Rosetrees
Could Rosetrees fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Where they fund
- UK, worldwide
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Two-stage application
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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rosetrees.org.ukAbout Rosetrees
Rosetrees is a private UK charitable trust that funds pioneering medical research. Its mission is to support innovative projects targeting unmet clinical needs that impact significant patient populations. The trust operates a venture philanthropy model, emphasising scientific excellence, strategic risk-taking, and close engagement with researchers. It is known for its agility and willingness to back high-risk, novel ideas. Rosetrees runs several distinct grant programmes, each with its own focus, including seedcorn awards for early-stage ideas, major project awards for established proof-of-concept work, interdisciplinary awards exploring environmental health impacts, and translational awards moving research towards clinical application.
What Rosetrees funds
Rosetrees funds research across physical and mental health, including cancer, with a focus on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases. Specific themes include environmental impacts on health such as air pollution, climate change, and exposure to toxins. They support salaries, equipment, and research costs. Work can take place in the UK or worldwide, but grants must be administered by a UK university or research institute. The trust is particularly interested in projects with potential for clinical translation and those addressing unmet needs affecting large patient groups in the UK.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are UK universities and research institutes. The trust does not fund companies directly. Beneficiaries are the general public, with no faith-based restrictions. Applicants must be based in the UK, though research can be conducted internationally if administered by a UK institution. Rosetrees welcomes unsolicited applications and encourages innovative, out-of-the-box ideas from researchers at all career stages.
What Rosetrees doesn't fund
Rosetrees does not fund capital works, core costs, training, PhD tuition fees, or directly allocated and indirect costs. Some programmes exclude the salary of the fellow or stipends and consumables for PhD studentships. Dementia-related research is excluded from certain programmes due to a separate partnership, though projects exploring dementia and quality of life remain eligible. Companies are not eligible for direct funding.
How they like to fund
Rosetrees offers both multi-year and one-off grants, depending on the programme. Major project awards require match funding, while other programmes do not. The trust funds directly incurred costs and supports salaries, equipment, and research activities. They welcome unsolicited applications and are open to innovative, high-risk proposals. Their funding style is flexible, with different programmes tailored to different stages of research, from seedcorn ideas to translational projects.
How much does Rosetrees give?
Rosetrees runs 6 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 97 sourced facts
- Online application form
- Two-stage process
- 1 rounds a year
- Multi-year funding
- Two-stage process
- 1 rounds a year
- Multi-year funding
- Match funding required
- Two-stage process
- Decisions in ~26 weeks
- Single-year grants
- Two-stage process
- 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 Rosetrees funds — and what they won't
The 2025 Rosetrees Interdisciplinary Award aims to support cutting-edge research investigating environmental impacts on public and human health. We are looking for proposals that investigate how factors such as air pollution, climate change, and exposure to environmental toxins, carcinogens and microplastics affect health from birth to adulthood.
The full exclusions list (4)
- We will not fund directly allocated costs, indirect costs or PhD tuition fees. Travel costs max £1000.
- Dementia-related research (diagnostics, prevention, disease mechanisms, treatment) excluded in this round due to separate Race Against Dementia partnership. Projects exploring dementia and quality of life remain eligible.
- seedcorn funding cannot be used to fund the stipend or consumables for PhD studentships
- Funding cannot be used to fund the salary of the fellow. We only fund directly incurred costs, not directly allocated costs such as PI time.
Good to know
How to apply to Rosetrees
Rosetrees takes applications via two-stage application.
- Published programme route: online application form.
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What Rosetrees's application asks
We hold the 20 questions from Rosetrees's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“Research Team and Track Record Outline how the research team involved in the proposal have the appropriate track record and expertise to carry out the research project”
“Simple Project Summary Please describe your project in simple English so that it is accessible to a lay audience. This summary may be used on the Rosetrees website and at trustees meetings so please keep this description simple and jargon-free.”
18 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.
How it works
- 1Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
- 2See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
- 3Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.
See if Rosetrees could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Rosetrees provide?
Rosetrees runs 6 grant programmes — BASO/Rosetrees Research Grants in Cancer Surgery: Up to £50,000 · Interdisciplinary Award: Up to £330,000 · Major Project Awards: Up to £210,000 · Seedcorn Awards: Up to £20,000 · Translational Award: Up to £150,000.
Where does Rosetrees fund charities?
Rosetrees funds charities operating in UK, worldwide.
Does Rosetrees accept unsolicited applications?
Rosetrees accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does Rosetrees not fund?
Their published exclusions include: We will not fund directly allocated costs, indirect costs or PhD tuition fees. Travel costs max £1000.; Dementia-related research (diagnostics, prevention, disease mechanisms, treatment) excluded in this round due to separate Race Against Dementia partnership. Projects exploring dementia and quality of life remain eligible.; seedcorn funding cannot be used to fund the stipend or consumables for PhD studentships; Funding cannot be used to fund the salary of the fellow. We only fund directly incurred costs, not directly allocated costs such as PI time.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from Rosetrees?
Rosetrees takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: online application form.
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Could Rosetrees be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.