The Wharfedale Foundation plans to award almost £400,000 in funding in September 2025 as it spends out its remaining capital and closes down. The last ever funding round will be open for Expressions of Interest from 28 April – 30 May 2025 with selected organisations invited to submit full applications by 30 July.
We are delighted to have awarded 27 grants totalling over £352,000 in our second funding round of 2024.
After reviewing 139 Expressions of Interest received, 67 organisations were invited to submit a full application. A total of 62 applications were received of which 27 were awarded funding with grants ranging from £1,000 to £25,000 over 1-2 years.
We are delighted to have awarded 30 grants totalling over £388,000 in our first round this year.
After receiving 185 Expression of Interest, 131 organisations were invited to submit a full application and, after a rigorous assessment and scoring process, 30 were eventually successful with grants rangingd from £1000 to £25,000 over 1-2 years.
The Wharfedale Foundation was established in 2009 and has distributed grants totalling more than £300,000 to date.
When the Foundation was originally set up the founders were clear in their intention to support a broad range of causes tackling isolation and exclusion, integrating marginalised groups and tacking disadvantage all to pursue their aim of building stronger, more inclusive communities.
Over the ensuing years the Trustees have pursued this approach and continued to support charities with similar aims and objectives to those organisations originally funded by the founding trustees.
Furthermore, a steadfast commitment to provide unrestricted core funding has been at the forefront of the provision of grants with minimal reporting required, thus entrusting the organisations supported to continue to deliver their objectives.
With the unprecedented recent effects on society, through the pandemic and current cost of living crisis, there is a stark increase in the dependence being placed upon civil society as a source of intervention.
With the acknowledgement that there is much immediate need for financial support the Trustees have decided to act now by concentrating on the spending of the Trust’s remaining resources within a specific timeframe.
This will be achieved by providing a limited number of larger grants over the next two years to have a greater impact on the sustainability of struggling smaller grassroots organisations and projects.
Uell Kennedy, the chair of Trustees said, ‘’By adopting a spend down strategy this will focus the trustees to utilise the resources of the Foundation in a targeted way to achieve the Trust’s objectives at a time of unparalleled need.’’
The Trustees have therefore developed a strategy for the phased final distribution.
For a limited period, we are focusing on funding organisations that seek to help disadvantaged marginalised groups in their communities who are most affected and isolated by the pandemic. Groups might include refugees and asylum seekers and others affected by poverty and isolation. For a limited time, you won’t need to have a special project for us to fund. Instead, we might consider funding your day-to-day work or expenses if you are helping these disadvantaged groups and making a real difference.
Our overall funding approach remains:
If you annual income is less than £100,000 and you are in Yorkshire or the Humber you can apply. We have simplified our application process. There is now only one stage and one application form!
Our funding rounds in 2022 will be held in March, June, September and November. The deadline dates for applications are:
If you are thinking of applying please read the information on the Apply for Funding page then use the form on the Contact Us page.