The Ruddock Foundation For The Arts

Charity Number: 1134994

Annual Expenditure: £0.8M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £798,329 (recent reporting period)
  • Success Rate: Not disclosed
  • Decision Time: Review twice yearly
  • Grant Range: £4,000 - £32,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: UK (primarily), with select international projects
  • Application Method: Written applications accepted; primarily supports institutions they identify

Contact Details

Address: 7 Lansdowne Walk, London W11 3LN

Phone: 020 7313 9350

Email: lottie@ruddockfamily.com; nikita@ruddockfamily.com

Website: paulruddock.com/ruddock-foundation-arts/

Charity Number: 1134994

Note: The Foundation primarily supports institutions that are world leaders in their fields and operates with a highly selective approach to grant-making.

Overview

The Ruddock Foundation for the Arts was established on 12 January 2010 and registered with the Charity Commission on 10 March 2010. Founded by Sir Paul Ruddock and Lady Jill Shaw Ruddock, this family-based grant-making charity has become one of the UK's most significant supporters of museum conservation, medieval art research, and non-commercial theatre. Sir Paul, who co-founded Lansdowne Partners and served as Chairman of the Victoria & Albert Museum from 2007 to 2015, has given approximately £40 million to the arts over two decades and was knighted in 2012 for services to the arts and philanthropy. He served as a Trustee of the British Museum from October 2016 to July 2024, when he was appointed Honorary Senior Research Fellow. Lady Jill Shaw Ruddock, CBE, was made Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French Government in 2015 for services to French art. The Foundation's strategic approach focuses on project-specific funding for world-leading institutions, prioritizing historic art (typically pre-1800), with particular emphasis on medieval and Renaissance periods (300-1800 CE). The vast majority of grants go to institutions or charities that are recognized as world leaders in their respective fields.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates through a selective grant-making approach focused on three main areas:

  • Major Capital Projects: £100,000 - £32,000,000+ for gallery renovations and major institutional developments at leading museums
  • Museum Conservation & Research: Variable amounts for conservation work, acquisitions, exhibitions, and curatorial support at world-leading institutions
  • Theatre Support: Funding for non-commercial theatre, playwriting initiatives, and performing arts at recognized centers of excellence

The Trust meets twice each year to review applications and decide on grant awards. Applications may be made in writing at any time, though the Foundation primarily supports institutions they have identified as world leaders in their fields.

Priority Areas

1. Conservation of Historic Art

  • Institutions that conserve paintings and works of art
  • Strong focus on pre-1800 artworks
  • Support for acquisitions of historically significant pieces
  • Gallery renovations and redevelopments
  • Named galleries and spaces honoring major donations

2. Medieval Art Research

  • Research projects focused on medieval art (300-1800 CE)
  • Support for exhibitions exploring medieval and Renaissance periods
  • Documentation and scholarship
  • Curatorial support for medieval collections

3. Non-Commercial Theatre

  • Theatre institutions of exceptional quality
  • Playwriting initiatives
  • Performing arts centers
  • Organizations recognized as leaders in their field

Geographic Focus: Primarily UK-based registered charities and institutions, with select international projects at major museums (particularly the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York for medieval collections).

Target Organizations: World-leading institutions in their respective fields, including major national museums (British Museum, V&A), university collections, and established theatre companies.

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual artists (except through institutional awards/prizes)
  • Organizations that are not recognized as world leaders in their field
  • Operating costs or general appeals (project-specific funding only)
  • Projects outside their core focus areas
  • Contemporary art (focus is pre-1800)
  • Commercial theatre ventures
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • Sir Paul Martin Ruddock (Chair) - Former Chairman of V&A (2007-2015), British Museum Trustee (2016-2024, now Honorary Senior Research Fellow), Trustee of Metropolitan Museum of Art, knighted 2012 for services to arts and philanthropy, co-founder of Lansdowne Partners
  • Lady Jill Shaw Ruddock, CBE - Philanthropist, author, former investment banker, Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres (2015), CBE (2016)
  • Isabella Shaw Ruddock - Daughter
  • Sophie Anna Ruddock - Daughter
  • Stephen Miles Churchill Green

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Funding Philosophy

Sir Paul Ruddock has articulated a clear strategic approach: "He is not a believer in just throwing money at an institution, it's almost always for a specific project or to fund a specific position or specific research, or to support a particular exhibition."

Coming from a business background, he emphasizes: "If you're going to write a big cheque you need to know what's going on, with confidence in good oversight and no misappropriation."

On the importance of arts funding: “Culture is central to inspiring people and creating a better quality of life, and he believes beauty, culture, art and artistic endeavour are central to civilised societies.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications may be made in writing at any time to the Foundation at the address above. However, prospective applicants should be aware that:

  • The Foundation primarily supports institutions recognized as world leaders in their respective fields
  • The vast majority of grants go to organizations the trustees have identified as aligned with their strategic priorities
  • The bar for institutional excellence is exceptionally high
  • Project-specific proposals are strongly preferred over general operating support

Recommendation: Before submitting an unsolicited application, organizations should carefully assess whether they are recognized as a world leader in medieval art conservation, historic art research, or non-commercial theatre. Organizations outside these categories or without this level of institutional recognition are unlikely to receive funding.

Decision Timeline

  • The Trust meets twice each year to review applications and decide on grant awards
  • Specific meeting dates are not publicly disclosed
  • Timeline from submission to decision is not publicly available
  • Major capital projects may involve longer due diligence periods

Success Rates

Not disclosed. The Foundation is highly selective, focusing on world-leading institutions, which suggests a very low success rate for unsolicited applications from organizations outside this category.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in available documentation.

Application Success Factors

What Makes an Organization Competitive

1. Institutional Excellence

The Foundation's own documentation emphasizes that "the vast majority of the Foundation's grants are to institutions or charities that are world leaders in their respective fields." This is not aspirational language - it reflects actual practice. Recent grants have gone to:

  • British Museum
  • Victoria & Albert Museum
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York)
  • Courtauld Institute
  • J. Paul Getty Trust

2. Project Specificity

Sir Paul Ruddock's stated philosophy emphasizes that funding is “almost always for a specific project or to fund a specific position or specific research, or to support a particular exhibition” rather than general institutional support. Successful applications should clearly articulate:

  • Specific project outcomes
  • Defined timelines
  • Clear deliverables
  • How the project advances the field

3. Medieval and Historic Art Focus

The Foundation has a documented preference for:

  • Pre-1800 art (with particular emphasis on medieval period 300-1800 CE)
  • Gallery renovations featuring medieval and Renaissance collections
  • Research and exhibitions on medieval art
  • Conservation of historic artworks from these periods

4. Financial Rigor and Governance

Coming from the hedge fund industry, Sir Paul Ruddock expects “confidence in good oversight and no misappropriation.” Organizations should demonstrate:

  • Strong financial controls
  • Professional project management
  • Clear accountability mechanisms
  • Regular reporting capabilities

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

Major Capital Projects:

  • V&A Museum: £32 million renovation of Medieval & Renaissance Galleries (lead private donor), including the William and Eileen Ruddock Gallery and Paul and Jill Ruddock Renaissance City (2009)
  • V&A Museum: Cast Courts redevelopment, with West Court renamed Ruddock Family Cast Court (2018)
  • British Museum: The Sir Paul and Lady Ruddock Gallery of Sutton Hoo and Europe 300-1100 (2014)
  • British Museum: Paul and Jill Ruddock Gallery of Medieval Europe 1050-1500 (2009)
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art: Lead donor for galleries of Ancient Western and Asiatic Art, and early Medieval and Gothic Galleries renovation (2022)

Research and Curatorial Support:

  • British Museum: £50,000 curatorial support
  • Courtauld Institute: £50,000 research grant
  • J. Paul Getty Trust: $50,000 research grant
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art: $100,000 research grant

Exhibitions:

  • British Museum: “Silk Roads” exhibition
  • British Museum: “Thomas Becket” exhibition (2021)
  • V&A: “Opus Anglicanum: Masterpieces of English Medieval Embroidery” (2016)
  • Multi-institutional: “Treasures of Heaven: Saints, relics and devotion in Medieval Europe” (2011)

Acquisitions:

  • British Museum: Five precious Limoges enamel ornaments from the hood of Cardinal Guala Bicchieri (2024)
  • Support for Norfolk roundels acquisition: £4,000

Other:

  • King Edward's School, Birmingham: Major donors for Performing Arts Centre (opened April 2012)
  • AfriKids: £105,000 for work with children at risk in Northern Ghana (demonstrates occasional grants outside core arts focus for causes connected to trustees)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Institutional excellence required - The Foundation explicitly supports “world leaders” in their fields. Organizations should honestly assess whether they meet this criterion before applying. The bar is set at the level of national museums and internationally recognized institutions.
  1. Project-specific proposals essential - Do not request general operating support. Every application should focus on a specific, well-defined project with clear outcomes, timelines, and accountability measures.
  1. Medieval and historic art priority - The strongest alignment is with pre-1800 art, particularly the medieval period (300-1800 CE). Projects outside this focus area face significantly lower prospects unless they represent exceptional opportunities in non-commercial theatre.
  1. Major capital projects welcomed - The Foundation has made some of the largest private donations in UK museum history. They are willing to fund transformational capital projects (£100,000 to £32,000,000+) when they align with strategic priorities and involve world-leading institutions.
  1. Financial rigor expected - Sir Paul Ruddock's background in finance means organizations must demonstrate exceptional financial oversight, professional project management, and clear accountability. Be prepared for thorough due diligence.
  1. Strategic relationships matter - While applications can be submitted in writing, the Foundation's approach suggests they proactively identify institutions and projects. Building long-term relationships within the museum and heritage sector, particularly around medieval art, may increase visibility.
  1. Named spaces and legacy - Major capital grants often result in named galleries or spaces. The Foundation has established multiple named galleries at V&A, British Museum, and Met, suggesting openness to recognition opportunities for transformational gifts.

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References

Direct quotes used:

  • Sir Paul Ruddock's funding philosophy quoted from Coutts Million Pound Donors Report 2017
  • Foundation objectives and grant-making focus from UK Charity Commission records and Bath & North East Somerset Council documentation
  • Financial information from Charity Commission annual returns