John Caudwell Foundation

The John Caudwell Foundation, established in 2017 by British philanthropist and entrepreneur John David Caudwell, is a grant-making trust dedicated to transforming lives by supporting children with disabilities and advancing health outcomes, with a special emphasis on Lyme disease and related conditions. Inspired by the founder's family experience, its mission centers on addressing unmet needs through medical research, treatment, awareness, equipment, family support, and innovative interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders and complex illnesses. Core values of public benefit, transparency, rigorous governance, and maximum impact guide its work, with the founder personally covering all administrative costs to ensure 100% of donations reach charitable purposes. Distinctively family-led with stable trustees, it prioritizes underserved populations and catalyzes systemic change via high-impact, bespoke programs.

The Foundation funds projects delivering tangible benefits to disabled and neurodivergent children, at-risk youth, and those with Lyme disease or co-infections, including initiatives by affiliates like Caudwell Children (national services), Caudwell LymeCo (research and advocacy), and Caudwell Youth (mentoring). Grant types encompass project funding, core costs, capacity building, and capital support for organizations and occasionally individuals, focusing on innovative health/social care gaps neglected by statutory services.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities of any size operating in England and Wales, with no income restrictions or religious barriers, though applications are strictly by invitation only via trustee networks—no unsolicited proposals accepted. Typical grants range from £10,000 to £100,000, scaling higher for multi-year efforts, with decisions at quarterly trustee meetings and no public deadlines. It stands out by favoring transformative, evidence-based support over marginal aid, often backing founder-aligned entities while ensuring sustainability and public benefit alignment.