The Sir Bernard & Lady Schreier Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £200,000 (based on 2024 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Up to 3 months (quarterly board meetings)
• Grant Range: £500 - £5,000
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
• Charity Number: 1187179

Contact Details

Address: CP House, Otterspool Way, Watford, WD25 8JJ

Email: info@schreierfoundation.com

Phone: 01923 250500

Website: https://schreierfoundation.com/

Overview

The Sir Bernard & Lady Schreier Foundation was established in 2020 using a bequest left by the late Sir Bernard and Lady Schreier. Sir Bernard Schreier (1918-2013) was an Austrian-born businessman and mechanical engineer who built a substantial industrial conglomerate based in Watford and was knighted in 2000 for services to UK-Hungary trade. The foundation serves as a memorial to the Schreiers through supporting mental health. With total income of approximately £500,000 in 2024 and expenditure of around £203,000, the foundation is an independent grant-making charity focused exclusively on providing relief to those affected by mental illness. The foundation delivers its vision primarily by giving grants to UK registered charities that provide direct services to beneficiaries facing mental health challenges.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grant program:

• Mental Health Grants: £500 - £5,000 (one-off grants, typically funding up to 50% of proposed activity costs)
• Applications considered on individual merits
• Applications reviewed quarterly with some flexibility for urgent requests

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on three key areas:

1. Empowering Young People: Supporting children and young people affected by mental illness
2. Mental Health Support: Supporting all those affected by mental illness through direct service provision
3. Prevention and Early Intervention: Helping mental health charities prevent mental illness, improve early intervention, and promote wellbeing

Key requirement: Grants must support the direct provision of services to those facing mental health issues.

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals (though occasional exceptions may be made)
• Activities that do not directly support those facing mental health issues
• Organizations not registered as UK charities
• Typically do not provide long-term or recurring grants (one-off grants are the norm)
• Generally do not fund more than 50% of a project's total cost

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Iris Gibbor (Chair)
• John Smith FCA
• Mark Gibbor
• Dr. Luke Gibbor

The foundation has four trustees who receive no remuneration for their roles. The foundation has no employees earning over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries. Trustees meet quarterly to review applications and make funding decisions.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Review eligibility criteria on the foundation's website at https://schreierfoundation.com/grants/
2. Download the application form from the website
3. Complete the application form providing details of your organization and proposed project
4. Email the completed form to info@schreierfoundation.com

Decision Timeline

• Board Meetings: Quarterly in April, July, October, and January
• Review Process: Applications are considered at the next scheduled quarterly trustee meeting
• Notification: Applicants notified by email whether their request has been successful or not
• Urgent Requests: The foundation states that “every effort will be made to meet urgent requests outside of these time frames”
• Typical Timeline: Up to 3 months from submission to decision, depending on when the application is received relative to board meeting dates

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The foundation does not publish statistics on the number of applications received versus grants awarded.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Applicants should contact the foundation directly if an initial application is unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Grant Purpose Alignment:

• Focus applications on direct service provision to people facing mental health issues
• Clearly demonstrate how the grant will support beneficiaries, particularly young people
• Emphasize prevention, early intervention, or wellbeing promotion aspects if applicable

Financial Planning:

• Request between £500 and £5,000 (applications outside this range may be considered on merit)
• Be prepared to secure match funding, as the foundation typically funds up to 50% of project costs
• Present one-off projects rather than seeking long-term funding commitments

Application Strength:

• Ensure you are a UK registered charity (check eligibility carefully)
• Demonstrate direct impact on people affected by mental illness
• Be specific about how funds will be used and who will benefit
• Consider timing your application to allow for the quarterly review cycle

Strategic Considerations:

• The foundation is relatively new (established 2020) and appears to be building its grant-making portfolio
• As a memorial foundation, applications that align with sustainable, meaningful impact may resonate
• The foundation has demonstrated flexibility for urgent requests when needed

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Small grants specialist: Focus on requests between £500-£5,000 for maximum alignment with their typical grant size
• Direct service emphasis: Ensure your application clearly shows direct provision of services to people with mental health issues
• Match funding essential: Plan to secure other funding sources as grants typically cover up to 50% of costs
• Quarterly cycle: Time your application considering the April, July, October, and January board meetings
• Youth focus valued: Projects supporting young people and children affected by mental illness appear to be a priority
• One-off funding: Structure applications as discrete projects rather than ongoing operational support
• UK charities only: Confirm your charity registration status before applying

References

1. The Sir Bernard & Lady Schreier Foundation official website - https://schreierfoundation.com/
2. The Sir Bernard & Lady Schreier Foundation - Grants page - https://schreierfoundation.com/grants/
3. The Sir Bernard & Lady Schreier Foundation - About Us page - https://schreierfoundation.com/about-us/
4. UK Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 1187179 - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1187179&subid=0
5. Wikipedia - Bernard Schreier - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Schreier