The Tanlaw Foundation
Charity Number: 1094181
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £272,465 (expenditure for year ending October 2024)
- Annual Income: £307,913 (year ending October 2024)
- Success Rate: Not available
- Decision Time: Not published
- Grant Range: Varying sizes (specific amounts not disclosed)
- Geographic Focus: UK and international (particularly learning difficulties/special needs)
Contact Details
Address: The Tanlaw Foundation, c/o Rathbone Investment Management Ltd, 8 Finsbury Circus, London, EC2M 7AZ
Email: Neil.Warman@rathbones.com
Phone: 020 7399 0134
Website: None
Chair: Lord Tanlaw
Overview
The Tanlaw Foundation is a family-based grant-making charity founded by Lord and Lady Tanlaw in 1996. Registered with charity number 1094181, the Foundation focuses its charitable efforts on supporting registered charities that work with people with learning difficulties or other special needs, both in the UK and overseas. The Foundation also makes grants across a broader range of charitable purposes including health and disability, overseas aid, religion, education, wildlife and environment, and poverty relief. With total expenditure of £272,465 in the year ending October 2024, the Foundation operates with four trustees who serve without remuneration. The Foundation maintains a traditional approach to grant-making without a website presence, accepting written applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
- Primary Focus: Grants to registered charities supporting people with learning difficulties and special needs (UK and overseas)
- Grant Size: Varying sizes (specific amounts not publicly disclosed)
- Application Method: Rolling basis - applications accepted at any time in writing
Priority Areas
The Foundation makes grants for the following purposes:
- Learning difficulties and special needs (primary focus)
- Health and disability
- Overseas aid/international development
- Religion
- Education
- Wildlife and environment
- Poverty relief
What They Don't Fund
The Foundation appears to fund only registered charities - not individuals or non-charitable organizations. Specific exclusions are not published.

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Governance and Leadership
Chair: Lord Tanlaw (Simon Brooke Mackay, Baron Tanlaw)
Lord Tanlaw was born on 30 March 1934, the fourth son of Kenneth Mackay, 2nd Earl of Inchcape. He served as a life peer in the House of Lords from 1971 until his retirement in 2017. He was formerly a director of the family firm Inchcape plc and served as Chancellor of the University of Buckingham from 2010 to 2013. In 2012, Lord Tanlaw and his family were ranked equal 63rd in Scotland in the Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated fortune of £85 million.
The Foundation is governed by four trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Foundation operates without employees earning over £60,000.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
Applications may be made at any time in writing to:
Lord Tanlaw, Chair
The Tanlaw Foundation
c/o Rathbone Investment Management Ltd
8 Finsbury Circus
London EC2M 7AZ
Email inquiries may be directed to: Neil.Warman@rathbones.com
Phone: 020 7399 0134
The Foundation does not have a website or online application portal.
Decision Timeline
The Foundation does not publish information about typical decision timelines or board meeting dates.
Success Rates
Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.
Reapplication Policy
No information is publicly available regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants.
Application Success Factors
Given the limited public information about the Foundation's grant-making approach, applicants should consider the following:
- Clear alignment with learning difficulties/special needs: While the Foundation funds across multiple areas, its primary charitable objective is supporting people with learning difficulties and special needs. Applications aligned with this focus may be prioritized.
- Registered charity status required: Ensure your organization is a registered charity as this appears to be a fundamental requirement.
- Traditional approach: The Foundation maintains a traditional, relationship-based approach to grant-making without a website presence, suggesting they may value personal connections and clear, professional written applications.
- Family foundation discretion: As a family-based foundation, grant-making decisions are likely made at the discretion of the trustees based on their personal philanthropic interests.
- Written application quality: With applications accepted only in writing, ensure your submission is comprehensive, clear, and professionally presented.
- Contact administrator: Given the Foundation is administered through Rathbone Investment Management, consider contacting Neil Warman for any preliminary inquiries before submitting a formal application.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Primary alignment: The Foundation's primary charitable objective is supporting people with learning difficulties and special needs - applications in this area should emphasize this alignment strongly.
- No application deadlines: Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year, allowing flexibility in timing your submission.
- Traditional format: Prepare a comprehensive written application as this is the only submission method - no online applications or forms are available.
- Broad remit: Beyond learning difficulties, the Foundation supports health, disability, overseas aid, religion, education, environment, and poverty relief - demonstrating how your work fits within these areas is important.
- Limited transparency: With no website and minimal public information, applicants should consider making preliminary contact via email or phone before submitting a full application.
- Modest but active: With annual expenditure of approximately £272,000, the Foundation is a modest-sized grant-maker that appears to distribute grants regularly.
- Administrator contact: Neil Warman at Rathbones serves as the administrative contact and may be able to provide guidance on application requirements and suitability.
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References
- Charity Commission Register of Charities. (2025). The Tanlaw Foundation - Charity 1094181. Retrieved from https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1094181&subId=0 []
- Scotland's International Development Alliance. Tanlaw Foundation. Retrieved from https://intdevalliance.scot/membership/funding-update/tanlaw-foundation/ []
- Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum. The Tanlaw Foundation. Retrieved from https://cornwallvsf.org/supporting/funding/the-tanlaw-foundation/ []
- Bath and North East Somerset Council. The Tanlaw Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/node/90422 []
- Wikipedia. Simon Mackay, Baron Tanlaw. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Mackay,_Baron_Tanlaw []
- Find that Charity. GB-CHC-1094181 | The Tanlaw Foundation. Retrieved from https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1094181 []