Wilfrid And Constance Cave Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £160,000 (approximately)
• Number of Grants: ~35 charities per year
• Average Grant Size: ~£4,500
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales, with priority given to South West and South Central England
• Decision Schedule: Trustees meet twice yearly (May and October)

Contact Details

Website: www.cavefoundation.org.uk

Email: secretary@cavefoundation.org.uk

Phone: 01753 859274

Secretary: Michelle Allen

Registered Charity Number: 241900

Overview

The Wilfrid and Constance Cave Foundation was established in 1965 by farmer and philanthropist Wilfrid Cave and his wife Constance under a Trust Deed of Settlement dated 17th March 1965. Originally named “W E and C G Cave Foundation,” it has been known simply as “The Cave Foundation” since 1998. The foundation is an unincorporated trust registered in England and Wales, with the stated purpose “to support, encourage and donate to such bodies, associations and organisations as the trustees shall from time to time select.”

The foundation distributes approximately £160,000 annually across an average of 35 registered charities. The foundation operates with a family-led governance structure, with all current trustees being direct descendants of the founders. In keeping with the preferences of Wilfrid and Constance Cave, the foundation generally requests that grants not be publicly acknowledged, reflecting a modest approach to philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The foundation supports charitable work in the following fields:

• Education: Educational initiatives and learning opportunities
• Arts, Culture, Heritage, or Science: Cultural preservation and scientific advancement
• Health: Health-related charitable activities
• Disadvantage: Supporting disadvantaged communities and individuals
• Community Development: Building stronger, more resilient communities

Geographic Focus

While the foundation operates throughout England and Wales, priority is given to charities operating in the following counties:

• Cornwall
• Devon
• Somerset
• Dorset
• Wiltshire
• Berkshire
• Hampshire
• Oxfordshire
• Gloucestershire
• Warwickshire

Eligibility Requirements

• Organizations must be registered charities in England and Wales
• The foundation only makes grants to registered charitable organizations

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside England and Wales
• Non-registered charities
• Unsolicited applications are not accepted

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a board of trustees who are all direct descendants of founders Wilfrid and Constance Cave, ensuring continuity with the founders' original vision.

Current Trustees (as of latest available information):

• Mark Pickin - Chair
• Melanie Howells - Vice-Chair
• Josh Thorne - Trustee
• Emily Pickin - Trustee (appointed 2014)
• Jackie Archer - Trustee
• Glyn Howells - Trustee
• Matthew Pickin - Trustee
• Kim Pickin - Trustee
• William Howells - Trustee
• Lucy Martin - Trustee

Secretary: Michelle Allen

Financial Information

According to the most recent available financial data (year ending 05 April 2025):

• Total Income: £154,493
• Total Expenditure: £231,081

The foundation operates with no paid staff receiving benefits over £60,000, no trading subsidiaries, and trustees receive no remuneration for their service.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The foundation explicitly states that it is “unable to accept unsolicited applications.” Instead, grants are awarded through trustee nomination only. Nominations for grants are elicited by individual trustees who are empowered to put forward proposals for donations to be made on an annual basis, both locally and nationally, as well as additional donations on an ad hoc basis.

Decision Timeline

The trustees meet twice yearly, typically in May and October, to decide what grants to make. Grants are determined at these half-yearly meetings based on trustee nominations rather than external applications.

Grant Awards

• Approximately 35 grants distributed annually
• Total annual giving of approximately £160,000
• Average grant size of approximately £4,500 (though individual grant amounts may vary)

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. Instead, funding decisions are made entirely at the discretion of the trustees, who nominate causes and organizations themselves.

Key characteristics of this foundation's approach:

1. Family-Led Philanthropy: All trustees are descendants of the founders, ensuring continuity with the original vision while bringing contemporary perspectives to grant-making decisions.

1. Trustee Networks: Grants are made based on individual trustee knowledge and networks, with each trustee empowered to put forward proposals for consideration.

1. Geographic Connection: Priority is given to regions across South West and South Central England, suggesting trustees may be particularly familiar with charitable work in these areas.

1. Discretion and Modesty: The foundation requests that grants not be publicly acknowledged, reflecting the founders' preference for quiet philanthropy.

1. Broad Charitable Scope: While the foundation has identified priority areas, its founding purpose allows trustees broad discretion to support charitable causes they deem worthy.

1. Dual Approach: The foundation makes both regular annual donations (considered at the twice-yearly meetings) and ad hoc donations, providing flexibility for trustees to respond to emerging needs or opportunities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. Unsolicited applications are not accepted.

• Trustee-Driven Grant-Making: All grants originate from trustee nominations, meaning funding decisions depend entirely on trustee awareness and interest.

• Relationship-Based: Since trustees nominate causes, having a connection to a trustee or being within their network and geographic area significantly affects chances of consideration.

• Geographic Priority: Organizations operating in the priority counties (Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire) are more likely to be within trustees' awareness.

• Family Foundation: The all-descendant trustee structure means this is a family foundation maintaining the founders' legacy, likely valuing similar charitable priorities and approaches.

• Modest Scale: With approximately 35 grants averaging £4,500 each, this is a small-to-medium sized foundation focused on supporting a diverse range of causes rather than large-scale investments.

• Registered Charities Only: Organizations must be registered charities in England and Wales to be eligible for consideration.

References

• The Wilfrid & Constance Cave Foundation official website: www.cavefoundation.org.uk
• “About the Foundation” page: https://www.cavefoundation.org.uk/about
• “Activities” page: https://www.cavefoundation.org.uk/activities
• Charity Commission Register of Charities, charity number 241900: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=241900
• Find that Charity database, GB-CHC-241900: https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-241900
• Giving is Great charity database: https://givingisgreat.org/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=241900