Allen Lane Foundation

Grants are available to small registered charities, voluntary groups and charitable organisations in the UK for work that makes a difference to people’s lives as opposed to simply alleviating the symptoms or current problems and should aim to reduce isolation, stigma and discrimination.

The Allen Lane Foundation is a grant-making trust which was set up in 1966 by the late Sir Allen Lane, founder of Penguin Books, to support general charitable causes. The Foundation has no connection with the publishing company, but five of the Trustees are members of the founder’s family.

The Foundation makes grants to voluntary not-for-profit organisations in the UK for work which benefits groups of people who are under-represented in UK society. 

Overall, the Foundation wishes to fund work which:

• Will make a lasting difference to people’s lives rather than simply alleviating the symptoms or current problems.
• Is aimed at reducing isolation, stigma and discrimination.
• Encourages or enables unpopular groups to share in the life of the whole community.

The Foundation typically makes around 150 grants in a year with a total value of between £720,000 and £800,000.

The Foundation makes single grants, or grants split over two or three years.

One-off grants of between £500 and £15,000 are available. The average grant is between £5,000 and £6,000.

Grants repeated for more than one year vary from around £500 per annum up to £5,000 per annum, for a maximum of three years. 

Small registered charities, voluntary groups and charitable organisations in the UK can apply.

Registered charities are eligible to apply as well as other organisations which are not charities, but which seek funding for a charitable project. This could include, for example, constituted voluntary groups or Community Interest Companies (CICs).

To make sure its grants have an impact, the Foundation will not fund larger organisations. If an organisation works in a relatively local area – a village, or estate or small town – to be eligible it will have an income of less than about £100,000.  At the other end of the spectrum, an organisation which works across the whole of the UK will be eligible if it has an income of not more than about £250,000.

Organisations whose work solely benefits people within Greater London cannot apply. However, if their work benefits people across a much wider area, then they may be considered.

For further details on how to apply please visit The Allen Lane Foundation | Grant-making foundation