Cantiacorum Foundation

Cantiacorum Foundation, established on 1st April 2011 by the late Donald Beerling MBE and Mrs Poppy Beerling, is an independent charitable funder dedicated to perpetuating their vision of supporting a broad spectrum of charitable causes exclusively within the historic County of Kent and Medway. With a philanthropic ethos emphasizing inclusivity, responsiveness, and local impact, it provides financial support to individuals in need, charities, and voluntary organizations, governed by unremunerated trustees committed to fairness and timeliness.

The Foundation funds general charitable purposes with a generalist approach, prioritizing children and young people, elderly individuals, people with disabilities, other charities/voluntary bodies, and the wider community. Supported activities include health and wellbeing projects, care enhancements, equipment purchases, music therapy, community initiatives, and aid for those facing disadvantage, as seen in grants to Pilgrims Hospices, Kent MS Therapy Centre, and Frindsbury House. Grant types encompass project funding, core costs, and capital, with no thematic restrictions beyond charitable benefit.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities, community groups, and individuals operating strictly in Kent and Medway; there are no income thresholds, enabling support for grassroots to established entities, and unsolicited applications are welcomed. Submit a completed paper application form by post (no online/email), with supporting evidence; urgent cases may be considered between quarterly Trustees' Meetings. The next deadline is 10th January 2026 for the 24th January meeting, with decisions communicated shortly after. Typical grants range from a few hundred to several thousand pounds, based on need and impact.

Distinctive for its strict geographic focus, openness to new applicants, and flexibility for one-off or ongoing needs, the Foundation stands out as a responsive local grantmaker with no religious restrictions or exclusions on grant uses, ideal for Kent-based groups demonstrating clear community benefit.