Wates Foundation

Wates Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1202779).

The Wates Foundation is an independent grant-making Family Trust that aims to alleviate distress, deprivation and disadvantage that lead to social exclusion by funding charitable work across a broad range of social priorities. It has supported the charitable and voluntary sector for over 50 years and has made grants totalling over £100 million since its inception, providing support to thousands of charities. Its interests are grouped into seven themes, and in the annual report it paid £411,833 in the year, with family members sponsoring 41 full applications under those themes.

Priority Areas

The Foundation aims to alleviate distress, deprivation and disadvantage that lead to social exclusion through charitable work across social priorities intended to bring positive change. Its seven themes cover family and social values, community health, young people’s education and employment, environmental protection and nature recovery, life transitions, safer communities, and strengthening the charitable and voluntary sector. It awards grants directly to charities, social enterprises and established community groups. Its area of benefit is much of the southern half of England, and family members often identify charities in their own communities. Family members sponsor awards and generally lead assessment visits. The Foundation prefers smaller charities local to where family members live and work, and supports both project and core costs so organisations can deliver their work flexibly.

Themes

• Building Social Values
• Community Health
• Education & Employment
• Environment
• Life Transitions
• Safer Communities
• Charitable & Voluntary Sector

Geographic Focus

Much of the southern half of England.

A Family Committee member first engages personally with the prospective beneficiary; the Foundation then invites the organisation to apply. The invitation does not commit the Foundation to fund.

Who can apply:

• We award grants directly to charities registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, social enterprises and other established community groups.
• Must have an annual income of under £3,000,000.

What the charity says:

• The Foundation prefers smaller charities local to where family members live and work, generally with turnover below £3 million.
• A Wates Family member generally leads a grant assessment visit and often returns for a follow-up visit as the grant progresses.
• The Foundation considers climate change across the work it funds.