The Weinstock Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £672,000 (152 grants awarded)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (heavily favors previously funded charities)
• Decision Time: Several months
• Grant Range: £2,000 - £5,000 per annum
• Multi-year Grants: Up to 3 years considered
• Geographic Focus: England, particularly Southwest

Contact Details

Website: www.weinstockfund.org.uk

Email: enquiries@weinstockfund.org.uk

Phone: 01963 32407

Address: PO Box 5369, Wincanton, Somerset BA9 0BG

Charity Number: 1150031

Online Portal: theweinstockfund.benefactorcloud.co.uk

Overview

The Weinstock Fund was established in 1962 by the late Lord Weinstock for general charitable purposes. Lord Weinstock remained actively involved with the trust until his death in 2002. The original charity was wound up in December 2012, and a successor charity with similar aims was created in its place with charity number 1150031. The Fund supports a wide range of charitable causes in England, particularly in the Southwest, in the fields of welfare, children, education, medicine, music, and the arts. The Trustees favor smaller charities and projects, distributing approximately £672,000 annually through 152 grants. Trustees receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, reflecting a commitment to maximizing charitable impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Standard Grants: £2,000 - £5,000 per annum (typical range)
• Multi-year Grants: Up to 3 years maximum duration
• Applications: Rolling basis through online portal
• Total Annual Distribution: Approximately £672,000 across 152 grants

Priority Areas

The Weinstock Fund supports charities working in:

• Medical care and treatment, including respite care
• Education, training, and care for adults and children with impairments and special needs
• Elderly care
• Child care and support
• Hardship alleviation
• Community projects
• Culture and environment
• Health and welfare
• Music and the arts

What They Don't Fund

The Trust tends not to support:

• Research projects
• Hospices
• Campaigning organizations
• Projects based abroad
• Individual applicants
• Charities with gross income over £2 million annually
• Charities with income over £1 million that lack Funding Regulator registration
• Organizations employing full-time staff earning over £100,000

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Susan Gina Lacroix - Also serves as a trustee of The Sobell Foundation
• The Hon Clare Renton
• The Hon Mrs Laura Helen Weinstock

The trustees maintain a personal connection to Lord Weinstock's legacy and continue his commitment to supporting charitable causes across England, with a particular focus on the Southwest region.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Receive automated email confirmation

The Fund accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Decision Timeline

Applications may take several months to process. Trustees review applications regularly, but no specific decision schedule is published.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. However, the Fund prioritizes charities it has supported historically, making it highly challenging for new applicants.

Critical Note: Applications by charities not benefitted by the Weinstock Fund since 2018 are unlikely to succeed. With 152 grants awarded annually from a competitive pool, new applicants face significant barriers to entry.

Reapplication Policy

Applicants may reapply one year after receipt of a grant or notification of an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

For Previously Funded Charities

The Weinstock Fund explicitly prioritizes organizations with which it has an existing relationship. If your charity has received funding since 2018, you have a significantly higher chance of success.

For New Applicants

Your application is very unlikely to succeed if:

• Your charity has not received a grant from the Weinstock Fund since 2018 AND your charity has gross income over £2 million per annum
• Your charity has income over £1 million and is not registered with the Funding Regulator
• Your organization employs full-time staff earning over £100,000

Key Alignment Factors

• Small charity focus: The Trustees explicitly favor smaller charities and projects
• Southwest England connection: While funding throughout England, there's particular interest in the Southwest
• Policy compliance: Ensure current safeguarding and data protection policies are in place
• Budget clarity: Provide detailed project budgets demonstrating effective use of funds

Application Quality

• Maintain updated contact information throughout the application process
• Carefully review eligibility criteria before applying to avoid wasting time on ineligible applications
• Demonstrate how your work aligns with the Fund's specific priority areas (medical care, special needs education, music and arts, etc.)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Historical relationship is critical: This fund overwhelmingly favors organizations it has supported since 2018; new applicants face substantial barriers
• Small is beautiful: With grants typically £2,000-£5,000, the Fund targets smaller charities and projects rather than large organizations
• Multi-year potential: Consider requesting multi-year funding (up to 3 years) to build a sustained relationship
• Southwest advantage: While England-wide, Southwest-based charities align with the Fund's geographic priorities
• Policy essentials: Have safeguarding and data protection policies ready before starting your application
• Be realistic: With only 152 grants from approximately £672,000 annually and a strong preference for repeat grantees, competition is intense
• One-year wait: If unsuccessful, you can reapply after one year—use this time to strengthen your application or build visibility in the Southwest charitable sector

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Arts Council of England
• Paul Hamlyn Foundation
• BBC Children in Need
• The Wolfson Foundation
• The London Community Foundation
• The Big Give Trust
• THE EXILARCH'S FOUNDATION
• THE CALLEVA FOUNDATION
• The Wimbledon Foundation
• CECIL AND HILDA LEWIS CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE CHILDHOOD TRUST
• P F Charitable Trust
• Baron Davenport's Charity
• THE DAVIS FOUNDATION
• Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation
• THE JOHN HORSEMAN TRUST
• The Christopher Laing Foundation
• DORIS FIELD CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE PETER STEBBINGS MEMORIAL CHARITY
• GIVE OUT

References

• The Weinstock Fund official website: www.weinstockfund.org.uk
• The Weinstock Fund Guidelines for Applicants: www.weinstockfund.org.uk/guidelinesforapplicants.html
• Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 1150031: register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/5033354
• Giving is Great Charity Factsheet: givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1150031
• The Weinstock Fund online application portal: theweinstockfund.benefactorcloud.co.uk