The Reta Lila Howard Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £546,801 (2023/24)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (does not accept applications)
• Grant Range: Information not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: British Isles & Republic of Ireland

Contact Details

Address: The Trust Partnership Ltd, 6 Trull Farm Buildings, Trull, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8SQ

Email: retalila@thetrustpartnership.com

Phone: 01285 841 900

Charity Number: 1041634

Company Number: 02984176

Note: The charity does not accept unsolicited proposals

Overview

The Reta Lila Howard Foundation was established in 1994 as a charitable company and is part of the Weston family's philanthropic legacy. Reta Lila Howard (1897-1967) was the wife of W. Garfield Weston, and together they created significant charitable foundations. The foundation is administered by The Trust Partnership, a specialist foundation management organization that supports over 50 foundations and almshouses.

The foundation's principal objective is to promote charitable purposes within the British Isles and the Republic of Ireland by providing financial grants to other charitable bodies. For the year ending March 31, 2024, the foundation had an income of £121,819 and total expenditure of £546,801, demonstrating active grant-making activity. The foundation operates with seven unpaid trustees and maintains good standing with the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a selective, invitation-only grant-making approach. It does not accept unsolicited proposals, meaning organizations cannot apply directly for funding. Instead, the trustees identify and approach projects that align with their funding priorities.

Priority Areas

The foundation directs funds to selected projects in two specific areas:

1. Education of Young People: Supporting the education of children and young people up to the age of 16
2. Physical and Emotional Environment: Projects that ameliorate the physical and emotional environment of young people up to age 16

The foundation focuses specifically on supporting charitable bodies working with children and adolescents in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited proposals (the foundation does not accept open applications)
• Projects outside the British Isles and Republic of Ireland
• Work with individuals over 16 years of age
• Direct grants to individuals
• Projects outside their specific focus areas of youth education and wellbeing

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by seven trustees, none of whom receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. This demonstrates a commitment to directing maximum resources toward charitable activities.

The foundation is professionally managed by The Trust Partnership, which acts as the Clerk to the foundation. The Trust Partnership was founded in 2005 and has developed expertise in foundation management, with a team of Clerks, Grantmakers, Consultants, Administrators, Bookkeepers, and Management Accountants.

The foundation operates as a private limited company by guarantee without share capital, registered at Companies House since October 24, 1994.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Critical Information: The Reta Lila Howard Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or open applications. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, with trustees proactively identifying and selecting projects to support.

Organizations cannot apply for funding through any application portal, form, or letter of inquiry. The foundation's trustees and administrators identify charitable bodies whose work aligns with the foundation's objectives and reach out to them directly.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation does not operate an open application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation selects organizations to support rather than reviewing applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot submit initial applications or reapplications.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations working in the foundation's priority areas may increase their visibility by:

• Demonstrating Excellence: Maintaining a strong track record of impactful work with young people up to age 16 in education or wellbeing
• Geographic Relevance: Operating clearly within the British Isles or Republic of Ireland
• Charitable Status: Being a registered charitable body (the foundation only grants to other charities)
• Clear Impact: Showing measurable outcomes in youth education or improvements to young people's physical and emotional environment
• Professional Networks: Building relationships within the charitable sector and maintaining visibility through sector events, publications, and networks where foundation trustees and administrators may encounter your work

Organizations should focus on building their reputation and demonstrating impact in their field rather than attempting to apply for funding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Open Applications: This foundation does not and will not accept unsolicited proposals, applications, or expressions of interest. Do not attempt to apply.
• Invitation Only: The foundation proactively identifies and approaches organizations to fund. Success comes from doing excellent work, not from application skills.
• Narrow Focus: The foundation has very specific criteria - youth up to age 16, education or physical/emotional wellbeing, UK and Ireland only, charitable bodies only.
• Weston Family Legacy: Part of the broader Weston family philanthropic network, which includes other foundations with different focuses (e.g., the Reta Lila Weston Trust focuses on neurological research).
• Professional Management: Managed by The Trust Partnership, a specialist foundation management organization with expertise across multiple foundations.
• Active Grant-Making: Despite not accepting applications, the foundation is actively grant-making, spending over £546,000 in 2023/24.
• Build Visibility: For organizations in relevant sectors, focus on excellence, impact, and sector visibility rather than application preparation.

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities. (2025). “THE RETA LILA HOWARD FOUNDATION - Charity 1041634.” Retrieved from https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1041634
• Companies House. (2025). “THE RETA LILA HOWARD FOUNDATION - Company 02984176.” Retrieved from https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02984176
• The Trust Partnership. (2025). “The Team.” Retrieved from https://thetrustpartnership.com/the-team/
• Find That Charity. (2025). “The Reta Lila Howard Foundation - GB-CHC-1041634.” Retrieved from https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1041634
• Charity Choice. (2025). “Reta Lila Howard Foundation.” Retrieved from https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-reta-lila-howard-foundation-91799

All sources.