Mrs D M France-Hayhurst Foundation

The Mrs D M France-Hayhurst Foundation is a long-established UK grant-making charity, founded through the will of Dinah Mary France-Hayhurst and incorporated in 2015, dedicated to advancing animal welfare and supporting educational projects that foster positive human-animal interactions to benefit people in need. Rooted in values of compassion, responsible stewardship, and practical impact, it prioritizes targeted funding for animal rescue, care, veterinary services, responsible ownership promotion, and therapeutic initiatives using animals for vulnerable communities, as seen in grants to organizations like the Mare and Foal Sanctuary, SPANA, Forever Hounds Trust, and The Brooke.

It funds projects and capital costs (e.g., equipment, facilities) that demonstrably reduce animal suffering or deliver measurable educational/therapeutic outcomes, with a focus on direct welfare improvements and innovative animal-based interventions. Eligible applicants are exclusively UK-registered charities (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, or equivalents), typically small to medium-sized organizations delivering frontline work; there are no strict income thresholds but a preference for established entities with clear accountability.

Unsolicited applications are welcomed on a rolling basis via email or post using the website's form, reviewed at periodic trustee meetings (allow several months for decisions), with typical grants of £1,000–£5,000 (larger in exceptions). It excludes individuals, core/unrestricted funding, and repeat grants within two years unless exceptional; distinctively, its cautious, relational approach emphasizes transparency, no religious restrictions, and a unique blend of pure animal welfare with human benefit through animals, setting it apart for reliable support of impactful UK animal charities.