Trusts & Foundations

Architectural Heritage (UK)

The Architectural Heritage Fund is a registered charity founded in 1976 to promote the conservation of historic buildings in the UK. It does this by providing advice, information and financial assistance in the form of grants and low interest working capital loans for projects undertaken by building preservation trust (BPTs) and other charities throughout the UK. Only organisations with charitable status are eligible for financial assistance from the AHF. Any charity with a qualifying project is entitled to apply for an options appraisal grant, or a loan, but the AHF's other grants are reserved for BPTs – charities established specifically to preserve historic buildings.

Schemes

There are grants and low interest loans available.
Any charity with a qualifying project is eligible for the following two AHF grants:
Options Appraisal Grants
The AHF offers grants of up to 75% of the cost of an initial options appraisal of a project likely to qualify for an AHF loan. The maximum grant is normally £7,500, but in exceptional circumstances this can be raised to £12,500. In rare cases the AHF may offer grants for options appraisals which examine the feasibility of only one option, but the grant offered will be a maximum of £3,000.
An options appraisal eligible for an AHF grant will look at the key conservation issues affecting the building, examine all options and consider in outline the viability of the most beneficial option. It should also explore all possible sources of funding for the project. The charity must bring together the findings in conservation and financial terms, implementation strategy and the further work that needs to be carried out to develop the preferred option.

Please note that the upper limits for Options Appraisals Grants and Project Development Grants quoted below have been reduced slightly for the 2009-10 financial year; please (as with all applications) talk to a member of the AHF Projects Team before you complete your application.

Please visit www.ahfund.org.uk/index.html to download our Guidance Notes and an application form.
Project Development Grant
There is another grant available for building preservation trusts only (see further grants).
Refundable Project Development Grants
Please speak to a member of the AHF's Projects Team about the availability of this grant.
Low-interest loans
See low-interest loans.

Notes

Please note: 1) The building(s) must be listed, scheduled as an ancient monument or in a Conservation Area (if in a Conservation Area, it must be of acknowledged historic or architectural importance); 2) The project must involve a change of ownership and/or a change of use; 3) The project must be in the United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.

Telephone: 020 7925 0199Fax: 020 7930 0295

ahf@ahfund.org.uk www.ahfund.org.uk/index.html

Art Fund

The UK's leading art charity offers museums and galleries millions of pounds each year to buy artworks.

Telephone: 020 7225 4800Fax: 020 7225 4848

info@artfund.org www.artfund.org

Baring Foundation

Purpose is to improve the quality of life of people suffering disadvantage and discrimination. Their aim is to achieve this through making grants to strengthen voluntary sector organisations which serve them directly or indirectly.

Schemes

Since 2004 the Foundation has been contributing to the core costs of a small number of arts organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers. Open to not for profit organisations with an annual income of at least £50K and already working with asylum seekers, refugees, migrants or their host communities.

Telephone: 020 7767 1348Fax: 020 7767 7121

baring.foundation@uk.ing.com www.baringfoundation.org.uk

BBC Children in Need

BBC Children in Need provides grants for up to three years to properly constituted not for profit organisations working with disadvantaged young people aged 18 or under.

Schemes

The grant programme is open to organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people who are 18 years old and under. Your organisation and project must be based in the UK and you need to be a registered charity or other not-for-profit organisation. There are four general grant deadlines each year: 15 January, 15 April, 15 July, 15 October.

Notes

Telephone: 029 2032 2383

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/grants

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

Provides grants to professional arts organisations or professional artists working in groups. The aim of its Arts Programme is to support experimental research and development activities.

Schemes

Not-for-profit organisations can apply for R&D funding to scope a new idea which enables them to work together with other organisations or experts outside their usual practice, or to enable them to undertake active research into areas they would not normally have the time or money to explore. This fund is not open to individuals.