Waterloo Foundation
Could Waterloo Foundation fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £5,000 – £150,000
- Where they fund
- Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Email application
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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waterloofoundation.org.ukAbout Waterloo Foundation
The Waterloo Foundation is an independent grant-maker that supports initiatives in child development research, community projects in Wales, and international development focused on water, sanitation and hygiene. Their funding is directed towards evidence-based interventions that create sustainable change. The Foundation funds specific research topics in child health, community projects addressing local needs in Wales, and international work improving access to clean water and sanitation. Their approach combines research with practical delivery, aiming to benefit children, young people, unpaid carers, and communities in poverty.
What Waterloo Foundation funds
The Foundation funds three main areas. Child development research covers motor coordination, nutrition and the microbiome, physical activity, rolandic epilepsy, and PCOS. In Wales, they support work with unpaid carers, equity in education, and pathways out of poverty, funding both core costs and project delivery. Internationally, they prioritise increasing access to water, sanitation and hygiene services in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, benefiting women, children and rural communities. They fund research, project delivery, and core costs across these themes.
Who can apply
Registered charities, community interest companies, charitable incorporated organisations, social enterprises, community groups, universities, research institutions, and NGOs are eligible to apply. The Foundation does not fund individuals. Beneficiary groups they prioritise include children, young people, unpaid carers, people in poverty, women, and rural communities. There is no religious restriction on applicants.
What Waterloo Foundation doesn't fund
The Foundation does not fund individuals or applications that benefit an individual. They also exclude the promotion of religious or political causes, general appeals, and circulars. No other exclusions are stated.
How they like to fund
The Foundation offers multi-year grants for the Wales and World Development WASH programmes. They fund both core costs and project delivery. Unsolicited applications are welcome. Match funding is not required.
How much does Waterloo Foundation give?
Waterloo Foundation runs 3 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 48 sourced facts
- Two-stage process
- Decisions in ~2 weeks
- Online application form
- Decisions in ~8 weeks
- Multi-year funding
- 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 Waterloo Foundation funds — and what they won't
Research on Motor Coordination, Nutrition and the Microbiome, Physical Activity, Rolandic Epilepsy, PCOS
The full exclusions list (1)
- We will not consider applications for grants in the following areas: the promotion of religious or political causes general appeals or circulars.
Good to know
How to apply to Waterloo Foundation
Waterloo Foundation takes applications via email application.
- Published programme route: two-stage process.
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What Waterloo Foundation's application asks
We hold the 17 questions from Waterloo Foundation's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“Project title (and shortened project title – max 5 words)”
Max 5 words
“Principle Investigator (name, contact details and ORCID ID) and name of university”
15 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 Waterloo Foundation could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Waterloo Foundation provide?
Waterloo Foundation runs 3 grant programmes — Child Development Research: £40,000 – £80,000 · World Development WASH Small Grants: £5,000 – £10,000.
Where does Waterloo Foundation fund charities?
Waterloo Foundation funds charities operating in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia.
Does Waterloo Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Waterloo Foundation accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does Waterloo Foundation not fund?
Their published exclusions include: We will not consider applications for grants in the following areas: the promotion of religious or political causes general appeals or circulars.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from Waterloo Foundation?
Waterloo Foundation takes applications via email application. Published programme route: two-stage process.
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Could Waterloo Foundation be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.