Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation

The Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation, established in 1985 by Evelyn Karloff in memory of the iconic actor Boris Karloff, is a UK grant-making trust honoring his passions for performing arts and cricket. Endowed to champion creativity, accessibility, and personal development, it supports greater participation and skills-building, especially for children, young people, underprivileged groups, and those with disabilities. Guided by values of cultural heritage, inclusivity, community empowerment, and direct beneficiary impact—with no trustee remuneration—its trustees prioritize targeted, culturally resonant initiatives decided collectively in an annual review.

The foundation funds UK-registered charities delivering projects in performing arts (theatre, dance, music) and grassroots/youth cricket, such as youth theatre programs, drama training for disadvantaged students, inclusive workshops and performances for disabled children, early-career artist development, and cricket initiatives for inner-city or disabled youth. Recent grantees include National Youth Theatre, Ballet Lorent, RADA Scholarship Fund, Circus Starr, and Sheriff Hutton Bridge Cricket Club, emphasizing practical skills, confidence-building, access for marginalized groups, and cultural diversity; about three-quarters of grants go to arts, the rest to cricket.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities operating in England, Wales, or Scotland, with no income thresholds—welcoming small grassroots groups and larger institutions. Typical grants range from £500 to £7,000 (averaging under £2,000), focusing on deliverable projects rather than core costs or large-scale efforts. Unsolicited applications are accepted via online form, with a single annual deadline of 28 February; trustees review in March, notifying successes in April (6-8 week process).

It excludes individuals, non-UK charities, capital works (except possibly cricket nets), and unrelated activities, standing out for its unique dual arts-cricket focus tied to Karloff's legacy, unwavering youth/inclusion emphasis, and efficient, impact-driven funding model.