C a Redfern Charitable Foundation

The C. A. Redfern Charitable Foundation is a longstanding UK grant-making charity established in the 1980s, dedicated to supporting charitable organisations through targeted grants that deliver public benefit and address societal needs. Governed by a board of trustees under a trust deed, its mission emphasises enabling impactful projects with evidence-based outcomes, reflecting core values of stewardship, effectiveness, and long-term philanthropy. Distinctive for its low-profile approach, it lacks a public website or application process, instead relying on trustee-led identification of opportunities via networks and recommendations.

The foundation funds a broad spectrum of causes as a generalist grantmaker, with strong emphasis on health and medical research (e.g., Royal College of Surgeons, Borne for premature birth prevention, Crohn’s & Colitis UK, World Cancer Research Fund), environmental conservation (Rewilding Britain, Beaver Trust), and social welfare (e.g., The Passage for homelessness). It supports research, direct services, capacity building, and systemic improvements across large national charities and specialist organisations, prioritising those with robust governance, proven track records, and strategic impact for UK-wide communities.

Eligible applicants are exclusively UK-registered charities operating in the UK, with no income thresholds, regional limits, or religious restrictions—though only invite-only via trustee outreach. Grants include project funding, core costs, unrestricted support, and capacity building, typically ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of pounds. Decisions occur at ad hoc trustee meetings without deadlines or open calls, excluding unsolicited applications and favouring established, high-impact entities recommended through sector channels, positioning it as a reliable, patient enabler of substantial charitable advancement.