The Tds Charitable Foundation
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Quick Stats
- Charity Number: 1154321
- Geographic Focus: England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
- Founded: July 2014
- Total Income: £234,797 (year ending 31 March 2024)
Contact Details
- Website: www.tdsfoundation.org.uk
- Email: info@tdsfoundation.org.uk
- Phone: 01442 218031
Overview
The TDS Charitable Foundation was established in July 2014 and is primarily funded by donations from The Dispute Service (TDS), the leading Tenancy Deposit Scheme. The Foundation's mission is to raise standards in the private rented sector (PRS) through promoting education about the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, and advancing the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms for tenant-landlord disputes. The Foundation delivers its objectives through a combination of direct initiatives, research projects, and strategic partnerships with organisations working to improve access to quality private rented housing, particularly for vulnerable populations. The Foundation operates across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The TDS Charitable Foundation offers three distinct funding streams:
- Community Stream: £10,000 per project - For local projects addressing private rented sector issues at the community level
- Innovation Stream: £20,000 per project - To enable unique and original projects that bring innovative approaches to PRS education
- National Stream: £50,000 per project - For larger projects with national impact and reach across the Foundation's operating regions
Each year the Trustees decide the core themes for funding based on strategic priorities within the PRS.
Priority Areas
The Foundation looks to support projects which focus on:
- Promoting knowledge of landlords' obligations
- Educating tenants about their rights and responsibilities
- Encouraging best practice in the management of private rented housing
- Providing education and information to tenants, landlords, letting agents, and property professionals
- Innovative and exciting approaches to raising standards in the PRS
Priority beneficiaries include first-time renters, students, migrants, and landlord forums.
What They Don't Fund
The Foundation's focus is exclusively on the private rented sector in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Projects outside this sector or geographic scope are unlikely to be funded.
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Governance and Leadership
The Foundation can have up to nine Trustees at any one time.
Paula Quigley (Chair) - Dedicated to driving social impact through education and community development.
Sue Threader (Trustee) - Chief Executive of the Rochester Bridge Trust with significant experience both as a charity chief executive and as a senior executive previously working in local government.
Shahad Choudhury (Trustee) - Background in project management and technology, having worked at UK Export Finance, Department for International Trade, Transport for London, as well as being the Founder of OpenBrix.
The Foundation operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) - Foundation, registered on 23 October 2013.
How to Apply to The Tds Charitable Foundation
How to Apply
Applications for funding can be made online through the Foundation's website at www.tdsfoundation.org.uk/apply-for-funding. Organisations submit detailed grant application forms setting out their proposed projects and how these will be implemented. The Foundation operates funding rounds with specific deadlines announced on their website and through the TDS network.
Decision Timeline
All bids are considered by the Trustees who meet to make funding decisions. Once Trustees decide on successful applicants, grant funding is provided and projects commence. Specific timelines are not publicly documented but funding rounds appear to operate annually or bi-annually.
Application Success Factors
The Foundation states it is “always looking for exciting and innovative suggestions, proposals and projects” from organisations working within the private rented sector.
What the Foundation values:
- Innovation and originality: The Foundation specifically seeks “exciting and innovative” proposals and approaches
- Clear educational focus: Projects must demonstrate how they will promote knowledge of rights, responsibilities, and obligations
- Evidence-based approach: The Foundation emphasises research and evidence to inform its work
- Practical implementation: Strong understanding of PRS challenges and clear delivery plans
- Sector alignment: Deep knowledge of private rented sector issues and how projects address specific gaps
- Scale of impact: The Foundation now focuses on projects that can achieve meaningful, measurable impact
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Understand the current strategy: The Foundation has moved towards strategic partnerships rather than open grant-making rounds
- Emphasise innovation and evidence: Demonstrate what makes your approach unique and how it builds on evidence and research
- Show educational impact: Clearly articulate how your project will promote knowledge of landlord obligations or tenant rights and responsibilities
- Target vulnerable groups: Projects benefiting people experiencing homelessness, first-time renters, students, or migrants align with the Foundation's track record
- Demonstrate sector expertise: Show deep understanding of PRS challenges and how your project addresses specific gaps
- Think strategically: The Foundation values projects with potential for wider impact and sustainable change
- Check current priorities: Visit the Foundation's website to understand their current focus areas before approaching them
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References
- TDS Charitable Foundation official website: www.tdsfoundation.org.uk
- UK Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1154321&subid=0
- TDS Charitable Foundation 2023-24 Annual Review: https://www.tdsfoundation.org.uk/post/tds-charitable-foundation-projects-have-wide-impact-in-2023-24
- Annual Review highlights TDS Charitable Foundation's impact on renting standards: https://www.tdsfoundation.org.uk/post/annual-review-highlights-tds-charitable-foundation-s-impact-on-renting-standards
- TDS Foundation Projects Page: https://www.tdsfoundation.org.uk/projects
- TDS and Crisis partnership: https://theintermediary.co.uk/2025/11/tds-and-crisis-partnership-helps-160-people-out-of-homelessness/
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