Rothesay Foundation

The Rothesay Foundation, established in 2019 by UK pension insurer Rothesay, is an independent registered charity dedicated to securing and improving the quality of life for older people in need across the UK, particularly by tackling material deprivation, poverty, and social isolation. Its mission emphasizes independence, dignity, and wellbeing through four key areas: housing, social interaction, financial support, and access to essentials like meals, clothing, and communication. Governed by a distinguished board including Professor Dame Carol Black, the Foundation blends grant-making with active support—leveraging expertise in scaling organizations, data, technology, awareness, research, and impact measurement—to drive systemic change and innovative commercial-charitable partnerships.

It funds projects and core support for charities delivering direct services to older people, prioritizing scalable, measurable interventions such as benefits advice (e.g., major Age UK partnership unlocking millions in unclaimed benefits), welfare access, financial hardship relief, and social connection programs. Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, with a preference for medium-to-large organizations proven in large-scale work; no strict income thresholds or geographic base restrictions apply, though focus is on England and Wales with UK-wide reach.

Grants typically range from £50,000 to £525,000, often multi-year for pilots, expansions, or national initiatives, excluding capital projects or emergency relief. Unsolicited partnership proposals are welcomed via email (detailing organization, prior work, proposal, timelines, outcomes, and funding needs), assessed on a rolling basis with no deadlines—strategic trustee decisions prioritize aligned, high-impact ideas, expecting follow-up only for promising fits. This proactive, tech-savvy approach sets it apart in addressing pension-age poverty sustainably.