The Wimbledon Foundation

Charity Number: 1156996

Annual Expenditure: £4.0M
Geographic Focus: Merton, Wandsworth

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £4,000,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 12-14 weeks
  • Grant Range: £500 - £10,000 (local grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Merton & Wandsworth (local); also national and international

Contact Details

Website: https://www.wimbledon.com/foundation

Email: foundation@aeltc.com

Phone: 020 8971 2702

For grant applications (administered by London Community Foundation):

Email: applications@londoncf.org.uk

Phone: 020 7582 5117

Overview

The Wimbledon Foundation was established in 2013 as the official charity of The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and The Championships, Wimbledon. Since inception, the Foundation has donated over £20 million to charitable causes. The Foundation distributes approximately £4 million annually to local, national, and international charities, focusing on grant-making and charitable donations. Its primary geographic focus is the London boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth, with additional support for national, international, and tennis-related charities. Over its first decade, the Foundation has awarded £4.2 million in 433 grants through various local grant funds administered by London Community Foundation. In response to the cost of living crisis, the Foundation increased its giving to Merton and Wandsworth's voluntary sector, awarding £1.35 million to local charities in 2023 alone.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Wimbledon Foundation Community Fund (WFCF)

  • Amount: Up to £10,000 for one year
  • Application: Annual funding round with fixed deadline (typically early September)
  • Focus: Tackles social needs and supports local people facing disadvantage in Merton and Wandsworth
  • Key themes: Mental health and wellbeing; learning, training and employment skills; advocacy, specialist support and advice for vulnerable groups

Get Set, Get Active Fund

  • Amount: £500 - £3,500
  • Application: Annual funding round (typically February deadline)
  • Focus: Sport and exercise projects for community groups, not-for-profit organisations and sports clubs in Merton and Wandsworth
  • Covers: Instructor fees, venue hire, equipment, and related costs for direct provision of activities

Community Fund +

  • Amount: Not specified
  • Duration: Two-year continuation and development funding
  • Eligibility: Smaller, user-led groups who have previously received Wimbledon Foundation grants
  • Focus: Core infrastructure to strengthen resilience and sustainability

Homelessness Fund

  • Amount: £480,000 distributed to four charities (2024 round)
  • Duration: Three-year grants
  • Application: Invitation-based or targeted rounds

Health and Wellbeing Fund (Now closed)

  • Previously awarded three-year grants totalling £675,000 (£225,000 per year) to nine organisations in 2024

Priority Areas

  • Mental health and wellbeing initiatives
  • Learning, training, and employment skills development
  • Advocacy, specialist support, and advice for vulnerable groups
  • Homelessness prevention and support
  • Health and wellbeing programs (social or therapeutic activities)
  • Community-based projects addressing social needs and disadvantage
  • International humanitarian efforts (WaterAid, British Red Cross Disaster Fund)
  • Tennis development initiatives

What They Don't Fund

  • Sports, dance, or physical activity projects through the Community Fund (these should apply to Get Set, Get Active Fund instead)
  • Medical treatment of specific conditions
  • Current multi-year grantees (for certain funds)
  • Projects outside Merton and Wandsworth for local funds (though priority given to these boroughs)

Note: Projects which have physical activity as a small element (e.g., youth groups) can apply to WFCF as long as costs applied for are not related to those physical activity components.

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Governance and Leadership

The Wimbledon Foundation is governed by the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Specific trustee information is available via the Charity Commission register (Charity Number: 1156996).

Historical Leadership:

Richard Lewis CBE, former AELTC Chief Executive, noted during his tenure that among his key achievements was “valuable support to the local community through the creation of the Wimbledon Foundation.” Ian Hewitt succeeded Philip Brook as AELTC Chairman around 2020.

The Foundation actively seeks to recruit independent trustees with expertise in grant-making and understanding of community needs in London.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Local Grants (Community Fund and Get Set, Get Active):

Applications are managed by London Community Foundation through an online application portal. Applicants should:

  1. Review fund guidelines and application form guidance
  2. Check core eligibility criteria
  3. Submit application through online portal by stated deadline
  4. Attend optional 'Meet the Funder' sessions for questions and support

National and International Grants:

Information available through the Wimbledon Foundation website or by contacting foundation@aeltc.com

Decision Timeline

Wimbledon Foundation Community Fund:

  • Application deadline: Typically early September (e.g., September 8, 2025 at 12:00 noon)
  • Panel meeting: Early December
  • Decisions released: Mid-December (e.g., December 19, 2025)
  • Total timeline: Approximately 12-14 weeks from deadline to decision

Get Set, Get Active Fund:

  • Application deadline: Typically late February (e.g., February 24 at 12:00 noon)
  • Decision timeline: Not specified but likely follows similar 3-month pattern

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However:

  • Over 10 years, 433 grants have been awarded through local funds
  • In June 2024 alone, 20 organisations received Community Fund grants
  • Summer 2024 saw 62 grants totalling over £679,000 awarded across programs
  • The Foundation actively encourages applications from both new and past recipients

Reapplication Policy

Priority given to: New applicants and those who haven't received past Wimbledon Foundation grants

Past recipients: Explicitly encouraged to apply, though new applicants receive priority

Restrictions: Current multi-year grantees through specific funds (e.g., Health & Wellbeing Fund) are not eligible to apply to those same funds

Feedback: The Foundation commissions independent, anonymous surveys every two years of both successful and unsuccessful applicants to identify and address barriers to accessing funding

No waiting period specified: Unsuccessful applicants appear able to reapply in subsequent rounds

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Advice and Preferences

  1. Demonstrate local impact: While not restricted to organisations based in Merton and Wandsworth, priority is given to smaller, locally-based groups from within these boroughs
  1. Address clear social needs: Applications should clearly demonstrate how they tackle social needs and support local people facing disadvantage
  1. Align with priority themes: Ensure projects address mental health and wellbeing, learning/training/employment skills, or advocacy/specialist support for vulnerable groups
  1. Target appropriate fund: Sports/physical activity projects should apply to Get Set, Get Active Fund, not Community Fund
  1. Previous grantees: The Community Fund + exists specifically for continuation funding - if you've received grants before, consider this pathway for development funding
  1. Engage with support: Attend 'Meet the Funder' sessions and contact London Community Foundation with questions (applications@londoncf.org.uk or 020 7582 5117)

Examples of Recently Funded Projects (2024)

  • St Raphael's Hospice (Merton): Compassionate Neighbours programme providing social, emotional and practical support to residents affected by life-limiting illness, isolation and loneliness
  • Rackets Cubed (Wandsworth): 130 additional opening hours at Roehampton Community Box Hub's social supermarket, supporting 50 vulnerable families
  • Merton Centre for Independent Living: Building confidence and skills in local disabled people
  • Waste Not Want Not: 'Healthy Eating, Healthy Living' initiative delivering healthy eating classes, education and meals at Battersea hub
  • Colliers Wood Community Association: Get Set, Get Active Fund grant

Key Terminology and Language

The Foundation uses language focused on:

  • “Tackling social needs”
  • “Supporting local people facing disadvantage”
  • “Championing opportunity for all”
  • “Reducing inequalities”
  • “Community resilience and sustainability”
  • “Vulnerable groups”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Apply to the right fund: Carefully distinguish between Community Fund (social needs, no sports) and Get Set, Get Active Fund (physical activity) - applying to the wrong fund will result in rejection
  • Geographic targeting matters: While organisations outside Merton and Wandsworth can apply, those based locally receive priority, especially smaller grassroots groups
  • New applicants prioritized: If you haven't received Wimbledon Foundation funding before, highlight this - you'll receive priority consideration
  • Be specific about disadvantage: Clearly articulate which vulnerable groups you serve and what specific social needs you're addressing
  • Use continuation pathways: If you're a past recipient, consider Community Fund + for multi-year development support rather than competing with new applicants
  • Engage before applying: Take advantage of 'Meet the Funder' sessions and direct contact with London Community Foundation to strengthen your application
  • Plan for timeline: Budget 3-3.5 months from deadline to decision, with only one funding round per year for most programs
  • Demonstrate track record: The Foundation values organisations with at least two years' experience in their field (as evidenced by past Health & Wellbeing Fund criteria)

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