Hilden Charitable Fund

The Hilden Charitable Fund, an endowed grant-making foundation established in 1963 by Anthony and Joan Rampton, is rooted in a family ethos of social justice, aiming to tackle disadvantage and marginalisation by supporting under-represented groups overlooked by statutory funding. Its mission emphasises enabling opportunity, dignity, and participation for those facing inequality, guided by principles of fairness, frontline community engagement, and addressing root causes through reflective, grantee-informed practices. Distinctively trust-based, it champions smaller, under-resourced charities exemplifying social justice values, offering flexible unrestricted and core funding.

Primarily funding asylum seekers and refugees (integration, advocacy, support), penal affairs (people in criminal justice and families), and rolling international programmes in Malawi, Tanzania, or Uganda (one country/year; poverty reduction, rights-based empowerment for girls, women, disabled, and Deaf communities). It prioritises direct beneficiary work over policy or intermediaries, favouring organisations with lived experience involvement and strong service user ties.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, CIOs, or charitable companies (preference outside Greater London) with annual income typically under £200,000 (or 3-year average), at least one year of independently examined accounts, safeguarding policies, and a funder referee; overseas applicants must be locally led with registration docs. Excludes individuals, statutory bodies, large nationals, and non-priority work.

Grants range £5,000–£7,000/year (up to two years), via single-stage online forms during open windows (e.g., 10am 16 July–3pm 21 August 2025 for UK; check site for next). No rolling applications; decisions within 12 weeks. Unique for its focus on unmet needs in systemic exclusion, core capacity support, and small-org empowerment.