Johnson Foundation

Could Johnson Foundation fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £2,000 – £25,000
Where they fund: Liverpool City Region
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Email application
Decisions: Quarterly

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

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thejohnsonfoundation.co.uk

About Johnson Foundation

The Johnson Foundation is a charitable trust that supports UK registered charities working within the Liverpool City Region. Established with a mission to advance education, preserve and protect health, and relieve poverty and sickness, the Foundation focuses its funding on welfare, youth, community development, arts, education and health. It favours grassroots organisations that deliver direct local benefit and is distinctive in its exclusive geographic commitment to the Liverpool City Region.

What Johnson Foundation funds

The Foundation funds project delivery, capital works and equipment across its priority areas: welfare, youth, community development, arts, education and health. Specifically, it supports the advancement of education, the preservation and protection of health, and the relief of poverty and sickness. All funded work must deliver a direct benefit within the Liverpool City Region, and organisations must be based, registered and delivering their primary charitable activities there.

Who can apply

Applications are open to UK registered charities, Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs), schools, and community benefit societies that are based and registered in the Liverpool City Region. Faith groups are excluded from applying under the general grants programme. The Foundation supports organisations that spend the majority of their income within the UK and have no more than 12 months' liquid reserves, unless a convincing case of financial need is made.

What Johnson Foundation doesn't fund

The Foundation does not support individuals, churches, or organisations without a working base in the Liverpool City Region. It also excludes social enterprises not registered with the UK Charity Commission, sporting associations that are not registered charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs, and projects that do not deliver a direct benefit within the Liverpool City Region. Funding is not available for animal welfare causes, salaries, or core costs.

How they like to fund

The Foundation makes grants for project delivery, capital works and equipment. It does not fund salaries or core costs. Organisations that can demonstrate a clear need and alignment with the Foundation's priorities are welcome to apply unsolicited.

How much does Johnson Foundation give?

Johnson Foundation runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

£2,000 – £25,000

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 15 sourced facts

General Grants

Online application form
4 rounds a year

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 Johnson Foundation funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

The Foundation supports UK registered charities working specifically within the Liverpool City Region in the areas of Welfare, Youth, Community, Arts, Education and Health. Also: the advancement of education, the preservation and protection of health and relief of poverty and sickness.

Costs they'll cover

Capital works & buildingsProject deliveryEquipment

They don't fund

AnimalsSalariesCore costsIndividualsFaith groups

The full exclusions list (1)

UK registered charities without a working base in the Liverpool City Region; Social enterprises not registered with the UK Charity Commission; Sporting associations that are not registered charities or registered as a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC); Projects or organisations whose work does not deliver a direct benefit within the Liverpool City Region; Charities that spend the majority of their income outside the UK; Organisations with liquid reserves covering more than 12 months’ expenditure are unlikely to receive a grant unless they can make an exceptionally convincing case that they are in financial need.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Children & youthEducationHealthPoverty & hardship

How to apply to Johnson Foundation

Johnson Foundation takes applications via email application.

Published programme route: online application form.
Decisions are typically quarterly.
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 Johnson Foundation could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Johnson Foundation provide?

Johnson Foundation typically provides grants of £2,000 - £25,000.

Where does Johnson Foundation fund charities?

Johnson Foundation funds charities operating in Liverpool City Region.

Does Johnson Foundation accept unsolicited applications?

Johnson Foundation accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Johnson Foundation not fund?

Their published exclusions include: UK registered charities without a working base in the Liverpool City Region; Social enterprises not registered with the UK Charity Commission; Sporting associations that are not registered charities or registered as a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC); Projects or organisations whose work does not deliver a direct benefit within the Liverpool City Region; Charities that spend the majority of their income outside the UK; Organisations with liquid reserves covering more than 12 months’ expenditure are unlikely to receive a grant unless they can make an exceptionally convincing case that they are in financial need.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Johnson Foundation?

Johnson Foundation takes applications via email application. Published programme route: online application form.