Whitehill Chase Foundation

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 259746
• Annual Giving: £113,497 (2022)
• Annual Income: £122,294 (2024)
• Grant Range: £2,250 - £13,500 (based on 2020 awards)
• Average Grant: £4,365 (2022)
• Total Grants Awarded: 26 grants to 19 organizations (2022)
• Geographic Focus: Bordon, Hampshire (with broader England and Wales reach)
• Established: 1969

Contact Details

Address: The Thatch, Frampton Mansell, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 8JG

Phone: 01666 840529

Email: enquiries.wcft@gmail.com

Website: None listed

The foundation does not appear to have a website or public-facing application portal.

Overview

The Whitehill Chase Foundation was established by trust deed on 16 February 1969, with amendments made on 17 November 2003. The foundation operates as a traditional grant-making trust, supporting charitable organizations rather than individuals. From its inception until May 2020, the foundation's primary activity involved ownership of the Whitehill Chase property in Bordon, which was occupied by the Acorn Christian Foundation as a Christian healing center. Following the sale of this property in 2021, the foundation transitioned to focus exclusively on grant-making activities, with the sale proceeds providing capital to fund ongoing charitable distributions. The foundation prioritizes charities serving the Bordon and Whitehill area of Hampshire, organizations supporting people in genuine need, and projects where donations will be used for specific purposes. The foundation operates with modest administrative overhead, with all five trustees serving without remuneration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grant program with trustee discretion determining all awards. There is no published application schedule or fixed deadlines. Based on 2020 awards, grants typically range from approximately £2,250 to £13,500, though the foundation has the flexibility to make awards of varying sizes depending on the project and need.

In 2022, following the property sale, grant-making activity increased significantly, with 26 grants totalling £113,497 awarded to 19 different charitable organizations. No grants were made in 2021 due to disruption caused by negotiations regarding the sale of the Whitehill Chase property.

Priority Areas

The trustees have determined that priority will be given to:

• Charities local to the Bordon and Whitehill area of Hampshire
• Organizations supporting people in genuine need
• Projects where donations will be used for a specific purpose

Based on historical grant awards, the foundation has supported:

• Christian churches and ministries (St. Mark's Church Bordon, Greenhouse Christian Centre, Acorn Christian Foundation)
• Hospice and palliative care services (St. Christopher's Hospice, Longfield Hospice Care)
• Children's welfare organizations (Country Holidays for Inner City Kids - CHICKS)

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals: The trustees explicitly do not make grants to individuals
• The foundation appears focused on supporting established charitable organizations rather than individual projects or personal applications

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by five trustees who serve without remuneration or benefits. The power to appoint new or additional trustees is vested in the existing trustees.

Current Trustees

• Charles Sebastian Lawrence-Mills (appointed 14 February 2024)
• Nicola Jane Schrager von Altishofen (appointed 14 February 2024)
• Claire Helen Louise Morgan (appointed 12 September 2022) - Also serves as trustee of The Princess Anne's Charities and Forces Pension Society Charitable Fund
• Mr Morgan - Also serves as trustee of The Princess Anne's Charities and Forces Pension Society Charitable Fund
• Catherine Dickinson

Governance Policies

The foundation has established policies covering:

• Financial reserves
• Internal financial controls
• Investment guidelines
• Risk management
• Trustee conflict of interest procedures

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation does not operate an open application system, online portal, or published application deadlines. There is no website providing application guidance or downloadable forms.

Given the absence of a formal application process, grants appear to be awarded at the discretion of the trustees, potentially through:

• Invitation by trustees
• Relationships with known charitable organizations
• Local knowledge of organizations working in the Bordon and Whitehill area
• Approaches made directly to the trustees via the contact email

Organizations interested in funding may consider making initial contact via email at enquiries.wcft@gmail.com or by phone at 01666 840529 to inquire about the foundation's current funding priorities and whether unsolicited expressions of interest are welcomed.

Decision Timeline

No published information is available regarding decision timelines. Given the modest scale of operations and trustee-led decision-making, timelines likely vary depending on trustee meeting schedules and the nature of requests.

Success Rates

No data is publicly available regarding the number of applications received versus grants awarded, as the foundation does not operate a formal application system.

Reapplication Policy

No published information is available regarding reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information about this foundation's grant-making approach, the following factors appear relevant based on their stated priorities and historical grant patterns:

Geographic Alignment: Strong preference for organizations serving the Bordon and Whitehill area of Hampshire. This appears to be the foundation's primary geographic focus stemming from its historical connection to the Whitehill Chase property.

Specific Project Focus: The trustees have stated they prioritize projects “where the donation will be used for a specific purpose,” suggesting applications should clearly articulate how funds will be deployed rather than requesting general operating support.

Serving People in Genuine Need: The foundation explicitly prioritizes “people who are in genuine need,” indicating that organizations should demonstrate the needs of their beneficiaries and the impact funding will have.

Historical Funding Patterns: The foundation has historically supported Christian organizations, hospices, and children's charities. While not explicitly stated as requirements, these areas appear to align with trustee interests.

Established Organizations: All documented grant recipients have been registered charities or established charitable bodies, not individuals or informal community groups.

Local Knowledge: Given the small scale and absence of formal application processes, the trustees likely rely on local knowledge and existing relationships within the charitable sector in their priority geographic area.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this is a trustee-discretion funder without open applications, so relationship-building or direct inquiry is necessary
• Geographic focus is paramount - strong preference for Bordon and Whitehill area organizations in Hampshire
• Demonstrate specific project needs - trustees want to see exactly how funds will be used for defined purposes
• Evidence of genuine need - clearly articulate the needs of beneficiaries and the impact funding will create
• Modest grant scale - typical grants range from £2,000 to £13,500 based on historical data, averaging around £4,000-£5,000
• Historical interests - Christian organizations, hospice care, and children's welfare have received support
• Contact first - given the lack of formal process, initial contact via enquiries.wcft@gmail.com is advisable to determine current priorities and receptiveness to approaches

References

• UK Charity Commission Register - Whitehill Chase Foundation (Charity No. 259746): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/259746
• UK Charity Commission - Full Charity Details including Financial Information: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/259746/full-print
• UK Charity Commission - Trustees Information: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/259746/trustees
• Charity Choice - Whitehill Chase Foundation Profile: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/whitehill-chase-foundation-259746
• Housing Design Awards - Whitehill Chase Development Information: https://hdawards.org/scheme/whitehill-chase/

Grant amounts and beneficiary information sourced from Charity Commission financial returns for years ending 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2022. Trustee information current as of December 2024.