The Waterloo Foundation

Charity Number: 1117535

Annual Expenditure: £13.7M
Throughout England And Wales

Contact Info

Website: www.waterloofoundation.org.uk

Phone: 02920 838980

Email: -

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £6 million
  • Total Awarded: £160+ million since 2007
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £100,000
  • Geographic Focus: Wales (local), International (World Development - Africa/Asia, Environment - global)
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months for initial review; approx. 6 months total for Environment program
  • Founded: 2007

Contact Details

Website: www.waterloofoundation.org.uk

Email:

  • General inquiries: info@waterloofoundation.org.uk
  • Applications: applications@waterloofoundation.org.uk

Phone: 02920 838980

Pre-Application Support: The Foundation welcomes inquiries via email. For Wales grants, consider calling before reapplying if previously unsuccessful.

Overview

The Waterloo Foundation (TWF) is an independent grant-making foundation based in Cardiff, Wales, established in 2007 by Heather and David Stevens using an initial endowment of Admiral Group plc shares valued at £99 million. Since its founding, TWF has awarded over £160 million in grants supporting more than 4,200 initiatives globally and locally. The Foundation's mission is to "help globally, with particular focus on the disparity of opportunities, wealth and unsustainable use of world's natural resources." TWF makes annual grants of around £6 million across four core programme areas: World Development, Environment, Child Development, and Wales. The Foundation is a Fairtrade Workplace, Living Wage employer, supports the Divest Invest global movement, and is a member of the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

World Development (largest programme area)

  • Main Grants: £50,000 - £100,000 for large, established organizations (SRH/Family Planning and Nutrition only)
  • Small Grants: £5,000 - £10,000 for 1-2 years (all themes: SRH, Nutrition, Education, WASH)
  • Focus: Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
  • Application: Rolling basis, email applications

Environment

  • Typical grants: £50,000 - £100,000
  • Duration: One-off or multi-annual (up to 5 years)
  • Marine programme deadline: March 1 and September 1
  • Tropical Rainforests deadline: June 1 and November 1
  • Application: 2-3 page proposal via email

Child Development

  • Research grants: £40,000 - £65,000 (up to £80,000 for high-cost materials)
  • Small intervention projects in Wales
  • Two-stage application process
  • Rolling basis

Wales Programme

  • Grants: £5,000 - £30,000
  • Maximum 25% of organization's annual income
  • Multi-year and unrestricted funding available
  • Application: Rolling basis

Priority Areas

World Development:

  • Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Family Planning
  • Nutrition
  • Education (particularly for women and girls)
  • Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) - integrated approach prioritized
  • Geographic priority: Countries ranked as “low human development” or bottom of “medium human development” on UNDP's Human Development Index

Environment:

  • Marine conservation - halting declining fish stocks important to local communities
  • Tropical rainforests - protecting forests through avoided deforestation for climate, communities, and biodiversity
  • Supports both practical local projects and strategic initiatives (policy, campaigns)

Child Development:

  • Research on specific child development conditions
  • Psychological research and mental health
  • Service user involvement required

Wales:

  • Supporting unpaid carers
  • Educational equality - helping parents support early years development, improving educational outcomes (particularly C grades in English and Mathematics), inspiring interest in STEM, facilitating access for children from low-income households
  • Pathways out of poverty
  • Preference for Wales-based organizations embedded in communities

What They Don't Fund

  • Religious or political causes
  • General appeals or circulars
  • Disaster relief or emergency aid
  • Arts, sports, or education unrelated to child development
  • Projects outside their four core programme areas
  • Countries not ranked as low or medium-low on UNDP Human Development Index (for World Development)
  • Grants exceeding 25% of organization's annual income (Wales programme)
  • Individual applicants (unlikely to fund)

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Heather Stevens (Chair of Trustees) - Co-founder, made CBE in 2010 for philanthropic work
  • David Stevens - Co-founder
  • Caroline Oakes - Joined as Trustee in 2007
  • Luke Stevens - Trustee

Background: Heather and David Stevens were part of the small team that launched Admiral insurance group in 1993 in Cardiff. Using their personal wealth, they set up The Waterloo Foundation in 2007 with initial trustees Janet Alexander and Caroline Oakes. The Foundation was formally registered with the England and Wales Charity Commission in early 2007.

Notable: The Foundation remembers former Trustee Captain Janet Alexander, described as “a formidable woman, strong of principle and opinion, yet with the warmest and most generous of hearts” who was deeply committed to the foundation's work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

General Process:

  • No standard application form
  • Submit 2-3 page proposal via email to applications@waterloofoundation.org.uk
  • Two-stage assessment: (1) Initial screening for eligibility, (2) Detailed review by Fund Manager, (3) Final decision by Trustees
  • Include: organization details, project title/description, alignment with funding priorities, anticipated outcomes and measurement methods, justification, project details (cost, timeline, activities), evidence of previous successful projects

Programme-Specific Requirements:

  • Environment: Must align with Marine or Tropical Rainforest deadlines
  • Child Development Research: Two-stage process with initial application, then invited full application (up to 6 pages, 12-point Times New Roman, 1" margins)
  • Wales: Initial review every 4-8 weeks, may request additional documentation (audited accounts, project plan, budget breakdown, case studies)

Eligibility:

  • UK-based registered charities, social enterprises, non-profit organizations, Community Interest Companies, universities/academic institutions
  • NGOs based outside UK (must provide UK-based reference)
  • Preference for organizations with annual income under £1 million (exceptions for larger charities with significant impact)

Decision Timeline

  • Initial review: 2-3 months from submission
  • Environment programme: Approximately 6 months total decision process
  • Wales programme: Initial assessment every 4-8 weeks
  • Notification: All applicants notified; unsuccessful applicants informed after initial review
  • Limited feedback available due to high volume of applications

Success Rates

Specific success rate data not publicly available. The Foundation notes they “receive many more strong applications than able to support,” indicating a competitive process.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants must wait at least 18 months since their last unsuccessful application before reapplying. The Foundation advises that “submitting an application for the same project is not going to be successful” - applications must demonstrate changes or new approaches. For Wales grants, the Foundation recommends calling before reapplying if previously unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Key Advice from the Foundation:

  • Co-funding is valued: “Matching funds from other sources are encouraged, and co-funded projects are viewed favourably”
  • Sustainability matters: The Foundation is “committed to providing support that will be used in a sustainable way with lasting impact” and aims to avoid creating aid dependency
  • Alignment is critical: Ensure your organization works at the appropriate scale (local for small grants, regional/national for main grants) and in priority geographies
  • Evidence-based: Provide evidence of previous successful projects and demonstrate ability to monitor outputs and outcomes

Examples of Funded Projects:

  • WaterAid (World Development - WASH)
  • Uganda's Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund (World Development - Education)
  • India's Jeevika Trust (World Development)
  • Camfed - Campaign for education of women and girls in Africa (World Development)
  • Forest Peoples Programme (Environment - Rainforests)
  • Greenpeace (Environment)
  • Global Canopy Programme (Environment - Rainforests)

Language and Terminology:

  • Emphasize “sustainable development,” “lasting impact,” and avoiding “aid dependency”
  • Focus on addressing “disparity of opportunities” and “wealth inequality”
  • Demonstrate understanding of environmental issues related to "unsustainable use of world's natural resources"
  • For Child Development: highlight “service user involvement” and research accessible to “scientists outside your discipline”

Common Reasons for Rejection:

  • Outside funding priorities (not in the four core programme areas)
  • 18-month waiting period not met for reapplications
  • Grant size mismatch (e.g., applying for £10k+ in Small Grants)
  • Organization too large (grant would exceed 25% of annual income limit for Wales)
  • Geographic focus doesn't align (e.g., World Development work in medium-high development countries)
  • Lack of demonstrated capacity for project delivery and monitoring

Tips for Standing Out:

  • Mention match funding from other sources
  • Highlight previous successes with specific data
  • Reference supporting research/data that aligns with TWF priorities
  • Demonstrate how project meets specific programme priorities (not just general area)
  • For Wales grants: show how you're embedded in communities
  • For Environment: explain both local impact AND larger strategic value
  • For Child Development research: suggest 3 independent reviewers, target application for non-specialists

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Scale matters: Apply to the right grant stream - small grants for localized projects (one or few communities), main grants for regional/national reach
  • Geography is critical: For World Development, ensure you work in countries ranked as low or medium-low human development; for Wales, demonstrate community embeddedness
  • Co-funding strengthens applications: The Foundation views favorably applications with match funding from other sources
  • Sustainability over dependency: Emphasize long-term impact and avoid creating aid dependency - show how benefits will continue beyond the grant period
  • Be patient and strategic: With 2-3 month initial review times and 18-month reapplication waiting periods, plan your submission timing carefully
  • Keep it concise: 2-3 pages is the limit - make every sentence count by focusing on alignment, evidence, and outcomes
  • Pre-submission contact welcomed: Don't hesitate to contact info@waterloofoundation.org.uk with questions, especially if previously unsuccessful and considering reapplication
  • The Foundation is approachable: As an accessible and transparent funder with Living Wage employer values, they encourage dialogue

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References