Scouloudi Foundation

The Scouloudi Foundation, established in 1962 by historian and philanthropist Miss Irene Scouloudi, is a discreet, trustee-led grant-making trust with a generalist mission to support all classes of UK-recognised charities across diverse needs, from education and health to social welfare and the arts. Its distinctive approach emphasises prudent stewardship, academic rigour, and societal enrichment through research, exemplified by its longstanding partnership with the Institute of Historical Research for the Scouloudi Historical Awards, which fund postgraduate and postdoctoral historical research, scholarly publications, and dissemination projects benefiting qualified graduates and British citizens.

The Foundation prioritises historical scholarship—subsidising book and article publications—while broadly funding established charities and academic institutions tackling education, health, welfare, and arts initiatives. Beneficiaries include UK-registered charities with proven track records, learned societies, and medium-to-large academic bodies, with a core UK focus but openness to international projects aligning with English charitable law.

Grants typically range from £1,000 to £25,000 (most commonly £5,000–£15,000) for project-specific support, awarded annually at trustees' meetings in the first quarter; unrestricted or core funding is rare outside longstanding partners. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—selections rely on trustee knowledge and recommendations—setting it apart as a strategic enabler of heritage and humanities rather than a responsive open funder, with no thematic exclusions beyond non-charitable purposes.