Richmond Foundation

Richmond Foundation, an independent charitable foundation established in 1786 from a royal land donation by King George III and Queen Charlotte, rebranded in 2024 from the Richmond Parish Lands Charity. Rooted in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, its mission is to alleviate poverty, advance opportunity, and foster community cohesion by empowering residents to build healthy, fulfilling lives through innovative grant-making and support programmes. Guided by values of collaboration, social justice, equity, and place-based philanthropy, it stewards a significant endowment for hyperlocal impact, emphasizing strategic, relational funding with robust due diligence, safeguarding, and evaluation.

The foundation funds initiatives improving access to support and advice, reducing educational inequalities (e.g., £1m investment in attainment gaps), enhancing health outcomes, and strengthening community connections, targeting the most disadvantaged and marginalised. Grant types include Core Grants for organisational resilience and development, Project Grants for beneficiary needs, Gateway Grants for pilots and new applicants, and Partnership Grants for transformative work like education equity. It also supports individuals via Crisis Grants (through partners like Citizens Advice), Education Catalyst Grants for adult upskilling, Child Support Grants via schools, and Third Sector Catalyst Grants for sector workforce growth. Common areas: loneliness, food insecurity, mental health, housing, and integration.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community groups with strong local ties and physical presence in postcodes TW9, TW10, SW13, or SW14, preferring grassroots/small-medium organisations (under £1m turnover for Core Grants). It accepts unsolicited online applications by quarterly deadlines (next: 13 August 2025; then 29 October 2025, 28 January 2026, 24 April 2026), reviewed at Grants Committee meetings with decisions in five working days. Typical ranges: Gateway up to £15,000 (1 year); Project up to £90,000 (3 years); Core £30,000–£180,000 (3 years). No religious restrictions, but excludes non-local entities, capital projects (per type), and lacks strict income minima—distinct for its 230-year royal heritage, exclusive hyperlocal focus, and proactive balance of immediate crisis relief with long-term sustainability.