Capital grants, normally for between £40,000 and £75,000, are available to UK organisations for capital projects and infrastructure working in the areas of the arts, disability, education, health, heritage, historic buildings and landscapes, humanities, medicine, mental health, older people, palliative care (including hospices), research and science.
The Wolfson Foundation is one of the UK’s largest independent grant-making charities, based in central London but funding across the UK. At the heart of what the Foundation does is an emphasis on education and research.
Since 1955, the Foundation has awarded over £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) to projects across the UK, from Cornwall to the Shetland Islands.
Around 95% of the Foundation's funding is in the UK. Most of its grants are for capital infrastructure — buildings (new build and refurbishments) and equipment. The Foundation runs a small number of proactive programmes outside the UK, but these are not open to applications. The Foundation often makes grants to act as a catalyst to generate more support and help to attract funding to areas that may otherwise be under -resourced. It is therefore keen to encourage applications from parts of the UK where it has traditionally received fewer applications or where there are few other sources of funding.
The following programmes have an application deadline of 23:59 on Wednesday 1 July 2026 for Stage 1 applications, but please check the Foundation's website for any variations to the deadline for specific programmes.
Further details on all of the following programmes can be found on the Wolfson Foundation’s website.
Disability - funding for charities working with disability. Grants, usually for between £40,000 and £75,000 for new builds, refurbishments and equipment.
Mental Health - funding for charities working in mental health. Grants, usually for between £40,000 and £75,000 for new builds, refurbishments and equipment.
Older People - funding for charities working with older people. Grants, usually for between £40,000 and £75,000 for new builds, refurbishments and equipment.
Historic Buildings and Landscapes - funding for historic buildings & landscapes. Grants, usually for between £15,000 and £100,000 for conservation and restoration work to sites of outstanding historic, architectural and cultural significance.
Hospices and Palliative Care - funding for hospices and palliative care organisations. Grants, usually for between £50,000 and £150,000 for new buildings, refurbishment work and equipment.
Libraries and Archives - funding for libraries & archives. Grants, usually for between £15,000 and £100,000 for new buildings, refurbishment and equipment to improve access to nationally significant collections.
Museums and Galleries - funding for museums & galleries. Grants, usually for between £50,000 and £500,000 for new buildings, refurbishment and equipment to improve the display and interpretation of nationally significant collections.
Performing Arts organisations - registered and exempt charities can apply for a grant of up to £150,000 for new builds, refurbishments and major equipment to improve training and education facilities.
Public Engagement with Science – funding for public engagement with science organisations. Grants, usually for between £250,000 and £750,000 are available for new buildings, refurbishment work and equipment to improve public engagement with science through the history of science.
Special Schools and Colleges – funding for special schools and colleges. Grants, usually for between £40,000 and £75,000 for new builds, refurbishments and equipment.
Universities and Research Institutions – funding for universities and research institutions. Grants, usually for between £250,000 and £1,000,000 are available for new buildings, refurbishment work or major equipment to improve research infrastructure.
For many of the above programmes, grants are normally for between £40,000 and £75,000, although this can vary from programme to programme. In some instances, matched funding may be required.
The deadline for Stage 1 applications is 23:59 on Wednesday 1 July 2026, with Stage 2 deadlines likely to be scheduled for September 2026. Successful applicants are expected to be notified in December 2026.
Further information, guidance and details about the application process for Funding for Places can be found on the Foundation’s website.