The Bernard Sunley Foundation funds capital projects that support some of the most vulnerable people in society, from addiction recovery and homelessness services to support for ex-offenders and survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Last year it awarded £756,000 across 71 Social Welfare grants, and unlike most funders it runs a rolling programme with no application deadline, so charities can apply at any point in the year.
About the Funder
The Bernard Sunley Foundation was established in 1960 by property developer Bernard Sunley, a self-made entrepreneur who played a leading role in the post-war reconstruction of Britain. After his death in 1964, the Foundation was carried on by his family, and today it’s chaired by his granddaughter, Anabel Knight, supported by five Trustees, the majority of whom are still family members. It remains an independent, family-led grantmaker funding projects across four categories: Social Welfare, Community, Education and Health.
How Much Funding Is Available
Grants are awarded across three levels — small, medium and large — as one-off capital payments rather than full project funding, so they’re intended as a contribution towards overall costs. Trustees decide the amount to pledge based on the application, and applicants aren’t asked to specify a figure. Across all categories, the Foundation funds around half of the applications it receives. Recent Social Welfare awards illustrate the range: a £40,000 large grant helped modernise a day centre run by Age UK Northamptonshire, and a £10,000 medium grant helped create a new meeting and rehabilitation centre for veterans and serving personnel.
What the Fund Supports
Social Welfare grants can go towards any of ten funding areas: Addiction and Rehabilitation, Almshouses, Animal Welfare, Armed Forces and Veterans, Domestic and Sexual Abuse, Elderly, Ex-Offenders, Homeless, Poverty Relief Overseas, and Social Enterprises.
Funding is for capital projects only, such as buildings, refurbishments and equipment. The Foundation does not fund core costs (salaries, running or repair costs, websites, rent or utility bills), fees for surveys, planning applications or feasibility studies, solar panels or air source heat pumps, second-hand vehicles, fittings such as electrical appliances and furniture, or IT infrastructure and AV systems.
Who Is Eligible
Applicants must be registered charities based in England or Wales. The Foundation does not fund charities registered outside England or Wales, community amateur sports clubs, Community Interest Companies or unregistered community groups, town or parish councils, churches or religious bodies with no or limited secular activity, NHS hospitals or charities fundraising on their behalf, mainstream schools, colleges or universities, or individuals.
The Application Process
Applicants start with a 12-question eligibility check; passing it unlocks the full application form, which can be saved and returned to at any time. Applications must include a copy of the organisation’s most recent accounts and a project budget or contractor quotes, and fundraising should already be underway with a plan in place, though there’s no minimum amount you need to have raised first. Every applicant receives an email confirming their application has been received, and the Foundation will organise a site visit if it’s considering a large grant.
Funding Timeline
The Foundation runs a rolling programme with no deadlines, accepting applications all year round. Small grants are decided monthly, while medium and large grants are considered at Trustees’ meetings held three times a year, in March, July and November. You’ll always be contacted with the outcome of your application — if unsuccessful, you can reapply 12 months after your original application, and if you’ve already received and claimed a grant, you’re welcome to submit a new one.
