The Screwfix Foundation

Charity Number: 1151375

Annual Expenditure: £1.9M
Throughout England And Wales, Ireland

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,715,599 (year ended January 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not published (highly oversubscribed quarterly)
  • Decision Time: 6-8 weeks (quarterly meetings)
  • Grant Range: Up to £5,000 (average grant £4,236)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

Contact Details

Website: www.screwfixfoundation.com

Application Portal: foundationapplication.screwfix.com

Email: foundation@screwfix.com

Phone: 01935 414100

Overview

The Screwfix Foundation is a registered charity (No. 1151375) established in 2013 with a clear purpose to support projects that improve, repair, and maintain homes and community facilities used by those in need throughout the UK. In January 2025, the Foundation celebrated reaching a £15 million fundraising milestone, having supported more than 3,000 local projects and over 1.5 million people since its inception. During the year ended 31st January 2024, the Foundation awarded £1,715,599 to 405 local charities and not-for-profit organisations, with an average grant of £4,236. The Foundation operates quarterly grant rounds and is primarily funded through the incredible generosity of Screwfix customers and colleagues, with customers contributing over £6 million by rounding up online orders.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Capital Grants: Up to £5,000 per project
  • Application Method: Online portal with quarterly review deadlines (10th of the month before March, June, September, December trustee meetings)
  • Funding Timeframe: Grants must be spent within 12 months of receipt

Priority Areas

The Foundation funds projects that directly benefit people in need through:

  • Installation of new kitchens and bathrooms
  • Installation of sensory rooms
  • Energy-efficient lighting and heating improvements
  • General painting and decorating
  • Improving safety and security of buildings
  • Home improvements for vulnerable individuals (e.g., shower adaptations, new flooring, stairlifts)

Key Focus: Projects supporting people experiencing financial hardship, sickness, distress, or other disadvantages. The Foundation prioritizes applications where they can fund the total project amount and where the work will have a lasting impact.

Examples of Funded Organisations: Mental health charities, youth centres, hospices (including Helen & Douglas House), schools, Papworth Trust, Save the Family, Don't Lose Hope, Rising Sun Domestic Violence & Abuse, and Macmillan Cancer Support.

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects benefiting the general public (community centres, sports clubs, uniformed groups such as scouts and guides)
  • Easily removable items (soft furnishings, curtains, tables, chairs)
  • White goods or electronic items
  • Research grants
  • Vehicle purchases
  • Garden machinery or removable furniture (lawnmowers, chairs, plants)
  • Organisations that have received funding within the last 2 years

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Foundation is led by founding trustees including:

  • John Allan: Founding member whose vision, passion, and leadership helped raise over £12 million. His global experience in business, marketing, digital, and sales enables him to lead the charity into its next chapter of growth.
  • John Mewett: Screwfix CEO and Trustee of The Screwfix Foundation

Foundation Management

Claire (Foundation Manager): “I love being part of the Foundation and seeing the real impact we are making to charities and not for profit organisations throughout the UK.”

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Applications must be submitted through the online portal at foundationapplication.screwfix.com
  2. Applicants must have an online presence (website, Facebook, or Instagram page) so the Foundation can clearly see the organisation's impact
  3. Deadline: Midnight on the 10th of the month prior to the quarterly trustee meeting
  4. Quarterly review dates: March, June, September, December

Decision Timeline

  • Application Review: Applications reviewed individually by the Foundation panel on a quarterly basis
  • Shortlisting: Each application is assessed and weighted, with those closely aligned with charitable purpose being shortlisted for trustee approval
  • Decision Notification: Outcome communicated within one month of the trustee meeting (typically by the end of the month following the trustee meeting)
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 6-8 weeks from application deadline to decision

Success Rates

The Foundation is highly oversubscribed each quarter due to receiving a very high number of applications. Specific success rate percentages are not published. In 2023-24, 405 grants were awarded from a significantly larger pool of applications, indicating strong competition.

Reapplication Policy

  • Unsuccessful Applications: Applicants may reapply in future grant rounds. While older guidance suggested waiting 12 months, the Foundation welcomes future applications from unsuccessful applicants.
  • Previously Funded Organisations: Must wait 2 years before reapplying. Previous project must be completed and an impact report provided, otherwise the application will be rejected.

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Stated Priorities

The Foundation explicitly states it “prioritises projects where the project will directly benefit people in need and will have a lasting impact” and “prioritises applications where the Foundation is able to fund the total project amount.”

Key Success Factors

  1. Direct Benefit to People in Need: Clearly demonstrate how the project will benefit individuals experiencing financial hardship, sickness, distress, or other disadvantages—not the general public
  2. Permanent Physical Improvements: Focus on capital improvements to buildings or facilities that will have lasting impact
  3. Total Project Funding: Applications where the £5,000 grant covers the entire project cost are prioritized
  4. Online Presence: Demonstrate impact through website or social media presence
  5. 12-Month Delivery: Ability to complete works and spend funding within 12 months

Application Requirements Checklist

  • Registered charity or not-for-profit organisation (registered at Companies House or FCA mutuals register)
  • Project relates to repair, maintenance, improvement, or construction of buildings
  • Beneficiaries are people in need (not general public)
  • Online presence demonstrating organisational impact
  • No funding received from the Foundation in the last 2 years
  • Can provide update once works are completed

Project Examples to Emulate

  • Macmillan Cancer Support: 420 household home improvements including bathroom adaptations, flooring, decoration, stairlifts
  • Helen & Douglas House: Hospice care facilities improvements
  • Rising Sun Domestic Violence & Abuse: Service facilities improvements
  • Mental health charities, youth centres, hospices, and schools focused on vulnerable populations

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Applications for general community facilities (sports clubs, scout groups)
  • Requesting funding for removable items rather than fixed improvements
  • Applying too soon after previous grant (2-year restriction)
  • Projects benefiting general public rather than people in need
  • Requests exceeding £5,000 where Foundation cannot fund total project

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Frame Around “People in Need”: Every aspect of your application should emphasize how the project benefits individuals experiencing hardship, sickness, distress, or disadvantage—this is the Foundation's core criterion and distinguishes applications from community projects.
  1. Request Full Project Funding: The Foundation prioritizes applications where their grant covers the total project cost. Structure your project to fit within the £5,000 maximum if possible.
  1. Emphasize Lasting Physical Impact: Focus on permanent building improvements (kitchens, bathrooms, heating, security) rather than equipment or furnishings. Demonstrate how these improvements will benefit people in need for years to come.
  1. Demonstrate Your Impact Online: Before applying, ensure your website or social media clearly showcases the work you do with vulnerable populations. The Foundation reviews online presence as part of assessment.
  1. Plan for Quarterly Deadlines: Applications close on the 10th of the month before quarterly meetings (March, June, September, December). Plan submission at least 2 months before you need funding to account for the 6-8 week decision timeline.
  1. Be Ready to Deliver Quickly: You must spend the grant within 12 months and provide a completion update. Only apply when ready to execute the project.
  1. Understand Competition: The Foundation is heavily oversubscribed quarterly. Applications must be exceptionally well-aligned with criteria to succeed. If unsuccessful, refine and reapply in future rounds.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References

  • Screwfix Foundation Official Website: www.screwfix.com/landingpage/screwfix-foundation
  • Screwfix Foundation Application Portal: foundationapplication.screwfix.com
  • Screwfix Foundation Eligibility Criteria PDF: www.screwfix.com/images/general/assets/pdf/Screwfix-Foundation-Eligibility-Criteria.pdf
  • The Charity Commission Register: “THE SCREWFIX FOUNDATION - 1151375”
  • Screwfix Media Centre: “THE SCREWFIX FOUNDATION REACHES £15 MILLION FUNDRAISING MILESTONE” - press.screwfix.com
  • Funding Scotland: “Screwfix Foundation” - funding.scot/funds/a0R3z00000OkNrIEAV/screwfix-foundation
  • UK Fundraising: “Screwfix Foundation invites application for small capital projects” (2025)
  • Refurb Projects: “The Screwfix Foundation awards over £1m to charities”