The Ratcliff Foundation
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £232,060 (year ending April 2025)
- Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
- Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
- Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
- Geographic Focus: Midlands and Wales (primarily), though grants can be made throughout England and Wales
Contact Details
Email: chris.gupwell@btinternet.com
Phone: 01386 792116
Address: Woodlands, Earls Common Road, Stock Green, Redditch, Worcestershire, B96 6TB
Note: There is no public website or dedicated contact for pre-application enquiries. Contact should be made through the trustee contact details above.
Overview
The Ratcliff Foundation is a grant-making charity registered with the Charity Commission on 12 December 1963 (charity number 222441). Based in Worcestershire, the foundation operates with modest but consistent annual grant distribution of approximately £200,000-£232,000. The foundation's charitable objects specify that grants are made to “such charitable institution and objects as the trustees may select,” with any balance allocated to the Bishop of Coventry's Appeal Fund. The foundation focuses particularly, but not exclusively, on supporting charitable organisations based in the Midlands and Wales regions. The foundation works closely with the F R Ratcliff Charitable Settlement (charity number 237619), whose income is transferred in total to The Ratcliff Foundation and distributed as part of the foundation's overall grant-making activities. The foundation maintains a low public profile with no website or published grant guidelines, operating through trustee discretion.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The foundation does not operate named grant programs or published funding streams. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees.
Application Method: No public application process - grants awarded through trustee discretion
Priority Areas
- Charitable organisations operating in the Midlands region
- Charitable organisations operating in Wales
- Charitable institutions selected by trustees
- The Bishop of Coventry's Appeal Fund (receives any balance)
The foundation supports “other charities or voluntary bodies” and works for “the general public/mankind” through its grant-making activities.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals: The charity explicitly cannot make grants to individuals
- Organisations outside the charitable sector
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Governance and Leadership
The foundation is governed by 5 trustees:
- David Martin Ratcliff - Chair
- Stuart Roger Ratcliff - Trustee (appointed 8 November 2024)
- Mrs Pauline Key - Trustee (appointed 23 June 2018)
- Christopher John Gupwell - Trustee (primary contact)
- Gillian Mary Thorpe - Trustee
Trustee Remuneration: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, ensuring all funds are directed toward charitable purposes.
The foundation has strong family connections, with members of the Ratcliff family serving as trustees. Christopher John Gupwell also serves as a trustee of related charities including the F R Ratcliff Charitable Settlement, The Ian Addison Charitable Foundation, and The James And Ada Robb Charity.
Employees: The foundation has no employees and operates entirely through its trustees.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process.
The Ratcliff Foundation awards grants at the discretion of its trustees. There is no application portal, published guidelines, or formal application procedure. Grants are made to “such charitable organisations as the trustees decide,” indicating that funding decisions are made internally by the board.
The foundation does not maintain a website or publish information about how organisations can seek funding.
Decision Timeline
Not publicly disclosed. As grants are awarded at trustee discretion without a formal application cycle, there are no published timelines for decisions.
Success Rates
Not publicly available. The foundation does not publish statistics on applications received or success rates.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable, as there is no formal application process.
Application Success Factors
Since The Ratcliff Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and awards grants at trustee discretion, the following observations may be relevant:
Geographic Alignment: The foundation's stated focus is on the Midlands and Wales, though grants can legally be made throughout England and Wales. Organisations based in or serving communities in Worcestershire, the broader Midlands region, or Wales appear to align with the foundation's geographic priorities.
Charitable Status: The foundation explicitly states it makes grants only to charitable organisations, not individuals. Being a registered charity or voluntary body appears essential.
Connection to Bishop of Coventry's Appeal Fund: The foundation's governing documents specify that any balance goes to the Bishop of Coventry's Appeal Fund, suggesting potential alignment with causes supported by the Diocese of Coventry.
Trustee Networks: Given the small board and discretionary grant-making approach, trustee knowledge of and familiarity with beneficiary organisations likely plays a significant role in funding decisions.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or operate a formal grant program accessible to the general public
- Trustee-Directed Giving: All grants are made at the discretion of the five-person board of trustees
- Geographic Focus: Priority is given to organisations in the Midlands and Wales, though the foundation can legally support charities throughout England and Wales
- Modest Scale: With annual grant-making of approximately £200,000-£232,000, this is a small foundation with limited capacity
- No Individual Grants: The foundation explicitly cannot make grants to individuals - only to charitable organisations and voluntary bodies
- Limited Public Information: The foundation maintains no website and publishes no grant guidelines, making it difficult for organisations to assess their alignment or suitability
- Family Foundation: The presence of multiple Ratcliff family members as trustees suggests this is a family foundation with personal giving priorities determined privately by the board
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