
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide with place-based programs in Plymouth, Dundee, and Sunderland

Contact Details

  • Website: www.rankfoundation.com
  • Email: contactus@rankfoundation.com
  • Phone: 020 7834 7731
  • RankNet (for Network members): ranknet@rankfoundation.com

Overview

The Rank Foundation Limited was founded in 1953 by Arthur Rank, a flour miller and filmmaker who believed young people are “the seed corn of the future and the leaders of tomorrow.” Since the founder's death, the Foundation has donated over £250 million to communities across the UK. In 2023, the Foundation awarded £11 million in grants and investment to 970 leaders. The Foundation operates a distinctive model of “engaged philanthropy” that goes beyond traditional grant-making to include social and intellectual capital, management support, and access to their wider network of over 1,500 leaders (RankNet). The Foundation focuses on three distinct areas: leadership (£4.3m in 2023), community (£4m in 2023), and enterprise (£1.2m in 2023), with additional funding for faith-based initiatives (£1.3m in 2023). Built on principles of enterprising spirit, community commitment, and Christian faith, the Foundation emphasizes building relationships through mutual respect, trust, and empathy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Major Grants Program (Invitation-Only)

  • The Foundation follows a research-led approach where executive directors identify organizations that are a particularly good fit
  • Grant amounts vary significantly depending on the project
  • Examples include £18,000-£20,000 resilience grants
  • In 2023, 17 major grants were awarded totaling significant amounts
  • Application method: Invitation-only; organizations cannot apply directly

Pebble Grants (Currently Closed)

  • Previously awarded £250 - £4,000 to UK registered charities and recognized churches
  • Annual income must be under £500,000
  • Total project cost must be less than £150,000
  • Applicants required to have already raised one-third of total costs
  • Status: Paused, will be reviewed at end of current strategy period in late 2025
  • Represents under 5% of the Foundation's total charitable spending
  • Application method: Rolling basis when open

Cost of Living Grants

  • In 2023, awarded £1.5 million to 130 Network Members
  • Uses a mutual trust-based model of grant-making
  • Available to existing Network members

Repayable Grants Programme

  • Focus on Plymouth (£220,000 fund launched in 2022)
  • Total distributed: over £440,000 due to revolving nature
  • Supports social enterprises and community businesses with well-developed products and business plans
  • Grant amounts vary; examples include grants to five local organizations

Priority Areas

Leadership (£4.3 million in 2023)

  • Developing purposeful, confident, and inspiring leaders
  • Time to Shine programme for people starting careers in the social sector (almost 700 leaders since 2011)
  • School Leadership Award for sixth form students with outstanding leadership potential (almost 1,500 young people since 1978)
  • Rank Aspire Programme for young leaders aged 18-24
  • Community Action Placements for sixth form students (ages 16-18)
  • Start Here Programme providing employment opportunities in the social sector

Enterprise (£1.2 million in 2023)

  • Developing entrepreneurial mindsets and resilient organizations
  • Profit for Good Programme (launched 2019) to boost enterprise and diversify income
  • Repayable grants for well-developed products and business plans
  • Grants to help organizations diversify income
  • Support for social enterprises and community businesses

Community (£4 million in 2023)

  • Building and investing in community strengths
  • Place-based funding in Plymouth, Dundee, and Sunderland
  • Supporting disadvantaged young people
  • Respite breaks and holidays for disadvantaged young people
  • Equipment and capital costs for community projects
  • Supporting those frail or lonely through old age and disability

Faith (£1.3 million in 2023)

  • Advancing and promoting the Christian religion and religious education
  • Advancing public knowledge of other world faiths with significant communities in the UK
  • Promoting understanding of Christian faith values from a perspective that respects those of all faiths and none

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects that benefit only one ethnic or religious group (facilities must be open to the wider community)
  • Organizations with annual income over £500,000 (for Pebble Grants)
  • Projects where total cost exceeds £150,000 (for Pebble Grants)
  • Applications from organizations that have not raised at least one-third of total costs (for Pebble Grants)

Governance and Leadership

Leadership Transition (2025)

Caroline Broadhurst - CEO (from June 2025)

  • With the Foundation since 2006
  • Deputy CEO since 2014
  • Quote: "It's a privilege to have worked alongside David Sanderson and our inspiring Network for so many years and now I'm proud to lead The Rank Foundation into its next chapter"

David Sanderson - Former CEO (2002-2025)

  • Joined as Director of Grants and Special Projects in 2002
  • Moved the Foundation beyond traditional grant-making to embrace relationship-based philanthropy
  • Quote: “The Rank Foundation I joined, and the Rank Foundation today are scarcely recognisable”
  • Described the RankNet Network as “the jewel in the crown” and the biggest success of his tenure

Board of Trustees

  • Johanna Louise Ropner (appointed 2005)
  • Lindsey Anne Clay (appointed 2016)
  • Lindsey Victoria Hall (appointed 2023)
  • Mark Summerfield (appointed 2025)

The Foundation's executive team includes directors for each key area (leadership, enterprise, and care) who draw on their expertise and understanding of funded projects to advise trustees on areas for development.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Major Grants Program

  • No unsolicited applications accepted
  • The Foundation follows a research-led approach
  • Executive directors identify and invite organizations that are a particularly good fit
  • Only invited organizations go through the application and due diligence process
  • To increase chances of invitation:
  • Join or connect with the RankNet network
  • Build relationships with Foundation staff at industry events
  • Seek warm introductions through current funders or board connections
  • Ensure strong alignment with one or more of the three focus areas

Pebble Grants (Currently Closed)

  • Previously accepted rolling applications
  • When reopened (post-2025), will likely use an online application portal
  • Proof required that one-third of total costs has been raised

Leadership Programs

  • Time to Shine, School Leadership Award, and Rank Aspire have specific application processes
  • Contact the Foundation directly for program-specific details

Decision Timeline

  • Specific decision timelines not publicly disclosed
  • The Foundation emphasizes thorough due diligence for major grants
  • Given the engaged philanthropy model, expect relationship-building before funding decisions

Success Rates

  • For major grants: Invitation-only model means no general success rate
  • In 2023: 17 major grants awarded, 130 cost-of-living grants, total of 840 grantees received £9.5 million
  • Pebble Grants (when open) represent under 5% of total charitable spending
  • Published data shows 1,067 grants awarded between May 2012 and June 2023

Reapplication Policy

  • Not explicitly stated for major grants
  • Given the invitation-only model and long-term relationship approach, organizations should focus on building ongoing engagement with the Foundation rather than reapplying
  • The Foundation emphasizes long-term partnerships over one-off grants

Application Success Factors

For Invited Major Grant Applications

  1. Strong Alignment with Focus Areas: Ensure your work clearly aligns with leadership, enterprise, and/or community priorities
  2. Leadership Development: The Foundation prioritizes nurturing “purposeful, confident, and inspiring leaders who can achieve extraordinary things”
  3. Entrepreneurial Approach: Demonstrate innovative thinking and sustainable business models that align with the founder's entrepreneurial spirit
  4. Community Impact: Show deep understanding of local challenges and evidence-based approaches
  5. Relationship-Building: The Foundation values long-term partnerships based on “mutual respect, trust and empathy”
  6. Network Engagement: Active participation in RankNet demonstrates commitment to collaborative learning and shared impact

Examples of Funded Work

  • Plymouth Social Enterprises: Pollenize CIC used repayable grants to increase capacity, resulting in £33,000 additional income and expanded ecological projects
  • Time to Shine Leaders: Almost 700 emerging social sector professionals supported since 2011
  • School Leadership Award: Nearly 1,500 young people supported through education since 1978, including two-week placements with not-for-profit organizations
  • Cost of Living Support: £1.5 million distributed to 130 Network Members in 2023 using trust-based grant-making
  • Hospice UK Partnership: £100,000 program (10 grants of £10,000 each) to support hospices delivering Volunteer to Career programme

Direct Advice from the Foundation

“The Rank Foundation only accepts applications for a small percentage of its grant making... they are able to invite only organisations which are a particularly good fit to go through the time consuming process of completing an application and the necessary due diligence.”

The Foundation emphasizes: “Strong leaders are vital to the social sector” and seeks to build “collaborative relationships” that "tackle society's challenges" through their network approach.

Language and Terminology

The Foundation uses specific language that applicants should understand:

  • Engaged philanthropy: Beyond financial support to include intellectual capital, management support, and network access
  • RankNet: Their community of 1,500+ leaders creating “a thriving network for social good”
  • Pay it forward: The repayable grants model creates a revolving fund for future social entrepreneurs
  • Seed corn of the future: Reference to Arthur Rank's vision of investing in young leaders

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Invitation-Only Reality: The major grants program does not accept unsolicited applications. Focus on building relationships with Foundation staff and trustees through networking, shared connections, and industry events before expecting funding opportunities.
  1. Network First, Funding Second: Consider joining RankNet or engaging with the Foundation's place-based programs in Plymouth, Dundee, or Sunderland as a pathway to building relationships that may lead to future funding invitations.
  1. Demonstrate Leadership Development: Whether your project focuses on young people, enterprise, or community, emphasize how it develops leadership capacity and creates “purposeful, confident, and inspiring leaders.”
  1. Show Entrepreneurial Spirit: The Foundation values innovation, income diversification, and sustainable business models. Demonstrate how your organization embodies Arthur Rank's entrepreneurial legacy.
  1. Long-Term Partnership Mindset: The Foundation seeks multi-year relationships, not one-off grants. Position your organization as a potential long-term Network member rather than a grant seeker.
  1. Christian Values with Inclusive Approach: While rooted in Christian faith, the Foundation works “from a perspective that respects those of all faiths and none.” Be honest about your values while demonstrating openness and community-wide benefit.
  1. Wait for Pebble Grants Reopening: If you're a smaller charity (under £500,000 income) seeking £250-£4,000, monitor the Foundation's website for Pebble Grants reopening post-2025, and ensure you've already raised one-third of project costs before applying.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References

  1. The Rank Foundation Official Website - Homepage. https://rankfoundation.com/
  2. The Rank Foundation - About Us. https://rankfoundation.com/about-us/
  3. The Rank Foundation - Our Data & Impact. https://rankfoundation.com/about-us/our-data-impact/
  4. The Rank Foundation - Leadership Programmes. https://rankfoundation.com/our-approach/leadership/
  5. The Rank Foundation - Enterprise Programmes. https://rankfoundation.com/our-approach/enterprise/
  6. The Rank Foundation - Community Programmes. https://rankfoundation.com/our-approach/community/
  7. UK Charity Commission - The Rank Foundation Limited (276976). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=276976
  8. Find That Charity - GB-CHC-276976. https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-276976
  9. Funding for All - The Rank Foundation Pebble Grants. https://fundingforall.org.uk/funds/the-rank-foundation-pebble-grants/
  10. The Rank Foundation - Learning from Plymouth Repayable Grants Programme. https://rankfoundation.com/plymouth/learning-from-plymouth-repayable-grants-programme/
  11. The Rank Foundation - The Major Grants Process. https://rankfoundation.com/leadership/the-major-grants-process/
  12. 360Giving GrantNav - Rank Foundation Grant Data. https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-276976