Perry Foundation

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

Typical grants
Up to £36,000
Where they fund
United Kingdom
Applications
Accepted
How to apply
Email application
Decisions
Once per year

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

Get a draft in 2 minutes · no card

perryfoundation.co.uk

About Perry Foundation

The Perry Foundation is a UK charitable trust established in 1970, evolving from the Boreham Institute of Agriculture. Its mission is to advance research and education in UK agriculture and food production for public benefit. The Foundation values innovation, evidence-based practice, and sector leadership, and it typically funds through PhD studentships and smaller project grants. The Foundation supports postgraduate students and early-career researchers, with the expectation that they will continue their careers within UK agriculture, food, and farming. Its funding character is focused on PhD-level agricultural research, offering long-term, catalytic support through a rigorous selection process.

What Perry Foundation funds

The Perry Foundation funds research and education in agriculture and related disciplines, including veterinary sciences. It supports PhD studentships at UK universities, colleges, and research institutes, as well as travel awards for students to attend meetings, seminars, or symposia relevant to their projects. Projects must demonstrate a definable benefit to UK agriculture. The Foundation's work is nationwide, covering the entire United Kingdom, with a focus on enhancing productivity, sustainability, and sector leadership in agriculture and food production.

Who can apply

Eligible organisations include universities, colleges, and research institutes in the United Kingdom. The Foundation does not fund individuals directly; applications must be made through the host institution. Beneficiaries are postgraduate students and early-career researchers whose projects are of definable benefit to UK agriculture. The Foundation expects that students will continue their careers within UK agriculture, food, and farming. There are no income thresholds or religious restrictions, and unsolicited applications are welcomed.

What Perry Foundation doesn't fund

The Foundation does not fund non-agricultural research, projects lacking UK institutional backing, core costs, capital expenditure, or emergency aid. For travel awards, retrospective applications are not considered. The Foundation also does not fund individuals directly or projects that do not demonstrate a definable benefit to UK agriculture.

How they like to fund

The Foundation offers multi-year PhD studentships and smaller project grants, as well as travel awards for students to attend relevant events. It welcomes unsolicited applications from UK academic institutions. Funding is typically awarded through a rigorous selection process involving interviews, and the Foundation provides long-term, catalytic support for postgraduate research in agriculture.

How much does Perry Foundation give?

Perry Foundation runs 2 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 29 sourced facts

Arnold Hitchcock Travel AwardsRolling applications
Up to £500
  • Online application form
  • 2 rounds a year
Perry Foundation Study Awards (PhD Studentships)Open to applications
Up to £15,000
  • Online application form
  • Next deadline 31 October 2026
  • 1 rounds a year
  • Multi-year funding

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 Perry Foundation funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

To assist the funding of travel and accommodation expenses to enable Perry Foundation students to attend meetings, seminars or symposia relevant to their PhD project.

Where they fund
United Kingdom
Costs they'll cover
TravelTrainingResearch
They don't fund
Individuals
The full exclusions list (1)
  • Retrospective applications will not be considered

Good to know

FaithNo restriction
Focus areas
EnvironmentEducation

How to apply to Perry Foundation

Perry Foundation takes applications via email application.

  • Published programme route: online application form.
  • Decisions are typically once per year.
  • Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What Perry Foundation's application asks

We hold the 10 questions from Perry Foundation's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

The purpose of the PhD project for which funding is required.

Question 2

The expected outcomes/benefits that will arise from the 'project' in terms of both personal, if appropriate, and the Perry Foundation objectives.

8 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.

How it works

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

See if Perry Foundation could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Perry Foundation provide?

Perry Foundation runs 2 grant programmes — Arnold Hitchcock Travel Awards: Up to £500 · Perry Foundation Study Awards (PhD Studentships): Up to £15,000.

Where does Perry Foundation fund charities?

Perry Foundation funds charities operating in United Kingdom.

Does Perry Foundation accept unsolicited applications?

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

What does Perry Foundation not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Retrospective applications will not be considered. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Perry Foundation?

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

Spotted something that needs correcting? Tell us.

Could Perry Foundation be a fit?

Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.