The Regatta Foundation

Charity Number: 1112912

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £385,383 (2024 expenditure)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Not publicly available
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales (with some international projects)
  • Registered Charity Number: 1112912

Contact Details

Address: Risol House, Mercury Way, Dumplington, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M41 7RR

Phone: 01617491329

Website: No dedicated website; information available through Regatta Group corporate site

Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Regatta Foundation was established in 2007 by Regatta owners Keith and Joanne Black as a means of giving back to society through supporting charities and projects in the UK and around the world. Registered as a trust on 3 February 2006 (charity number 1112912), the foundation's stated mission is "enabling disadvantaged young children from the Manchester area to enjoy 'the great outdoors'." For the financial year ending 5 April 2024, the foundation had total income of £41,454 and total expenditure of £385,383, demonstrating significant grant-making activity funded primarily through the resources of the Black family business. The foundation has supported a wide range of initiatives, from rebuilding a village in Sri Lanka following the tsunami to ongoing environmental conservation partnerships. In 2021, the foundation donated over £650,000 to various causes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Regatta Foundation does not operate specific named grant programmes but instead provides discretionary funding across several broad areas. Recent partnerships and grants have included:

  • Conservation Collective Partnership: Multi-year partnership supporting grassroots environmental projects through local foundations including Ionian Environment Foundation, Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation, and Mallorca Preservation Foundation
  • Healthcare: Supporting Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust's start-up collaboration programme
  • Community Support: Partnering with Cash for Kids to help disadvantaged children across the UK

Priority Areas

Based on documented grant-making activity, the foundation prioritizes:

Children and Young People

  • Enabling disadvantaged children from Manchester to access outdoor experiences
  • Educational projects and school building (e.g., ongoing support for a school in Bangladesh)
  • Healthcare innovation for children and young people

Environmental Conservation

  • Biodiversity protection and ecosystem regeneration
  • Marine conservation (seagrass restoration, dolphin projects, shark repopulation)
  • Climate change adaptation projects
  • Scottish rainforest protection
  • Supporting organizations such as Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Galapagos Conservation Trust, and Queen's Green Canopy

Health and Disability

  • Alzheimer's Society
  • Royal Society of Blind Children (RSBC)
  • Newlife (charity for disabled children)
  • Follicular Lymphoma Foundation

Community Development

  • Post-disaster reconstruction (rebuilt Sri Lankan village after tsunami)
  • National Youth Theatre
  • Supporting like-minded organizations within their surrounding community

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are publicly documented, but the foundation's activities suggest they focus on established charities and specific partnership opportunities rather than general grant-making.

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Governance and Leadership

Founders: Keith and Joanne Black (brother and sister) are the owners of Regatta Group and established the foundation in 2007.

Trustees: The foundation has 3 trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Specific trustee names are not publicly available on the Charity Commission register.

Leadership Philosophy: Keith and Joanne Black use the resources of their family business to fund like-minded organisations and projects within their surrounding community. As Jade Brudenell, Executive Director of the Conservation Collective, noted about the partnership: “Partnerships like this can turbocharge the work of local heroes dedicated to protecting and restoring the natural environment.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Regatta Foundation does not have a public application process. Grant-making appears to be conducted through trustee discretion, with funding directed to:

  • Organizations with pre-existing relationships with the foundation or Regatta Group
  • Strategic partnerships identified by the trustees (e.g., Conservation Collective)
  • Charities aligned with the founders' personal interests
  • Employee-supported causes (the foundation matches employee fundraising up to £250)

There is no public application portal, published guidelines, or open deadlines for unsolicited proposals.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Decisions appear to be made at trustee discretion throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since the Regatta Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations seeking support should consider:

Alignment with Core Mission

  • Projects enabling disadvantaged children (particularly from Manchester) to access outdoor experiences
  • Environmental conservation initiatives, especially those protecting biodiverse ecosystems
  • Health and disability charities
  • Community development and disaster relief

Strategic Partnership Potential

  • The foundation favors substantial, multi-year partnerships with organizations that can deliver impact at scale (e.g., Conservation Collective partnership supporting multiple local foundations)
  • Projects that align with the Regatta Group's business interests in outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship

Connection to Regatta Group

  • Organizations may have better chances if they have existing relationships with Regatta Group brands (Regatta Great Outdoors, Craghoppers, Dare2b)
  • Employee-championed causes (staff can request charity matching up to £250)

Geographic Focus

  • While the foundation supports international projects, there is particular emphasis on Manchester and the surrounding community
  • Projects must operate within England and Wales or align with the foundation's international interests

Track Record and Impact

  • The foundation's documented grants suggest preference for established charities with proven impact (e.g., Alzheimer's Society, National Youth Theatre)
  • Grassroots environmental projects with measurable conservation outcomes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this is not a funder to approach with cold proposals
  • The foundation operates primarily through trustee-directed giving and strategic partnerships selected by Keith and Joanne Black
  • Environmental conservation and disadvantaged children accessing the outdoors are the two clearest funding priorities
  • The foundation makes significant grants (£385,383 expenditure in 2024 despite only £41,454 income, indicating capital drawdown)
  • Multi-year partnerships appear more common than one-off grants (e.g., ongoing Conservation Collective relationship)
  • Manchester-area projects for disadvantaged children may receive particular attention given the stated mission
  • Organizations with connections to Regatta Group employees or business interests may find more receptivity

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References

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Regatta Foundation fund?

Grant Programs The Regatta Foundation does not operate specific named grant programmes but instead provides discretionary funding across several broad areas. Recent partnerships and grants have included: Conservation Collective Partnership: Multi-year partnership supporting grassroots environmental projects through local foundations including Ionian Environment Foundation, Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation, and Mallorca Preservation Foundation Healthcare: Supporting Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust's start-up collaboration programme Community Support: Partnering with Cash for Kids to help disadvantaged children across the UK Priority Areas Based on documented grant-making activity, the foundation prioritizes: Children and Young People Enabling disadvantaged children from Manchester to access outdoor experiences Educational projects and school building (e.

How much funding does The Regatta Foundation provide?

The Regatta Foundation provides grants ranging from Not publicly available, with total annual giving of approximately £385,383 (2024 expenditure).

How do I contact The Regatta Foundation?

Address: Risol House, Mercury Way, Dumplington, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M41 7RR Phone: 01617491329 Website: No dedicated website; information available through Regatta Group corporate site Ema

Is The Regatta Foundation a registered charity?

Yes, The Regatta Foundation is a registered charity with the Charity Commission (charity number 1112912). They primarily serve organisations in Throughout England And Wales.

How do I apply to The Regatta Foundation?

How to Apply The Regatta Foundation does not have a public application process. Grant-making appears to be conducted through trustee discretion, with funding directed to: Organizations with pre-existing relationships with the foundation or Regatta Group Strategic partnerships identified by the trustees (e. g.

Where is The Regatta Foundation based?

The Regatta Foundation is based in Manchester. They fund organisations in Throughout England And Wales.