Truants Foundation
Could Truants Foundation be a fit? Check free — then find open funders like them if not.
- Typical grants
- £200,000 – £350,000
- Applications
- Existing partners only
- Decisions
- Once per year
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
Check fit free · no card
thetruants.co.ukAbout Truants Foundation
The Truants Foundation was established in 2019, building on a decade of fundraising by founder Rod Smallwood and fellow music-industry trustees. Its mission is to relieve children in need worldwide who are affected by ill health, poverty or hardship, and to promote life preservation and health through grants to charities. The foundation is known for high-profile collaborative fundraising — including cycling rides and music-linked events — and is deliberately run to maximise donations while keeping overheads low. It channels its support exclusively to a preselected group of major UK children's charities, providing unrestricted core funding rather than project funding. Its energetic, event-driven culture is matched by careful stewardship and a clear focus on proven children's causes.
What Truants Foundation funds
The foundation supports charities working with vulnerable children facing cancer, therapeutic needs, abuse or neglect risks, and poverty. It funds general operations through unrestricted core grants, intended to improve health, wellbeing, life chances and protection for these children. The geographic focus of its funding is England and Wales, though global impact may be achieved through its partner charities' international work. The causes are deliberately limited to a small number of established children's charities, reflecting the foundation's belief in concentrating support where it is most proven.
Who can apply
Eligible organisations are large, established UK-registered charities with a national reach; small and grassroots groups are not supported. The foundation focuses on charities that can make a significant impact on the lives of children in need across England and Wales, and potentially worldwide through their networks. There is no religious restriction. Because the foundation works by invitation only, its support is directed to a small circle of partner charities rather than open applications.
What Truants Foundation doesn't fund
The foundation does not fund project-specific costs, capital expenditure or direct aid. It also does not consider unsolicited applications and does not support small or grassroots organisations. Funding is concentrated on a selected group of partners rather than distributed broadly.
How they like to fund
The foundation provides unrestricted core funding, allowing partner charities to use grants for general operations. It operates through collaborative fundraising events, with partners preselected and supported on a longstanding basis. All funding is by invitation only, and the foundation avoids open application rounds in favour of long-standing relationships.
How much does Truants Foundation give?
Typical published range. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you would clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is the free fit check.
When to apply, and how long their decisions take.
Income, location, legal structure and exactly who they fund — matched to your charity.
Good to know
How to apply to Truants Foundation
Truants Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation.
- A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
- If you cannot apply directly, shortlist open funders with a similar focus instead of writing into a closed door.
- Decisions are typically once per year.
What you can do here
- 1Check fit. See if your project aligns with Truants Foundation.
- 2Find open funders. Shortlist similar funders you can approach.
- 3Save the notes. Keep the fit check if you are later invited to apply.
See if Truants Foundation could be a fit — then find open funders like them.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Truants Foundation provide?
Truants Foundation typically provides grants of £200,000 - £350,000.
Where does Truants Foundation fund charities?
Truants Foundation funds charities operating in the UK.
Does Truants Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Truants Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
How do I apply for funding from Truants Foundation?
Truants Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation. A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
Similar funders
Other UK funders with overlapping focus — not a claim they fund the same charities.
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Check free — then find open funders like them.