Fort Foundation

The Fort Foundation, established in 1993 and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, is a generalist grant-making charity funded primarily by donations from Fort Vale Engineering Limited. Overseen by five trustees including Edward Fort OBE, with no paid staff, it operates at trustee discretion to advance public benefit across diverse charitable purposes, including health, amateur sport, education, arts and culture, citizenship, community welfare, and environmental protection. Its flexible, traditional approach emphasizes responding to perceived community needs without a narrow theme or published strategy, distinguishing it through support for both registered charities and individuals.

The Foundation funds a broad spectrum of initiatives, such as community projects, cultural engagement, sports, welfare, education, and environmental efforts, providing both project-specific and general purpose grants that may cover core costs. Recent awards highlight grassroots to medium-sized organizations and direct individual aid, with no formal restrictions on capital versus revenue funding.

Eligible recipients must be UK-registered charities or individuals based exclusively in England and Wales, with no income thresholds, religious restrictions, or size limits specified—favoring small local entities alongside established ones. It does not accept unsolicited applications; all grants are awarded rolling via internal trustee selection at undisclosed board meetings, with no public process, forms, or deadlines—applicants should consult the Charity Commission register for transparency.

Typical grants range from £500 to £20,000, mostly under £10,000. Distinctively, its discretionary model sets it apart from open-call funders, relying on corporate philanthropy and reserves for sustained activity, while excluding anything outside England and Wales or unsolicited proposals.