Wise Music Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £92,580 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not disclosed
• Decision Time: 3 months maximum (quarterly reviews)
• Grant Range: £500 - £5,000
• Geographic Focus: UK and international
• Typical Grant: £1,500

Contact Details

• Website: www.wisemusicfoundation.com
• Email: foundation@wisemusic.com
• Phone: 020 7612 7400
• Address: Applications must be submitted through the website's online application portal

Overview

Established in 1990 as The Music Sales Charitable Trust, the Wise Music Foundation has been providing charitable support for over 30 years. Despite its origins in music publishing, the foundation's mission extends far beyond the arts to support a broad range of domestic and international charitable causes. The foundation focuses on providing financial support for people experiencing hardship, distress and illness, with particular emphasis on children, the homeless, and people living in poverty. In the financial year ending December 2023, the foundation had total expenditure of £92,580, distributed primarily through grants to smaller charities. The foundation maintains strong links to Wise Music Group (formerly Music Sales Group), a family business led by the Wise family, with multiple family members serving as trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Wise Music Foundation operates a single grant program with the following parameters:

• Standard Grants: £500 - £5,000 (average grant: £1,500)
• Application Method: Rolling basis with quarterly deadlines
• Frequency: Charities cannot receive funding more than once per calendar year
• Target Recipients: Smaller charities with annual turnover up to £500,000

Quarterly Deadlines:

• End of February (reviewed in March)
• End of May (reviewed in June)
• End of August (reviewed in September)
• End of November (reviewed in December)

Priority Areas

The foundation supports diverse causes including:

• Children's welfare and education: Supporting children's health, education, and wellbeing
• Homelessness: Crisis support and housing initiatives
• Poverty alleviation: Food banks, emergency relief, and support services
• Health and disability: Medical charities, disability support organizations
• Arts and culture: Music education, cultural initiatives, and creative programs
• International relief: Overseas famine relief and emergency response
• Elderly support: Services for older people in need

Recent beneficiaries include: Médecins Sans Frontières, Kids Cancer Charity, Crisis, Whizz-Kidz, The Trussell Trust, Young Urban Arts Foundation, and Asthma Relief.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not explicitly state exclusions, but practical limitations include:

• Charities with annual turnover exceeding £500,000
• Organizations that have received funding from the foundation within the same calendar year
• The foundation's small grant size (maximum £5,000) makes it unsuitable for large capital projects

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Governance and Leadership

The Wise Music Foundation is constituted as a trust and governed by eight trustees:

• Chris Butler
• Nick Kemp
• David Stock
• Rebecca Tyler
• James Welland
• Marcus Wise (CEO of Wise Music Group)
• Mildred Wise
• Robert Wise (Chairman of Wise Music Group)

Key Leadership Statement:

Robert Wise has emphasized the family nature of the business and foundation: “Our new name reflects both the continuity of our business approach and the fact that ours is very much a family business currently with two generations of the Wise family guiding our progress.”

All trustees serve voluntarily without remuneration. The foundation's close relationship with Wise Music Group means trustees also actively encourage staff fundraising, with the foundation supporting employee charitable efforts such as marathon running for disability charities.

Beneficiary Testimonial:

Kids Cancer Charity stated: "We really can't thank the Wise Music Foundation enough for everything that you've done on our behalf," praising the trustees' substantial financial support for children and families.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through the foundation's website at wisemusicfoundation.com/apply/. Direct or postal applications are not accepted.

Required information includes:

• Organization name and registered address
• Annual turnover figures
• Contact details (name, email, phone)
• Purpose of the grant request
• Data storage consent

Decision Timeline

• Trustee meetings: Quarterly, in the third month of each quarter (March, June, September, December)
• Application deadlines: End of the month preceding the review (February, May, August, November)
• Decision notification: Within 3 months of application submission
• Important: Due to high application volumes, the foundation cannot notify all unsuccessful applicants. If you do not hear within 3 months, assume your application was unsuccessful.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose success rates or the number of applications received. However, the high volume of applications and inability to notify all unsuccessful applicants suggests a competitive process.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to reapply in future funding cycles. However, successful applicants must wait a full calendar year before reapplying—the foundation does not fund the same charity twice within one calendar year.

Application Success Factors

Target Your Application Appropriately

The foundation explicitly states it “generally supports smaller charities with an annual turnover of up to £500,000.” Organizations exceeding this threshold are unlikely to be successful.

Understand the Foundation's Scope

While the foundation has music industry origins, it actively funds causes across all sectors. Don't assume you need a music connection—the foundation's stated aim is “to help a broad range of domestic and international charitable causes, not necessarily music-related ones.”

Align with Core Priorities

The foundation focuses on:

• Children in need
• Homeless individuals
• People living in poverty
• Those experiencing hardship, distress, or illness

Applications clearly demonstrating impact in these areas are most likely to succeed.

Demonstrate Impact with Modest Funding

With an average grant of £1,500, successful applications likely demonstrate how relatively small amounts can create meaningful change. The foundation appears to favor spreading resources across multiple beneficiaries rather than making fewer large grants.

Be Prepared for No Response

The foundation's policy of not notifying all unsuccessful applicants means you should not take lack of response personally. Wait the full 3 months, then reapply if appropriate.

Dual Approach to Beneficiary Selection

The foundation both actively seeks beneficiaries and accepts external applications. Building relationships with trustees or connections to Wise Music Group may increase visibility, but external applications through the website are genuinely welcomed.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Size matters: This funder is specifically for smaller charities (under £500,000 turnover)—don't apply if you're larger
• Modest requests work best: Average grant is £1,500; requests should be proportionate and demonstrate clear impact for this level of funding
• Quarterly planning: Time your application to meet quarterly deadlines for fastest turnaround
• No repeat funding: Successful applicants must wait at least one full calendar year before reapplying
• Broad scope is genuine: Despite music industry origins, the foundation truly funds across all charitable sectors
• High competition: The foundation receives more applications than it can support; focus on demonstrating clear alignment with core priorities (children, homelessness, poverty, illness)
• Don't expect rejection notices: No response within 3 months means unsuccessful; this is normal procedure, not a reflection on your organization

References

• Wise Music Foundation official website: https://wisemusicfoundation.com/
• Wise Music Foundation application page: https://wisemusicfoundation.com/apply/
• Wise Music Foundation governance page: https://wisemusicfoundation.com/governance/
• Wise Music Foundation objectives page: https://wisemusicfoundation.com/objectives/
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity #1014942: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1014942
• Music Week article on Marcus Wise and Wise Music Group: https://www.musicweek.com/publishing/read/ceo-marcus-wise-on-the-new-era-at-wise-music-group/092373