The Ulverscroft Foundation

Charity Number: 264873

Annual Expenditure: £0.8M
Geographic Focus: Bangladesh, Congo (Democratic Republic), India, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe ... [1 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??814,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle (approximately 3-4 months)
  • Grant Range: ??1,000 - ??300,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK and international

Contact Details

Website: www.ulverscroft-foundation.org.uk

Email: foundation@ulverscroft.co.uk

Phone: 0116 236 1595

Address: The Green, Bradgate Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7FU

Overview

Founded in 1964 by Frederick A. Thorpe and formally registered as a charity in 1972, The Ulverscroft Foundation has grown from its origins as Ulverscroft Large Print Books Limited into a significant grant-making organization supporting visually impaired people worldwide. With total assets generating ??8.36 million in annual income (largely from trading subsidiaries) and charitable expenditure of ??596,000 in 2023, the Foundation awarded 39 grants totalling ??814,000 during the year ended 31 October 2023???a significant increase from ??481,000 in 2022. The Foundation's mission is to provide financial support to universities conducting eye disease research, eye clinics, hospitals, schools, libraries, and other organizations that help visually impaired people overcome challenges caused by sight loss.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: ??1,000 - ??300,000

  • Revenue grants typically under ??5,000 for local and national UK and overseas not-for-profit organizations
  • Larger grants available for significant projects
  • Applications accepted via online form, email, or post
  • Rolling application process with quarterly deadlines: 15 December (for January meeting), 15 March (for April meeting), 15 June (for July meeting), and 15 September (for October meeting)

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports projects that significantly benefit visually impaired people, including:

  • Academic and Clinical Research: University research into causes of eye diseases
  • Healthcare Facilities: Eye clinics and hospitals providing sight-saving services
  • Educational Institutions: Schools and colleges serving visually impaired students
  • Libraries: Public library services for visually impaired readers (excluding privately-operated libraries)
  • Equipment and Materials: Purchase of assistive technology and specialized equipment
  • Time-Limited Projects: Specific initiatives with clear outcomes for visually impaired beneficiaries
  • International Development: Overseas projects establishing or supporting vision services (e.g., recent ??25,000 grant to Orbis for Women-Led Green Vision Centres in Bangladesh)

Key Requirement: “Grants can only be considered if the VI [visual impairment] element is significant”

What They Don't Fund

  • Core operational costs: General running costs and ongoing staff salaries
  • Capital costs: Building projects and major capital expenses
  • Privately-operated libraries: Libraries run by private companies
  • Projects without significant VI element: Applications where visual impairment is not a central focus
  • Multiple applications: Only one application permitted per organization every 18 months, regardless of outcome
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees: 8 trustees oversee the Foundation's grant-making activities

Chair of the Board: Robert Gent (serving since January 2013)

Additional Trustees: Roger John Crooks, John Henry Sandford-Smith, Geoffrey Harold Addison Woodruff, and Ian Robert Moon

Founder: Dr Frederick Thorpe OBE, who established the organization in 1964 to address the needs of elderly individuals who could no longer read standard print due to failing eyesight

The Foundation operates with 84 employees across its trading subsidiaries, with quarterly trustee meetings to review applications and make funding decisions.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications accepted through three methods:

  1. Online application form (available on website)
  2. Email submission: foundation@ulverscroft.co.uk
  3. Postal application: To address listed above

Required Information:

  • Details of current service to visually-impaired people and how the project will enhance it
  • Estimate of how many blind/visually-impaired people currently use your service and future projections
  • Funding received or pledged to date
  • Names of other organizations you've applied to
  • Latest annual report and accounts
  • Confirmation of safeguarding policy implementation and monitoring procedures
  • Evidence of equal opportunities policies

Important: “Make your application as detailed as possible”

Decision Timeline

Quarterly Review Cycle:

  • January meeting: Deadline 15 December
  • April meeting: Deadline 15 March
  • July meeting: Deadline 15 June
  • October meeting: Deadline 15 September

Typical timeframe: Approximately 3-4 months from submission deadline to decision and notification

Note: Meeting dates may be subject to change

Success Rates

The Foundation awarded 39 grants in 2023 (compared to 32 in 2022), showing an increasing grant-making capacity. However, specific success rate percentages and total application numbers are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation's 69% increase in annual giving (from ??481,000 to ??814,000) suggests a positive funding environment.

Reapplication Policy

Strict restriction: Organizations may only submit one application every 18 months, regardless of whether the previous application was successful or unsuccessful. This policy applies from the date of the previous application submission.

Application Success Factors

What Trustees Assess

Sustainability: “Preference will be given to projects which will lead to longer-term benefits after the initial funding has ended, while applications which have a short life span will have little weighting.”

Value for Money: The Foundation examines overall project benefits, considering the number of people who will benefit, costs, and timescale. Applicants must demonstrate they have eliminated unnecessary costs and secured the best prices.

Matched Funding: “The Foundation likes to see evidence that applicants have sought and secured matched funding as part of their application.”

Additional Criteria: Trustees also evaluate:

  • Financial viability of the organization
  • Scalability of the project
  • Accessibility considerations
  • Safeguarding policies and procedures
  • Monitoring and evaluation plans

Recent Funded Projects

Orbis (2024): ??25,000 for Women-Led Green Vision Centres in Bangladesh, continuing a partnership since 2019 that previously supported sight-saving work in Mongolia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Malawi

RAF Association (2023): Funding for Talking Air Mail, an audio version of the quarterly magazine for RAF veterans unable to read the printed version due to illness, disability, or impairment

Standing Out

  • Demonstrate significant VI impact: Clearly articulate how your project substantially benefits visually impaired people
  • Show sustainability: Explain how benefits will continue beyond the initial funding period
  • Provide detailed costings: Demonstrate value for money with comprehensive budget breakdowns
  • Evidence matched funding: Show you've secured or are actively pursuing co-funding from other sources
  • Confirm safeguarding: Explicitly state your organization has implemented and monitors safeguarding policies
  • Be specific: Provide concrete numbers about current and projected beneficiaries
  • Detail the enhancement: Clearly explain how the grant will improve or expand existing services

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Applying for core costs or general running expenses rather than specific projects
  • Submitting applications where visual impairment is a minor rather than significant element
  • Failing to demonstrate longer-term sustainability after funding ends
  • Incomplete applications lacking detailed financial information
  • Applying again before the 18-month restriction period has elapsed
  • Operating as a private company (for library applicants)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on specific projects: The Foundation explicitly supports project-based work with clear outcomes, not operational costs or salaries (except for time-limited project staff)
  • Demonstrate significant VI impact: Visual impairment must be central to your application???peripheral benefits to VI people are insufficient
  • Leverage the sustainability factor: Projects with longer-term benefits after funding ends receive preference over short-term initiatives
  • Pursue matched funding: Actively seek co-funding from other sources before applying, as trustees view this favorably
  • Detail your value proposition: Provide comprehensive information about beneficiary numbers, costs, timescales, and how you've minimized expenses
  • Plan your timing: With only one application permitted every 18 months and quarterly deadlines, strategic timing is essential???ensure your application is complete and compelling before submission
  • International applicants welcome: The Foundation accepts applications from UK and overseas organizations, as evidenced by recent grants in Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Africa

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