The Ashley Family Foundation focuses its grant giving on the development of strong communities, social welfare and creative arts in England and Wales, with a particular emphasis on supporting rural communities. It is especially keen to fund good small-scale arts and community projects and welcomes proposals from community museums, organisations, farms and gardens for funding for arts subjects.

The Foundation favours revenue proposals over capital requests and focuses its funding on supporting the following 5 main themes:

1. Wales - 50% of the Foundation’s funding goes to projects in Wales and it continues to maintain strong links with communities in mid-Wales.
2. Rural – the Foundation is especially interested in projects that open up opportunity in areas where it might not otherwise exist and that help alleviate the isolation and other hardships that can affect rural communities.
3. Arts – the Foundation wants to help bring art to those people that it can help, and help those who will go on to bring art to the people. It supports organisations that provide a wide range of educational and creative activities, including applied arts and crafts, music, drama, and textiles. It also funds arts education with a focus on helping promising young Welsh talent.
4. Community – the Foundation is attracted to projects that bring people together, to help each other out and make their community a better, more joyful place. Support is available for a range of community and social welfare projects, including those focused on helping people who suffer from isolation, mental health problems and financial and/or social disadvantage, and
5. Small charities - the Foundation has an affinity with smaller charities set up by people who are driven by love and kindness to help better the lives of those around them.

Although the Foundation has no set limits to the amount that can be awarded, it favours requests that are below £10,000. While it generally awards one-off revenue grants, it will consider funding for up to 3 years if a project requires longer-term investment, subject to satisfactory monitoring and review. Capital grants are rarely awarded.

Further information, guidance and an online application form is available on the Foundation’s website.

The next deadline for applications is Friday 22nd December 2023.