Woodleigh Impact

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Information not publicly available (foundation distributing funds over 5-10 years from 2021)
• Geographic Focus: UK-based, likely international grantmaking
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Organizations Funded Annually: ~5 organizations + ~1 new organization startup

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). The foundation was created to distribute funds over a five to ten-year period, focusing on high-impact philanthropy aligned with effective altruism principles. 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 funding small to medium-sized organizations achieving significant impact and helping launch entirely new organizations. 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 organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Woodleigh Impact operates two main funding approaches:

• Existing Organization Funding: Each year they aim to fund around five organizations that are already achieving significant impact. They seek small to medium-sized organizations after developing a thorough understanding of their work.

• New Organization Startup Funding: Each year they aim to help establish one new organization by providing funding to startup entrepreneurs with ideas that have the potential to achieve high impact.

Priority Areas

Woodleigh Impact funds in three specific cause areas:

1. Global Poverty (Human Suffering): Organizations working to prevent or relieve poverty
2. Farmed Animal Advocacy (Animal Suffering): Organizations focused on animal welfare, particularly farmed animals
3. Environmental Protection and Climate Change (Ubiquitous Suffering): Organizations working to conserve, protect, and improve the physical and natural environment, including raising awareness of climate change impacts

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, given their focus on high-impact organizations in their three priority cause areas, projects outside these areas are unlikely to be funded.

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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 recognized by HMRC for gift aid.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Woodleigh Impact does not have a public application process. The foundation proactively identifies organizations to fund rather than accepting unsolicited applications. According to their stated approach, they “seek to identify small to medium sized organisations achieving significant impact and after a thorough understanding of their work, to then offer them funding.”

This means grants are awarded through:

• Trustee identification and discretion
• Proactive outreach to organizations the foundation has researched
• Invitation-only funding relationships

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's alignment with effective altruism principles and focus on high-impact organizations, potential grantees should:

• Demonstrate measurable impact: The foundation is “obsessively focused on impact” and seeks organizations that can show significant, measurable results in their priority cause areas
• Focus on their three cause areas: Ensure your work clearly aligns with global poverty, farmed animal advocacy, or environmental protection/climate change
• Be prepared for relationship building: The foundation emphasizes “deep meaningful relationships with their partners” rather than transactional grantmaking
• Operate efficiently as a small-to-medium organization: Their stated focus is on small to medium-sized organizations rather than large established charities

Note: There is no evidence that the foundation accepts or responds to unsolicited approaches. Organizations interested in funding should focus on building a strong track record of impact in one of their priority cause areas.

Application Success Factors

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

1. Impact-Focused Work: The foundation states they are “obsessively focused on impact” and “strive to find the most impactful organisations to then fund them to do more great work.” Organizations must be able to demonstrate significant, measurable impact in their cause area.

1. Strong Leadership: They “seek out people with strong track records who display great clarity of thought and the ability to get things done.” Leadership quality and execution capability are key selection criteria.

1. Organizational 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 [we] don't think an organisation knows how to wisely allocate their energy and resources, [we] simply don't fund." Organizations must demonstrate sound judgment and effective resource allocation.

1. Innovation and Risk-Taking: They “like innovation and are happy to take calculated risks, appreciating that things rarely go smoothly first time.” Organizations pursuing novel approaches or willing to experiment are valued.

1. Low Administrative Burden: The foundation "doesn't ask for special reports and instead just asks for information which should be readily available." Organizations that can demonstrate impact without requiring extensive bespoke reporting systems are preferred.

1. Deep Engagement Potential: With only ~5 organizations funded annually, the foundation seeks “deep meaningful relationships with their partners.” Organizations must be ready for significant engagement and relationship building.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this funder identifies and approaches organizations proactively rather than accepting applications
• Extremely selective - funding only ~5 existing organizations and helping launch ~1 new organization per year means competition would be intense even if applications were accepted
• Effective altruism alignment - the foundation's language and approach strongly align with EA principles; demonstrable cost-effectiveness and impact metrics are essential
• Unrestricted, trust-based funding model - if selected, expect unrestricted funding and minimal reporting burdens, but selection requires demonstrating exceptional organizational judgment
• Relationship-driven - the foundation emphasizes deep relationships over transactional grantmaking; any engagement would likely involve significant due diligence and relationship building
• Focus on your impact track record - with emphasis on “strong track records” and organizations “achieving significant impact,” demonstrated results are more important than proposed activities
• Small-to-medium organizations preferred - large, established charities are not the target; smaller organizations with outsized impact are the focus

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. Endole. (2025). “Woodleigh Impact - Company Profile.” Retrieved from: https://open.endole.co.uk/insight/company/13508050-woodleigh-impact

Note: Much of the detailed information about Woodleigh Impact's funding philosophy and approach comes from their website content as reported in web search results. Specific grant amounts, decision timelines, and portfolio organizations are not publicly disclosed. Financial information is based on Charity Commission filings showing total income of £39,678 and total expenditure of £151,881 as of 31 December 2024.