Lady Cobham Foundation

The Lady Cobham Foundation, established in 2014 by Lady Nadine Felicity Cobham, is a grant-making trust dedicated to general charitable purposes with a primary focus on public benefit in Dorset and Hampshire, England. Governed by a small, unpaid trustee board with local ties, it exercises absolute discretion in selecting causes, emphasizing education, training, heritage preservation, welfare, and community initiatives. Its mission supports children, young people, the elderly, and voluntary bodies through proactive, trustee-led philanthropy, drawing from an endowment exceeding £11 million to enable flexible responses to community needs without a rigid published strategy.

The Foundation funds a broad array of projects, including educational programs (e.g., choral music, sailing trusts, schools like Ardingly College), heritage efforts (e.g., Secret Spitfire Memorial, Chalke Valley History Trust), welfare services (e.g., Weldmar Hospicecare, Racing Welfare, World Horse Welfare), and community amenities. Recent grants, totaling around £60,000-£70,000 annually, have backed organizations like YMCA, Julia’s House, and Salisbury Cathedral Girl Choristers Fund, prioritizing established charities delivering local or wider impact in these areas via project, capital, or occasional core funding.

Eligible applicants are exclusively UK-registered charities, with a strong preference for medium-to-large, well-governed entities operating in or benefiting Dorset and Hampshire; grassroots groups are rarely supported. It does not accept unsolicited applications—trustees proactively identify and approach prospects—leading to ad hoc decisions without deadlines or standard forms. Typical grants range from £5,000 to £25,000 (up to £40,000 for significant projects), distinguishing it through its closed, discerning process, regional emphasis amid generalist scope, and avoidance of emergency, seed, or unrestricted funding.