The Sterry Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £80,000 - £100,000 (approximately £105,000 income in 2024)
• Grant Range: £500 - £6,000 (most grants £2,000 - £3,000)
• Total Grants 2024: £185,090 (including £35,000 to Africa)
• Geographic Focus: UK and 11 African countries
• Application Method: Rolling basis, written applications
• Registered Charity Number: 1143953

Contact Details

Correspondence Address (Primary):

RSM

5th Floor, Central Square

29 Wellington Street

Leeds LS1 4DL

United Kingdom

Alternative Contact:

Rathbones Trust Company Limited

30 Gresham Street

London EC2V 7QN

United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7399 0067

Note: The foundation does not maintain a website or email address. All applications must be submitted by post.

Overview

The Sterry Family Foundation is a UK-registered charity (number 1143953) established on 23 September 2011. The foundation is a family-run trust that makes grants to UK registered charities working in the UK and specific African countries. With an annual income of approximately £105,000 and annual grant-making of £80,000-£100,000, the foundation has distributed £185,090 in grants during 2024 alone. The foundation operates with four family trustees who serve without remuneration and is administered by RSM in Leeds and Rathbones Trust Company in London. The Sterry Family Foundation focuses on supporting education, arts and culture, amateur sports, health advancement, and relief of sickness, with a particular commitment to supporting vulnerable groups including children, young people, and people with disabilities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grant program with applications accepted on a rolling basis:

• General Grants: £500 - £6,000 (typical range £2,000 - £3,000)
• Application method: Rolling basis - trustees meet regularly to review applications
• Format required: Specific format required (contact foundation for guidelines)
• Annual distribution: £80,000 - £100,000 across multiple grants

Priority Areas

The foundation actively funds projects in the following areas:

Core Funding Areas:

• Education and Training: Advancement of education for individuals and communities
• Arts and Culture: Cultural heritage, arts initiatives, and cultural development
• Amateur Sports: Support for athletes and sporting bodies (UK focus)
• Health and Wellbeing: Promotion of good health and healthcare projects
• Relief of Sickness: Support for sick and disabled children and adults
• Disability Support: Projects supporting people with disabilities
• Poverty Alleviation: Relief efforts for those in need
• Overseas Aid: International development projects in eligible African countries

Geographic Focus:

• United Kingdom: England and Wales (primary focus)
• Africa: South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Uganda, and Kenya

Beneficiary Groups:

• Children and young people
• People with disabilities
• Other charities and voluntary bodies
• Individuals (in specific circumstances)

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

• US-based organizations (not eligible)
• Organizations not registered as UK charities (for UK-based applicants)
• Countries outside the specified UK and African geographic focus
• Grants to individuals (except in specific circumstances aligned with trust objectives)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The foundation is governed by four trustees, all family members appointed in 2011:

Wendy Ann Sterry - Chair (appointed 20 October 2011)

David William Edmund Sterry - Trustee (appointed 23 September 2011)

James William Sterry - Trustee (appointed 23 September 2011)

Nicola Kate Clatworthy - Trustee (appointed 23 September 2011)

Key Governance Features:

• All trustees serve without remuneration or benefits
• The foundation has no trading subsidiaries
• Administration is handled by RSM (Leeds) and Rathbones Trust Company (London)
• Trustees meet regularly to review grant applications
• Decision-making is guided by the trust deed and stated charitable objectives

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Sterry Family Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year. Applications must be submitted by post to the Leeds address.

Application Requirements:

1. Submit a summary of proposals in the foundation's specific format
2. Include an outline appeal with your application
3. Contact the foundation first to obtain the specific format requirements
4. Ensure your organization is a UK registered charity
5. Verify your project falls within eligible geographic areas and funding priorities

Application Format:

The foundation requires applications to be submitted in a specific format. As this format is not published online, prospective applicants should contact the foundation by letter at the Leeds address to request application guidelines and format specifications before submitting a full proposal.

Submission Method:

All applications must be sent by post to:

Sterry Family Foundation, RSM, 5th Floor, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL

Decision Timeline

Application Review:

• Applications are accepted at any time (rolling basis)
• Trustees meet on a regular basis to consider funding requests
• Specific meeting frequency not publicly disclosed
• Applications are reviewed against the trust deed and charitable objectives

Timeline Note: The foundation does not publish specific decision timelines. Given the regular trustee meetings and rolling application process, applicants should expect several weeks to months for a decision, though this varies depending on meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, with annual grant-making of £80,000-£100,000 distributed across multiple grants (typically £2,000-£3,000 each), the foundation makes approximately 30-40 grants per year.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation's policy on reapplications is not publicly documented. Organizations that are unsuccessful should contact the foundation directly to inquire about whether and when they may reapply.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and grant-making patterns, the following factors appear important for successful applications:

Alignment with Core Mission:

• Projects must clearly align with one or more of the foundation's five core areas: education, arts/culture, amateur sport, health, or relief of sickness
• Demonstrate clear benefits to target beneficiary groups (children/young people, people with disabilities, or charitable/voluntary bodies)
• For UK projects, ensure relevance to England and Wales
• For African projects, verify your work is in one of the 11 eligible countries

Application Format Compliance:

• Follow the foundation's specific format requirements precisely
• Contact the foundation first to obtain current format guidelines
• Include both a proposal summary and outline appeal as specified
• Ensure applications are reviewed against trust deed alignment before submission

Grant Amount Considerations:

• Request realistic amounts within the £500-£6,000 range
• The “sweet spot” appears to be £2,000-£3,000
• Justify the requested amount clearly
• Consider that the foundation makes multiple grants annually, suggesting they favor spreading funding across many organizations

Geographic Specificity:

• Be explicit about where your project will take place
• For African projects, clearly state which of the 11 eligible countries benefit
• Demonstrate local knowledge and established presence in the target area

Professional Presentation:

• Despite the lack of online presence, maintain professional correspondence
• Given administration by RSM and Rathbones (professional trust administrators), applications should be business-like and well-organized
• Be concise - this is a family trust with a clear mission

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No Online Presence: This foundation operates traditionally without a website or email. All contact must be by post or phone, and applications require a specific written format - plan extra time for correspondence.

1. Geographic Precision Matters: With a clear focus on UK (England and Wales) and 11 specific African countries, ensure your project location is explicitly eligible before applying.

1. Multiple Small Grants Philosophy: With £80,000-£100,000 distributed annually in grants typically of £2,000-£3,000, the foundation prefers supporting multiple organizations rather than fewer large grants - tailor your request accordingly.

1. Format Compliance is Essential: The foundation requires a specific format for applications and reviews against trust deed objectives - contact them first to obtain current guidelines and ensure compliance.

1. Family Trust with Professional Administration: The foundation is family-run (four Sterry family trustees) but professionally administered by RSM and Rathbones - expect both personal commitment to the mission and professional grant-making standards.

1. Five Clear Funding Streams: Focus your application on one or more of the five core areas (education, arts/culture, amateur sport, health, relief of sickness) with clear benefit to vulnerable groups.

1. Rolling Applications Welcome: With regular trustee meetings and no fixed deadlines, you can apply when your project is ready - but allow sufficient time for postal communication and decision-making.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE SOUTH STREET GREEN ROOM FOUNDATION
• The Carmela & Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation
• Ida Davis Family Foundation
• The Greenslade Family Foundation
• THE KENNETH & SUSAN GREEN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
• The Dow Clewer Foundation
• The Patrick Rowland Foundation
• Edwin Fox Foundation
• Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation
• The Breadsticks Foundation

References

Primary Sources:

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: The Sterry Family Foundation (1143953) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5019113 []
• Charity Commission Trustee Information - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5019113/trustees []

Funding Directories:

• Funding for All: The Sterry Family Foundation - https://fundingforall.org.uk/funds/the-sterry-family-foundation/ []
• Active Together Funding Finder: Sterry Family Foundation - https://www.active-together.org/fundingfinder/1236 []
• Making Music: Sterry Family Foundation - https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/funding-opportunity/sterry-family-foundation []
• Hub Cymru Africa: The Sterry Family Foundation - https://hubcymruafrica.wales/funding-opportunity/the-sterry-family-foundation/ []
• Scotland's International Development Alliance - https://intdevalliance.scot/membership/funding-update/the-sterry-family-foundation-2/ []

Additional Sources:

• Find That Charity: GB-CHC-1143953 - https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1143953 []
• NGO Portal: Understanding the Impact of the Sterry Family Foundation Grants - https://ngoportal.org/understanding-the-impact-of-the-sterry-family-foundation-grants/ []
• Charity Choice: The Sterry Family Foundation - https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-sterry-family-foundation-183857 []