The Tds Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 1154321

Annual Expenditure: £0.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £469,020 (2024-25)
  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £50,000 (depending on stream)
  • Geographic Focus: England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
  • Founded: July 2014
  • Charity Number: 1154321

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. With over £750,000 awarded to date and numerous funded projects completed, the Foundation delivers its objectives both through direct initiatives like the Voice of the Tenant survey and My Housing Issue Gateway website, and by awarding grants to organisations working to educate and inform those within the PRS. 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 (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 primarily grant-giving charity, with Trustees meeting to review applications and make funding decisions.

Application Process and Timeline

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 organizations working within the private rented sector.

What the Foundation values:

  • Innovation and originality: The Foundation specifically seeks “exciting and innovative” proposals and has created an Innovation Stream to support unique approaches
  • Clear educational focus: Projects must demonstrate how they will promote knowledge of rights, responsibilities, and obligations
  • Practical implementation: Application forms require detailed plans for how projects will be implemented
  • Sector alignment: Strong understanding of PRS challenges and how the project addresses them

Recent funded project examples:

  • Voice of the Tenant survey: A regular survey of 2,000 tenants assessing views and experiences of private renting, which has been established as a key data source for the sector with coverage in Sunday Times, BBC Money Talk, Evening Standard, and cited in government reports
  • My Housing Issue Gateway: An interactive website helping tenants understand their rights and determine actions when issues arise, receiving positive feedback from national housing charities, advice services, ombudsman services, letting industry bodies, and government departments
  • Projects supporting first-time renters, students, migrants, and landlord forums
  • Over £293,000 was distributed to nine organisations in 2018/2019
  • By 2019, the Foundation had awarded over £753,000 across multiple funding rounds

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Emphasize innovation: The Foundation explicitly seeks “exciting and innovative” projects - demonstrate what makes your approach unique or original
  • Show educational impact: Clearly articulate how your project will promote knowledge of landlord obligations or tenant rights and responsibilities
  • Target vulnerable groups: Projects benefiting first-time renters, students, or migrants align with the Foundation's track record
  • Consider the appropriate stream: Match your project scale and scope to the right funding stream (Community £10k, Innovation £20k, or National £50k)
  • Demonstrate sector expertise: Show understanding of PRS challenges and how your project addresses specific gaps
  • Plan for implementation: Applications require detailed implementation plans - be specific about delivery
  • Think beyond direct delivery: The Foundation values projects that can achieve wider impact, as evidenced by their support for the Voice of the Tenant survey and My Housing Issue Gateway which have achieved national recognition

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