The Reece Foundation

Charity Number: 1121325

Annual Expenditure: £1.8M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Expenditure: £1,753,090 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Up to 6 months
  • Grant Range: No minimum or maximum (grants awarded range from £5,000 to £700,000+)
  • Geographic Focus: North East England (Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham) with some national consideration

Contact Details

Website: www.reece-foundation.org

Email: enquiries@reece-foundation.org

Phone: 07704 076703

Registered Charity Number: 1121325

Overview

The Reece Foundation is an independent charity established in 2007 by renowned North East engineer and businessman Dr Alan Reece. With annual expenditure of £1.75 million (2023) and having distributed over £6 million in grants since inception, the Foundation promotes engineering and manufacturing in the North East of England whilst supporting the improvement of education in STEM subjects. The Foundation has recently expanded its mission to include environmental and rewilding initiatives, recognizing the role access to nature and the protection of wild places have on the well-being of the region. Dr Reece, who passed away in 2012, was a passionate believer in engineering as a provider of prosperity and enjoyable employment and felt it important to encourage students to become enthused and excited by engineering. The Foundation is now chaired by his daughter, Anne Reece.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates a single grant program with no minimum or maximum funding thresholds. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed quarterly at Board of Trustees meetings.

Recent Grant Examples:

  • £700,000 to St Cuthbert's School for new science and engineering building
  • £350,000 to Beamish Museum for STEM-related activities
  • £250,000 to Dame Allan's School for Dr Alan Reece Technology Centre
  • £250,000 to St Cuthbert's for engineering scholarships
  • £1.3m+ to Newcastle University over a decade for research and student support
  • £1m fund for The Ouse Burn Way environmental project
  • £200,000 to John Muir Trust for Wild Space visitor centre
  • £100,000 to Newcastle University for Ouseburn pollution research
  • £65,000 for Newcastle University Stephenson Building redevelopment
  • £120,000 to Beamish Museum for STEM inspiration projects

Priority Areas

Core Priorities:

  • Engineering and manufacturing education and skills training
  • STEM education at all levels (primary through university)
  • Creating educational and employment opportunities in engineering
  • Engineering scholarships and student innovation prizes
  • Laboratory equipment and facilities for engineering education
  • Robotics education programs (over 150 schools reached through VEX Robotics program)

Environmental Priorities:

  • Rewilding initiatives in the North East
  • Protection of wild places and countryside
  • Urban river pollution mitigation (especially Ouseburn project)
  • Net Zero innovation and research
  • Environmental conservation projects

What They Don't Fund

  • Applications from individuals
  • Sponsorship of any kind
  • Projects outside the North East England region (except in rare cases of national/broader regional focus)
  • Organizations that cannot demonstrate clear regional impact
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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by a Board of five experienced trustees who meet quarterly to review applications:

Anne Reece (Chair) - Non-Executive Director and shareholder of Reece Group, former Finance Director of SMD and Bywell Holdings Group, previously served on Investment Committee of One North East Regional Development Agency. Anne has stated: “We have been involved in Bring It On since the start as it is exactly what is needed to get the message across that engineering is an industry of the future and offers great job prospects.”

Roy Sandbach OBE - Chairs Northern Accelerator, board member for multiple organizations including Centre for Life, former Director of National Innovation Centre for Aging.

Enda O'Connell - Emeritus Professor of Water Resources Engineering at Newcastle University, Fellow of UK Royal Academy of Engineering with expertise in hydrology and water management.

Simon Gilroy - Director at Pearson Engineering, mechanical engineering graduate from Sheffield University, grew up in North East England.

Eric Morgan - Former senior partner of Sanderson Townend & Gilbert, former chairman of Wm Leech investment, interested in economic development of North East England.

The Foundation employs one full-time staff member and operates with no trustee remuneration.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Complete the online application form at www.reece-foundation.org/apply/
  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
  • No minimum or maximum funding threshold (though applicants should consider genuine costs and other grants awarded)
  • Provide detailed information including:
  • Organization details and background
  • Project description and purpose
  • Project impact and legacy measurement plans
  • Total project cost and funding request amount
  • Other funding sources
  • Most recent organizational accounts
  • Insurance coverage confirmation
  • Commitment to acknowledge Foundation funding in publicity materials
  • Agreement to submit progress reports

Decision Timeline

  • Applications reviewed at quarterly Board of Trustees meetings
  • Decision timeline: up to 6 months from submission
  • Site visits may be arranged to discuss applications in further detail
  • Trustees review each application to determine if it meets the Trust's aims and will make a difference to the North East region
  • Successful applicants notified directly (notification method not specified)

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. However, the Foundation's annual expenditure of £1.75 million suggests substantial grant-making capacity.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations cannot reapply for new project funding within 12 months of a previous award. This restriction appears to apply to new projects, not necessarily extensions or follow-up phases of funded work.

Application Success Factors

Regional Impact is Critical:

The Foundation prioritizes projects that demonstrate clear impact on the North East region. Trustees specifically look for initiatives that will “make a difference to the north east region” and create long-term prosperity.

Strong Alignment with STEM and Engineering:

Projects that increase STEM education, support engineering skills training, or create employment opportunities in engineering sectors have historically received substantial funding. The Foundation has a particular interest in making engineering accessible and exciting to young people.

Environmental and Educational Integration:

The Foundation's recent expansion into environmental projects creates opportunities for initiatives that combine STEM education with environmental conservation, Net Zero innovation, or nature-based solutions.

Legacy and Sustainability:

Applications must demonstrate how the project will create lasting impact. The application form specifically asks for plans to measure impact and explain project legacy.

Community Consultation:

Strong applications show evidence of community involvement and consultation in the proposed initiative.

Realistic Budgets:

The Foundation asks applicants to “consider the genuine costs of the proposal and any other grants awarded,” suggesting they value realistic, well-researched budgets over inflated requests.

Examples of Successful Projects:

  • Large-scale facility developments (£250,000-£700,000 for school engineering centers)
  • Multi-year university partnerships (£1.3m+ to Newcastle University over a decade)
  • Regional robotics education programs (150+ schools)
  • Environmental restoration projects (£1m Ouse Burn Way)
  • Museum-based STEM engagement (£350,000+ to Beamish Museum)
  • Student innovation prizes for Net Zero challenges
  • Pollution research with practical applications

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Think big but be realistic: The Foundation has funded projects ranging from small equipment purchases to £700,000+ building projects. Don't self-limit, but ensure budgets are well-justified.
  • Emphasize regional impact: Clearly articulate how your project will benefit the North East England region, create opportunities, and contribute to long-term prosperity.
  • Demonstrate passion for engineering: Dr Reece's founding philosophy was about making engineering “enthusing and exciting.” Show how your project will inspire the next generation.
  • Plan for legacy: Be prepared to explain how your project will have lasting impact beyond the initial funding period.
  • Leverage their environmental interest: The Foundation's recent expansion into environmental and rewilding projects creates new opportunities, especially for projects combining STEM with environmental themes.
  • Be patient but persistent: With up to 6 months for decisions and quarterly trustee meetings, allow adequate time in your planning. However, the 12-month reapplication restriction means you need to make each application count.
  • Consider partnerships: The Foundation has sustained long-term relationships with institutions like Newcastle University and Beamish Museum. Multi-year or phased approaches may be welcomed for substantial initiatives.

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