The Squires Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £100,000 (target from 2018-19 onwards)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Twice yearly (family panel meets twice per year)
• Grant Range: Small grants £750 - £50,000; larger grants up to approximately £20,000-£30,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Tyneside and Northumberland (Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland)

Contact Details

Direct Contact:

• Email: info@thesquiresfoundation.com
• Phone: 07729689813

For Smaller Grants (£750-£10,000):

• Apply through Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland
• Website: https://www.communityfoundation.org.uk/apply/
• Online portal application system (allow 2 working days for registration)

Overview

The Squires Foundation was established in 1989 by John Squires, founder of Benfield Motors, one of the North East's largest automotive dealerships which he sold in 2015 for £87 million. Originally called the Benfield Motors Charitable Trust, the foundation was renamed following the business sale to engage the next generation of the Squires family in philanthropy. The foundation operates under a dual structure: making larger strategic grants directly (£60,000 in 2-3 sizable grants annually) and distributing smaller grants (£40,000-£50,000 annually) through the Squires Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland. John Squires, awarded an OBE for services to the community, served as Chair of the Community Foundation and has been recognized with the Entrepreneurs Lifetime Achievement Award. The foundation focuses on tackling disadvantage, supporting vulnerable populations, and strengthening community infrastructure across the North East.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Large Strategic Grants (Direct from Foundation)

• Amount: £60,000 total distributed as 2-3 sizable grants annually
• Themes:
• Overseas projects
• Disadvantage
• Culture
• Application Method: No public application process (see below)

Small Grants (via Community Foundation)

• Amount: £750 - £10,000 (average grant approximately £6,000)
• Annual Distribution: £40,000-£50,000
• Geographic Focus: Newcastle, Northumberland, and North Tyneside
• Focus: Tackling disadvantage
• Application Method: Rolling basis through Community Foundation online portal

Priority Areas

• Social welfare, particularly relief of need, hardship, and distress
• Community development initiatives
• Support for children, young people, and the elderly
• Local hospitals and hospices
• Christian activities and advancement of Christianity
• Projects addressing disadvantage in the North East region
• Core running costs for small charities (as evidenced by Walking With grant)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, the foundation's geographic focus is primarily Tyneside and Northumberland, suggesting projects outside this region are unlikely to be funded through their main programs.

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Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

John Squires (Founder, b. 1940)

• Automotive retailer who established Benfield Motors in 1957
• Sold Benfield Motors to Lookers PLC in 2015 for £87 million
• Awarded OBE for services to the community
• Former Chair of the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland
• Former Chairman of Newcastle Diocesan Board of Finance
• Former Vice Chairman of The Sage Gateshead
• Recipient of Entrepreneurs Lifetime Achievement Award (2012)

Mark Squires

• John's son who took over running Benfield Motors in 2005
• Involved in next-generation philanthropy efforts

Decision-Making Structure

The foundation has 5 trustees and 4 volunteers. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

For the Squires Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation, a panel comprising 6-9 family members meets twice a year to recommend grants from shortlists prepared by Community Foundation staff. John Squires is not on the panel but retains oversight on behalf of the Squires Foundation.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Large Strategic Grants (£20,000-£30,000):

This funder does not have a public application process for their larger strategic grants. These grants appear to be made through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships. Direct contact may be made via email (info@thesquiresfoundation.com) or phone (07729689813), though there is no guarantee of consideration without an established relationship.

For Small Grants (£750-£10,000):

Applications are made through the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland:

1. Register on the Community Foundation's online grantee portal at https://www.communityfoundation.org.uk/apply/
2. Allow up to 2 working days for registration to be verified
3. Complete the general application form
4. The Community Foundation assesses applications and identifies suitable funds
5. Applications are considered year-round with no fixed deadlines
6. Shortlisted applications are presented to the family panel

Priority: Organizations with annual income up to £500,000 are prioritized for Community Foundation grants.

Decision Timeline

Small Grants (via Community Foundation):

• Rolling applications accepted year-round
• Family panel meets twice annually to review shortlisted applications
• Specific timeline from application to decision not publicly stated

Large Strategic Grants:

• No public timeline available

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The foundation aims to distribute approximately £100,000 annually across both grant programs.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. However, the example of Walking With receiving £4,500 in April 2018 for core running costs suggests the foundation is open to supporting operational expenses.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information about the foundation's direct grant-making, success factors are inferred from their stated priorities and known grants:

For Small Grants (Community Foundation route):

• Focus on disadvantage: Projects must clearly tackle disadvantage in Newcastle, Northumberland, and North Tyneside
• Organizational capacity: Priority given to smaller organizations (under £500,000 annual income)
• Core costs welcome: The foundation has funded core running costs (Walking With example), indicating openness to operational funding
• Local impact: Strong preference for organizations working in Tyneside and Northumberland
• Clear outcomes: Articulate how the grant will strengthen services for vulnerable populations

For Strategic Grants:

• Thematic alignment: Projects must align with overseas work, disadvantage, or culture themes
• Scale and impact: Larger grants suggest preference for significant, strategic initiatives
• Relationship-based: No public application suggests relationships and trustee connections matter

Known Grant Example:

Walking With in North Tyneside received £4,500 in April 2018 from the Squires Foundation Fund (alongside funding from two other Community Foundation funds) to support core running costs. This organization supports asylum seekers and refugees and later received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, demonstrating the caliber of organizations the foundation supports.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Two pathways exist: Small organizations seeking £750-£10,000 should apply through the Community Foundation; larger strategic grants operate by invitation only
• Geographic focus matters: The foundation strongly prioritizes Tyneside and Northumberland, particularly Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland
• Disadvantage is central: Whether through small or large grants, tackling disadvantage is a core theme
• Family engagement: 6-9 family members actively participate in grant decisions, suggesting values-driven philanthropy
• Core costs are fundable: Unlike many funders, the foundation has supported operational expenses
• Patience required: The family panel meets only twice annually, so application timing matters for Community Foundation route
• Quality over quantity: With only 2-3 large grants made annually from the strategic fund, competition for direct funding is likely intense

References

• Charity Commission Register - The Squires Foundation (328149) -
• Find that Charity - GB-CHC-328149 -
• Philanthropy North East - John Squires profile -
• Community Foundation - Small charity grows following support case study - Walking With grant example
• Community Foundation - Funding and Support Grants - Application process information
• VODA - Funding News - Squires Foundation Fund details