Exeter Chiefs Foundation

The Exeter Chiefs Foundation, established in 2011 by Exeter Rugby Club executives and local business leaders including Chairman Tony Rowe CBE, is an independent charity acting as a civic trust to enhance the prosperity and pride of Greater Exeter communities. Born from the club's community outreach, it formalizes strategic fundraising—leveraging match-day collections, Christmas lunches, and charity walks—to deliver transparent, tangible investments that strengthen the social fabric through repeated, community-wide benefits. Its values emphasize grassroots engagement, visible impact, and collective action for lasting local change.

It prioritizes capital projects providing physical assets like building renovations, play equipment, IT suites, minibuses, boats, community kitchens, and specialist access equipment, supporting causes such as poverty relief, education and training, care for the elderly/sick/infirm, aid for disadvantaged children/families, and promotion of physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual well-being. Funding targets practical, reusable resources that benefit many, favoring self-funded, altruistic local charities and community groups over one-off events or salaries.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities or community groups based strictly in Greater Exeter, East Devon, or Mid Devon, with a preference for small to medium-sized, grassroots organizations; it excludes educational establishments, PTAs, national charities, and individual challenges/sponsorships. Unsolicited applications are accepted year-round via emailed forms from the website (enquiries@exeterfoundation.org.uk), reviewed at bi-monthly trustee meetings with decisions in up to two months. Typical grants range £1,000–£25,000 (averaging £2,000–£10,000), with occasional larger awards for exceptional projects; separate deadlines apply for match-day designated status (e.g., 31 May 2025).