The Ring Foundation – charitable organisations are invited to register now for updates and news about the launch of a major new UK grant-making Foundation this summer.
We’ve been contacted by the trustees of a major new grant-making charity, which is set to launch later this year with a legacy of £20 million. UK charitable organisations, including registered charities, constituted community groups with a bank account, Community Interest Companies (CICs) and other forms of social enterprise can register now to receive details of the Foundation’s inaugural application round by emailing grants.advice@btinternet.com. The application window is expected to open in July and close in August 2022.
According to the Foundation’s trustees, Barbara Dwyer and Joseph King, the Foundation will focus on a wide variety of innovative and “off-beat” grassroots community projects that would otherwise struggle to secure funding from other sources.
Founder Barb Dwyer said “we’re looking for really unusual local projects that may be considered too innovative or risky for traditional funding sources. Although we don’t want to influence any potential applicants, we’re thinking of projects such as line dancing for people who experience difficulty with their balance, or funding activities that celebrate the whistling of Roger Whittaker through interpretative dance”.
Joe King added: “although we’re open to most proposals, there are applicants we won’t fund. We’re still drawing up detailed criteria, but it’s unlikely that we’ll provide a grant for anyone who has at any time supported Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur. Because of our concerns about climate change, projects in communities below sea level are also not likely to be funded, and – although we’re called the Ring Foundation – the Foundation probably won’t support helplines”.
The Foundation, which will activate its website over the next few months, anticipates allocating grants totalling up to £1 million across the UK each year. Capital, revenue and project grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 are expected to be available with no matched funding requirement.
Charitable organisations interested in receiving more information about the Foundation as it prepares to launch in July 2022, can register by emailing grants.advice@btinternet.com with “Ring, Ring” as the subject heading.