Since 1955, it has awarded over £1 billion to projects across the country — funding the buildings, laboratories, galleries, hospices, and specialist schools that underpin public life. Its flagship programme, Funding for Places, provides capital grants for organisations that need to build, refurbish, or equip the spaces where they do their work.
Two funding rounds run each year. The next Stage 1 deadline for most programmes is 1 July 2026, with decisions in December 2026.
About The Wolfson Foundation
The Wolfson Foundation is an independent grant-making charity based in London, registered in England and Wales (charity no. 1156077). It was established in 1955 and has awarded over £1 billion in grants — around £2 billion in real terms — to organisations across the UK, from Cornwall to the Shetland Islands.
The Foundation’s emphasis is on education and research in the broadest sense, but its reach extends across a wide range of sectors. Its aim is to promote excellence, to act as a catalyst for additional fundraising, and to support areas of public life that may otherwise struggle to attract capital investment. Receiving a Wolfson grant is widely regarded as a hallmark of quality as well as a source of funding.
What Funding for Places Covers
Funding for Places is the Foundation’s main grant programme. It funds capital infrastructure only — meaning new buildings, refurbishment projects, and equipment. It does not fund running costs, salaries, or ongoing operational expenses.
The programme covers thirteen distinct categories of organisation:
- Charities working with disability
- Charities working in mental health
- Charities working with older people
- Historic buildings and landscapes
- Hospices and palliative care organisations
- Places of worship
- Libraries and archives
- Museums and galleries
- Performing arts organisations
- Public engagement with science organisations
- Secondary schools and sixth form colleges
- Special needs schools and colleges
- Universities and research institutions
Each category has its own eligibility criteria, typical grant range, and specific exclusions, so applicants should review the relevant sub-page carefully before applying.
How Much Funding Is Available
Grant amounts vary significantly by programme area. For disability charities, the typical range is £40,000–£75,000, with a minimum grant of £25,000. For universities and larger institutions, grants tend to be considerably larger.
The Foundation does not fund projects where the total cost is below £15,000, and costs such as VAT, the purchase of land or existing buildings, feasibility studies, salary costs, and running costs are all ineligible.
Who Is Eligible
To apply for Funding for Places, organisations must be registered charities or have equivalent charitable status. Local authorities can also apply for some programmes. Community Interest Companies are not eligible.
Across all categories, the project must be for a capital purpose — new build, refurbishment, or equipment — and must be ongoing at the time a funding decision is made. Projects that have already been completed cannot be funded retrospectively.
Some categories have additional requirements. For example, charities working with disability should have at least a ‘Good’ rating from a relevant regulator (such as CQC or Ofsted where applicable), and capital projects must have costs of at least £50,000 with a funding shortfall of at least £25,000.
The Foundation actively encourages applications from across the whole of the UK, including parts of the country where fewer applications are typically received.
The Application Process
The Wolfson Foundation runs a two-stage application process for most of its programmes (secondary education uses a one-stage process in 2026).
Stage 1 is a short online application that asks for a brief description of the project, the total cost, the current funding shortfall, and a proposed timetable. Two years of audited accounts are required. You do not need to request a specific grant amount at this stage — just the total project cost and how much remains to be raised.
If Stage 1 is successful, you will receive an invitation to submit a Stage 2 application. Stage 2 is more detailed, includes expert peer review by external assessors, and requires match funding to be in place (generally at least 25% of capital costs for projects costing above £80,000, with some flexibility for smaller projects).
The Foundation emphasises that although the review process is rigorous, it aims to be as light-touch as possible — applicants are encouraged to present their project in a way that brings it to life, rather than following a rigid template.
If you’ve previously received a grant, you should wait five years before reapplying, and any new application must be for a different project.
Funding Timeline
Two rounds run each year across most programmes:
Round 2 (current round):
- Stage 1 applications open: 14 May 2026
- Stage 1 deadline: 1 July 2026, 23:59
- Stage 2 deadline: 1 September 2026
- Funding decisions: December 2026
Round 1 (next cycle):
- Stage 1 applications open: 20 November 2026
- Stage 1 deadline: 5 January 2027
- Stage 2 deadline: 1 March 2027
- Funding decisions: June 2027
Note: if a deadline falls on a weekend, the Foundation accepts applications arriving by 9am on the following Monday.
