Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families

Could Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £50,000 – £250,000
Where they fund: England
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Invitation only

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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foundations.org.uk

About Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families

Foundations – What Works Centre for Children & Families is the UK’s national centre dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families through evidence-driven change. Formed from the merger of the Early Intervention Foundation and What Works for Children’s Social Care, it champions high-quality, actionable evidence for policy and practice. Its guiding principles include prioritising prevention and early intervention, rigorous transparent evidence standards, empowering children and families, and commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and equity. The centre funds research, evidence reviews, and evaluations, particularly quasi-experimental studies, of promising programmes. It acts as a bridge between research and practice, working to scale evidence-led, relational, preventative models.

What Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families funds

The funder supports research, evidence reviews, and evaluations of programmes that aim to improve outcomes for children and families. Thematic priorities include supporting parenting, strengthening family networks, tackling domestic abuse, improving relationships for care-experienced children, and developing service and practice models. Work is funded across the UK with a focus on England. The types of activity funded are specifically research and evaluation, such as systematic reviews and quasi-experimental studies, rather than direct service delivery.

Who can apply

Registered charities and companies based in England are eligible to apply. The funder prioritises work that benefits children and young people aged 0–18 facing adversity, including those at risk of harm, in need of targeted family support, or in or out of care. Organisations should have a track record in research, evaluation, or children’s social care. There is no faith restriction.

What Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families doesn't fund

The funder does not provide support for capital projects, core or unrestricted costs, or emergency funding. Additionally, work that takes place exclusively outside England is not considered for funding.

How they like to fund

Grants are awarded for specific projects, including independent evaluations and research. The funder supports quasi-experimental studies and collaborative work with partners. Core costs are not funded.

How much does Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families give?

Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

£50,000 – £250,000

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 7 sourced facts

Systematic review of interventions with the aim of supporting reunification and associated outcomesCurrently closed

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

Systematic review of interventions with the aim of supporting reunification and associated outcomes

Costs they'll cover

Research

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Children & youth

How to apply to Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families

Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families takes applications via invitation only.

Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families provide?

Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families typically provides grants of £50,000 - £250,000.

Where does Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families fund charities?

Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families funds charities operating in England.

Does Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families accept unsolicited applications?

Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

How do I apply for funding from Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families?

Foundations - What Works Centre for Children and Families takes applications via invitation only. Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.