Charles Lewis Foundation

The Charles Lewis Foundation, a UK-based grant-making charity registered as number 1179185 and established in 2018 (formerly The Lewis Family Trust), is led by trustees Geoffrey Charles Lewis and Della Ann Skeates. Its core mission is to support general charitable purposes through modest grants that deliver significant impact for smaller organisations, prioritising those with annual incomes under £1 million, limited assets, strong volunteer engagement, and low running costs. Emphasising transparency, risk management, and safeguarding, the foundation adopts a distinctive small-impact philanthropy approach, backing grassroots efforts across the UK without an official website—details are accessible via the Charity Commission register.

It funds thematic priorities including animal welfare, elderly people, health (e.g., projects like the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust), local community initiatives, and young people, supporting both charities/voluntary bodies and individuals through specific, impactful projects—new or ongoing—that demonstrate volunteer involvement and lasting benefits. Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities or community groups operating UK-wide, with a strong preference for volunteer-driven, low-cost entities.

Grants typically range from £500 to £10,000, awarded for project-specific needs rather than core costs, capital builds, or statutory duties. Unsolicited applications are accepted on a rolling basis via email or post (contact trustees directly), with decisions at quarterly trustee meetings—submit detailed proposals with budgets, objectives, accounts, and charitable status well in advance. The foundation distinctly avoids larger national charities or well-resourced issues, setting it apart as an ideal partner for modest UK grassroots projects seeking trustee-backed, high-leverage funding.