Woodleigh Impact

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Grants typically £2,000-£10,000 per organisation (around a dozen organisations funded annually)
• Geographic Focus: Poverty in very low income countries, specifically Sierra Leone
• Grant Range: £2,000-£10,000 (may allocate more for genuinely scalable activities)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Organisations Funded Annually: Around a dozen organisations

Contact Details

Address: 114 Otley Road, Guiseley, Leeds, LS20 8LZ

Phone: 01943 262626

Email: info@woodleigh-impact.org

Website: www.woodleigh-impact.org

Overview

Woodleigh Impact is a charitable foundation established by the Clarke family in 2021 (registered charity number 1195788). As a small but hands-on foundation, Woodleigh Impact has taken the strategic decision to focus solely on poverty in very low income countries, specifically Sierra Leone. Founded by Adrian Clarke, who previously built and sold Woodleigh Care (a provider of services to younger adults with learning disabilities and complex needs) to Cambian Plc, the foundation takes a distinctive approach to grantmaking by identifying and funding small to medium-sized organisations achieving significant impact. The foundation's charitable objects focus on promoting conservation and protection of the natural environment, raising awareness of climate change, and preventing or relieving poverty through grants to individuals and organisations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Woodleigh Impact typically funds around a dozen organisations each year, with annual grants usually in the range of £2,000 to £10,000, though they may allocate more for genuinely scalable activities. Rather than accepting applications, they use their own research and connections to identify organisations that may be suitable for their funding.

Priority Areas

Woodleigh Impact's priority cause area is poverty in very low income countries, with their global development work focused on Sierra Leone.

The foundation is also interested in contributing to the prevention of climate breakdown, particularly through emerging social movements, but is not currently funding any organisations in this area.

Who They Fund

Woodleigh Impact looks for small to medium-sized organisations with the following characteristics:

• Size: Turnover of less than about £1 million
• Leadership: Outstanding leadership and strong community connections
• Structure: Typically either grass-roots or founder-led organisations
• Focus: Organisations focused on doing a small number of very effective things well

What They Look For

Organisations must be able to:

• Clearly explain the problem(s) they seek to address and why they are important
• Know why their solution is the best one
• Evidence their theory of change

The foundation likes funding work which is neglected by other funders, and are willing to fund activity which they consider has a small chance of having a very high impact, even where there is a risk of no positive outcome.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Adrian Clarke (Chair, appointed 10 September 2021): Managing Partner of Woodleigh Impact. Previously founder, main shareholder and Chief Executive of Woodleigh Care until its sale to Cambian Plc. Brings entrepreneurial experience to the foundation's approach.
• Louise Dorothy Clarke (Trustee, appointed 10 September 2021)
• Sarah Cornelia Elizabeth Jones (Trustee, appointed 05 September 2025)

The foundation is structured as a charitable company (company number 13508050) and is recognised by HMRC for gift aid.

How to Apply to Woodleigh Impact

How to Apply

Woodleigh Impact does not have a public application process. The foundation uses their own research and connections to identify organisations that may be suitable for their funding, rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

This means grants are awarded through:

• Proactive research and identification by the foundation
• Networks and connections
• Invitation-only funding relationships

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's focus on high-impact organisations in Sierra Leone, potential grantees should:

• Demonstrate measurable impact: The foundation seeks organisations that can show significant, measurable results in poverty alleviation in Sierra Leone
• Focus on their priority cause area: Ensure your work clearly aligns with poverty in very low income countries, specifically Sierra Leone
• Operate efficiently as a small-to-medium organisation: Their stated focus is on organisations with turnover less than about £1 million
• Show strong leadership and community connections: Outstanding leadership and strong ties to local communities are essential criteria
• Be grass-roots or founder-led: The organisations they support are typically either grass-roots or founder-led

Note: There is no evidence that the foundation accepts or responds to unsolicited approaches. Organisations interested in funding should focus on building a strong track record of impact in poverty alleviation in Sierra Leone.

Application Success Factors

Based on Woodleigh Impact's stated funding philosophy, the following factors are critical:

1. Impact-Focused Work: The foundation strives to find the most impactful organisations to then fund them to do more great work. Organisations must be able to demonstrate significant, measurable impact in poverty alleviation.

1. Strong Leadership: They seek out organisations with outstanding leadership that display great clarity of thought and the ability to get things done. Leadership quality and execution capability are key selection criteria.

1. Organisational Autonomy and Judgment: The foundation doesn't believe in ring-fenced funding as it can be an unnecessary hindrance on the ability of an organisation to operate how it thinks best. They state: if they don't think an organisation knows how to wisely allocate their energy and resources, they simply don't fund. Organisations must demonstrate sound judgment and effective resource allocation.

1. Innovation and Risk-Taking: They like funding work which is neglected by other funders and are willing to fund activity which they consider has a small chance of having a very high impact, even where there is a risk of no positive outcome. Organisations pursuing novel approaches or willing to experiment are valued.

1. Focused Approach: They prefer organisations that are focused on doing a small number of very effective things well, rather than spreading efforts across many areas.

1. Evidence-Based Theory of Change: Organisations must be able to clearly explain the problem(s) they seek to address and why they are important, know why their solution is the best one, and evidence their theory of change.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this funder identifies organisations proactively through research and connections rather than accepting applications
• Very selective - funding only around a dozen organisations per year with relatively modest grant sizes (£2,000-£10,000 typically)
• Geographic specificity - exclusively focused on Sierra Leone for poverty alleviation work; organisations working elsewhere are not eligible
• Unrestricted, trust-based funding model - if selected, expect unrestricted funding, but selection requires demonstrating exceptional organisational judgment
• Relationship-driven - as a small, hands-on foundation, they emphasise deep relationships over transactional grantmaking
• Focus on your impact track record - demonstrated results in poverty alleviation are more important than proposed activities
• Small-to-medium organisations preferred - organisations with turnover less than about £1 million, typically grass-roots or founder-led, are the target
• Strong community connections essential - outstanding leadership and strong ties to local communities in Sierra Leone are critical selection factors

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Places Foundation
• The Silver Lady Fund Incorporating The All Night Travelling Cafe
• The Rumi Foundation
• The Stanley Grundy Foundation Limited
• Lloyds Bank Foundation For England & Wales
• Z V M Rangoonwala Foundation
• The Alan Sugar Foundation
• Wellington Management Uk Foundation
• Tara Getty Foundation
• Coutts Charitable Foundation

References

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales. (2025). “WOODLEIGH IMPACT - Charity 1195788 - Full Print.” Retrieved from: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5181619/full-print

1. Woodleigh Impact. (2025). “High Impact Philanthropy | Woodleigh Impact.” Official website. Retrieved from: https://www.woodleigh-impact.org/

1. Woodleigh Impact. (2025). “HOW WE FUND | Woodleigh Impact.” Official website. Retrieved from: https://www.woodleigh-impact.org/how-we-fund

1. LinkedIn. (2025). “Adrian Clarke - Managing Partner - Woodleigh Impact.” Retrieved from: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/adrian-clarke-26945b17

1. Companies House. (2025). “WOODLEIGH IMPACT - Company Profile.” Retrieved from: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13508050

Note: Much of the detailed information about Woodleigh Impact's funding philosophy and approach comes from their website. Specific decision timelines and portfolio organisations are not publicly disclosed. Financial information is based on Charity Commission filings showing total income of £39,678 and total expenditure of £151,881 for the financial year ending 31 December 2024.