The Wolfson Foundation is a UK-based grantmaker focused on building excellence in education, science and medicine, heritage, the humanities and the arts, and health and disability. It most often supports capital projects, major research infrastructure, scholarships, and selective fellowship-style awards, typically through named partnerships with universities, learned societies, schools, museums, and health charities. Its giving tends to favor high-quality institutions and projects with clear evidence of excellence, specialized talent development, or strong public benefit.
Focus Areas
Research Infrastructure and Laboratory UpgradesScience and Medicine Capital ProjectsHumanities and Heritage ConservationScholarships and FellowshipsMusic Education and Conservatoire SupportPalliative Care Training and Disability Services
Giving Approach
Primarily makes competitive, program-specific grants, often through partner-administered or invite-only routes. Many awards are capital grants or restricted scholarships/fellowships, with some large strategic initiatives; main capital applications run in two annual rounds.
How to approach this funder
Check whether the opportunity is a partner-administered or invite-only program before applying, as many schemes do not accept unsolicited proposals. For the main capital grants programme, plan for the two-stage process and target the Stage 2 deadlines of 1 March or 1 September; applicants should emphasize excellence, institutional strength, and a clear capital need tied to education, science, heritage, or health outcomes.
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Trusted by mission-driven teams at organizations nationwide
Notable grantees:
• Leonard Wolfson Experimental Neurology Centre
• Cardiff University
• Historic Coventry Trust
• The Cromwell Museum
• Age UK Sheffield
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Wolfson Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses Jul 1, 2026Award: $25K+
Funding for charities working in mental health
mental healthtrainingemployment+5 more
Who can apply: Registered charity or local authority; if applicable, at least a 'Good' rating from a regulator such as CQC or Ofsted; project must be for a new building, refurbishment work or equipment; capital costs of at least £50,000; capital funding shortfall of at least £25,000; project should address at least one stated aim.
Deadline: Two rounds each year. Round 1: Stage 1 deadline 5 January, Stage 2 deadline 1 March, decision in June. Round 2: Stage 1 deadline 1 July, Stage 2 deadline 1 September, decision in December. Weekend deadlines accepted by 9am Monday.
Funding for hospices and palliative care organisations
hospice carepalliative carecapital projects+3 more
Who can apply: Registered charity or hospice operating within the NHS; project must be for a new building, refurbishment work or equipment; capital costs of at least £50,000; capital funding shortfall of at least £25,000; project should address at least one stated aim.
Deadline: Two rounds each year. Round 1: Stage 1 deadline 5 January, Stage 2 deadline 1 March, decision in June. Round 2: Stage 1 deadline 1 July, Stage 2 deadline 1 September, decision in December.
Who can apply: Museum or gallery must be operated by a registered charity or local authority, fully accredited under the Museum Accreditation Scheme, and hold a permanent collection of national significance (or make a strong case where designation is not available); project should meet at least one stated aim.
Deadline: Two rounds each year. Round 1: Stage 1 deadline 5 January, Stage 2 deadline 1 March, decision in June. Round 2: Stage 1 deadline 1 July, Stage 2 deadline 1 September, decision in December.
Who can apply: Library or archive must be operated by a registered charity or local authority, be fully accredited under the Archive Service Accreditation Scheme, be open and accessible to the public for most of the year, and hold a permanent collection of national significance; project should meet at least one stated aim.
Deadline: Two rounds each year. Round 1: Stage 1 deadline 5 January, Stage 2 deadline 1 March, decision in June. Round 2: Stage 1 deadline 1 July, Stage 2 deadline 1 September, decision in December.
performing artstraining facilitieseducation facilities+3 more
Who can apply: Organisation must be operated by a registered charity or local authority and be focussed on professional performance with the performing arts constituting the vast majority of its activities; project must improve training and education facilities and be a strategic priority.
Deadline: Two rounds each year. Round 1: Stage 1 deadline 5 January, Stage 2 deadline 1 March, decision in June. Round 2: Stage 1 deadline 1 July, Stage 2 deadline 1 September, decision in December.
Funding for public engagement with science organisations
sciencenatural history collectionspublic engagement+4 more
Who can apply: Organisation must be a registered charity, local authority or university; if applicable, be fully accredited under the Museum Accreditation Scheme; and display scientific or natural history collections of national significance; project should meet at least one stated aim.
Deadline: Two rounds each year. Round 1: Stage 1 deadline 5 January, Stage 2 deadline 1 March, decision in June. Round 2: Stage 1 deadline 1 July, Stage 2 deadline 1 September, decision in December.
Who can apply: Site must be operated by a registered charity or local authority, open and accessible to the public for most of the year, and listed at a specified heritage grade or scheduled monument status; project should involve conservation/restoration and/or interpretation and meet at least one stated aim.
Deadline: Two rounds each year. Round 1: Stage 1 deadline 5 January, Stage 2 deadline 1 March, decision in June. Round 2: Stage 1 deadline 1 July, Stage 2 deadline 1 September, decision in December.
Funding for Places (Main capital grants programme)
EducationScience & MedicineHealth & Disability+5 more
Who can apply: Organisations must be charities or have charitable status (or equivalent). Projects must be capital infrastructure (new build, refurbishment, equipment). Wolfson does not fund land purchase, VAT, feasibility studies, non-capital costs, or projects with total cost below £15,000. Certain categories require minimum capital cost (some categories require at least £50,000). See category pages for detailed criteria.
Deadline: Two funding rounds per year. Stage 2 application deadlines: 1 March (decision June) and 1 September (decision December). Stage 1 is submitted online ahead of Stage 2 invitation.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.