The Westminster Foundation

Charity Number: 267618

Annual Expenditure: £7.0M
City Of Westminster, Cheshire West & Chester, Scotland

Contact Info

Website:www.westminsterfoundation.org.uk

Phone:020 7408 0988

Email:westminster.foundation@grosvenor.com

Stay updated on changes from The Westminster Foundation and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £8.8 million (based on over 1000 grants totaling £44 million over 5 years)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 3 months (quarterly panel meetings)
  • Grant Range: Up to £10,000 (Small Grants) - £15,000 per year (Community Grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Chester, Westminster, rural Cheshire West, Northern Lancashire (Morecambe and Lancaster), and Sutherland

Contact Details

Website: www.westminsterfoundation.org.uk

Email: westminster.foundation@grosvenor.com

Phone: 020 7408 0988

Applications are submitted through an online application form on the foundation's website.

Overview

The Westminster Foundation is an independent grantmaking organisation representing the charitable activity of the Duke of Westminster and Grosvenor businesses. Celebrating its 50th anniversary of grantmaking in 2024, the foundation has a long history of supporting vulnerable children and young people. The foundation is a place-based funder with deep ties to areas where the Grosvenor family has long-standing associations: Westminster, Chester, northern Lancashire, and Sutherland. In the past five years alone, the foundation has awarded over 1,000 grants totaling £44 million, focusing on early intervention programmes that help children and young people aged 0-25 thrive, build confidence, and raise their aspirations throughout life. The foundation provides long-term sustainable support working closely with organisations supporting families, schools, and local communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grants

  • Amount: Up to £15,000 per year
  • Duration: Up to two years
  • Application: Rolling basis via online application form, reviewed quarterly
  • Purpose: Entry point into Westminster Foundation funding for small to medium organisations
  • Eligible costs: Salary, overhead, transport and support costs, evaluation training, plus project/delivery equipment costs up to maximum 50% of total grant amount
  • Consecutive funding: Organisations can receive up to three consecutive years of community grant funding before a one-year funding break is required

Small Grants Programme

  • Amount: Up to £10,000
  • Duration: One year
  • Application: Rolling basis, accepted year-round

Priority Areas

The Westminster Foundation focuses on early intervention and funding programmes that:

  • Inspire children and young people aged 0-25 in life's early stages
  • Make early positive interventional change securing healthy and fulfilling lives
  • Help young people thrive, build confidence and raise aspirations
  • Support families and work with schools and local communities
  • Fund expansion of programmes, new programmes, and pilot programmes
  • Provide both core costs and project-specific grants

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual pre-schools, schools, or colleges
  • Community sports teams
  • Individual uniform groups
  • Bursaries or scholarships for individuals
  • Organisations outside their geographic areas (Chester, Westminster, rural Cheshire West, Northern Lancashire, and Sutherland)

Note: While it may be possible to apply for a community grant if currently receiving funding from another Westminster Foundation/Grosvenor stream, the foundation prioritises organisations who do not have funding from any Westminster Foundation/Grosvenor source.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Westminster Foundation is chaired by Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster, DL, who inherited his title and control of the Grosvenor Estate from his father in 2016. The Duke chairs both the Grosvenor Trustees and the Westminster Foundation, focusing his charitable activity through the foundation on helping vulnerable children and young people access opportunities.

The Duke of Westminster has stated: "We share their ambition to reduce the impact of poverty on young people living in London, so I'm delighted to support the On the Breadline campaign" (referring to support for The Childhood Trust).

Additional Trustees:

  • Sir David Holmes - Family Action CEO with over 30 years of experience spanning the private, public, and voluntary sectors. Knighted in the 2024 New Year's Honours List in recognition of his services to children and families.
  • Victoria Hornby OBE - Board member with extensive charity sector experience
  • Freddie Lait - Founder and CEO of Latitude Investment Management with almost twenty years of experience in the investment industry, managing portfolios for charities and endowments

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  • Applications must be submitted through the online application form on the Westminster Foundation website
  • The foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year
  • Due diligence checks are conducted on all applications, assessing finance, governance, and safeguarding
  • The foundation takes a portfolio approach to ensure funding reaches their strategy across all geographic areas of interest

Decision Timeline

  • Applications are reviewed four times per year at quarterly grants panel meetings
  • Initial review and assessment by the Grants Team typically takes place within 4 weeks of the deadline
  • Applicants can expect a decision approximately 3 months from submission, depending on the timing of the next quarterly panel meeting
  • The foundation conducts thorough due diligence before making final decisions

Success Rates

The Westminster Foundation does not publicly disclose specific success rate statistics or the number of applications received versus funded.

Reapplication Policy

  • Unsuccessful applicants cannot reapply for 12 months
  • Successful organisations can apply again after their initial one to two-year grant for another community grant
  • Organisations can receive three consecutive years of community grant funding before there must be a one-year funding break

Application Success Factors

What The Foundation Values

The Westminster Foundation seeks organisations that:

  • Demonstrate early intervention approaches for children and young people aged 0-25
  • Show how they will help young people thrive, build confidence, and raise aspirations
  • Work closely with families, schools, and local communities
  • Operate in their priority geographic areas with genuine local connections
  • Have strong governance, financial management, and safeguarding policies in place

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

Chester Region:

  • £10,000 to Live Cheshire for the Adapted Bikes Project, bringing cycling to children with disabilities across Cheshire
  • £532,000 over five years in partnership with Chester Zoo for conservation education and nature connection programmes
  • Support for Chester FC Community Trust and Cheshire Young Carers
  • £500,000 over five years for 100 sports coaching apprenticeships through Coach Core and Active Cheshire

Lancashire Region:

  • Grant to ONE TENTH HUMAN LIMITED for “Curious Investigators” interactive engineering tour reaching rural North Lancashire primary schools
  • Over £600,000 invested in Sutherland and Lancashire through partnership with grassroots sport charity Sported

Westminster Region:

  • £500,000 partnership grant to Bloomsbury Football Foundation to make football accessible for young people in London
  • Small grant to The Kids Network for expansion of #LittleLondoners mentoring programme

Strategic Approach

The foundation funds:

  • Expansion of existing programmes
  • New programme development
  • Pilot programmes to test innovative approaches
  • Both core costs and project-specific work (with project/delivery equipment capped at 50% of total grant)

Tips for Applicants

  • Read through the programme prospectus and application guidance thoroughly before applying
  • Demonstrate clear alignment with the foundation's geographic focus areas
  • Show how your work makes early positive interventional change in young lives
  • Ensure your organisation has strong safeguarding, governance, and financial policies
  • Be specific about outcomes for children and young people aged 0-25
  • Consider whether you're applying for expansion of proven work or testing a pilot programme
  • Be realistic about whether your organisation should apply for Small Grants (up to £10,000) or Community Grants (up to £15,000 per year)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic specificity is essential - You must operate in Chester, Westminster, rural Cheshire West, Northern Lancashire (Morecambe/Lancaster), or Sutherland. The foundation has deep ties to these areas through the Grosvenor family.
  • Age range matters - Focus exclusively on children and young people aged 0-25 and their families. Early intervention approaches are particularly valued.
  • Plan for quarterly cycles - With decisions made at quarterly panel meetings, factor in approximately 3 months from submission to decision when planning your funding pipeline.
  • Build for the long term - The foundation offers multi-year funding and values sustained relationships. Successful applicants can receive up to three consecutive years of funding.
  • Core costs are welcome - Unlike many funders, Westminster Foundation explicitly funds core costs including salary, overhead, transport, and support costs, not just project-specific work.
  • Strong governance is non-negotiable - Due diligence checks assess finance, governance, and safeguarding. Ensure these are robust before applying.
  • Consider the 12-month reapplication rule - If unsuccessful, you cannot reapply for 12 months, so ensure your application is as strong as possible before submission.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References