Brownsword Charitable Foundation

The Brownsword Charitable Foundation, established in July 1992 by Andrew Douglas Brownsword, is an independent UK grant-making charity with a core mission to enhance quality of life and wellbeing, primarily in Bath and North East Somerset, through trustee-discretionary grants to suitable organisations. Guided by values of community, compassion, and public benefit, it emphasises positive change via qualitative judgement, fostering long-term relationships with grantees and focusing on local civic, cultural, health, and educational infrastructure in a quiet, private giving style.

It prioritises thematic areas including children and young people, arts and culture, elderly care, community and neighbourhood work, physical and learning disabilities, educational projects, and medical initiatives. Funding supports core activities, capital projects, and outreach efforts for grassroots charities and established cultural organisations delivering tangible public benefit, such as youth development, arts access, and neighbourhood renewal—exemplified by grants to Bath City Farm and Bath Abbey—while occasionally extending to UK national or international causes.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities based in Bath and North East Somerset, favouring small to medium-sized entities with proven track records and trustee connections; no income thresholds apply, but preferences lean toward local impact players. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—organisations must be invited—with trustees meeting ad hoc to make unanimous decisions, no deadlines or formal processes.

Typical grants range from £5,000 to £100,000, scaling to six figures for major capital works, without restrictions on project-only funding but avoiding thematic rounds. Distinctive for its family-rooted, hyper-local intensity, conservative governance, and aversion to public calls, it suits established Bath-aligned charities in arts, youth, community wellbeing, elderly services, or disabilities.