The Wates Foundation is a generalist grant maker, supporting issues that reflect the Wates Families’ broad range of philanthropic interests.

These interests are categorised into seven themes (see right).

All awards are sponsored personally by a Wates Family member from one of the three family grants committees. Our area of benefit now covers much of the southern half of England, reflecting areas where the Wates Family live.

Please see information on what we fund and do not fund here.

The Wates Foundation is a proactive grant maker

Wates Family members seek out charities to support, often from within their own community. This results in greater family engagement with the supported charity. Generally, a Wates Family member will lead a grant assessment visit and often return for a follow up visit as the grant progresses.

We look for opportunities for cooperation between the Family committees and to work with other Wates Family charities in joint funding awards. This increases engagement and philanthropic giving by Family members across generations. These awards enable appropriate activities to be supported with larger awards and over longer periods of time and also reduce risk.

We listen to what you say

We regularly survey the organisations we fund to understand what we are doing well, what we can do better and what we might consider doing in the future. Thank you to everyone who took part. The Trustees have now had a chance to consider the responses, and you can read here how your responses shaped our strategy for (2021-25) and how we will support our grantees going forward.

Other Wates Family charities include

Wates Family Enterprise Trust and William Wates Memorial Trust.

The Wates Foundation is also keen to work with other funders outside of the Wates Family Charities.

The Wates Foundation is a member of the Association of Charitable Foundations and London Funders. Through these organisations and other providers, our trustees and committee members access regular training.