Olwyn Foundation

The Olwyn Foundation, a UK-registered charitable incorporated organisation established in 2018 by feminist philanthropist Samantha Rowe-Beddoe alongside trustees Patricia Jane Green and Samantha Victoria Merry, is dedicated to empowering, educating, and protecting women and girls in the UK and globally. Rooted in social justice, gender equality, and tangible impact, it addresses the neglect of gender-based violence and disparity by mainstream funders through flexible, trust-based grantmaking to frontline organisations. Its feminist ethos bridges concern with action, prioritising small, grassroots, often female-founded groups overlooked by traditional streams, with over £1.2 million awarded across 20 countries since inception.

Olwyn funds initiatives ending gender-based violence, advancing gender equality, and supporting women's and girls' empowerment, education, and protection—such as FGM cessation campaigns, domestic abuse law reform to decriminalise survivors, rehousing homeless women, and youth-focused sex and relationships education. It backs direct services, advocacy, campaigns, capacity building, and structural interventions for intersectionally disadvantaged beneficiaries, including those facing violence, social exclusion, or youth vulnerabilities, via UK (England/Wales) and international partners like Tender, Centre for Women’s Justice, and Fumble.

Eligible entities are small charities (typically under £1M income) with proven impact; no geographic restrictions apply, but large NGOs are deprioritised. Grants to organisations only (not individuals) range £20,000–£50,000 (up to £100,000), mixing project, core, unrestricted, and multi-year funding. Invite-only: no unsolicited applications, deadlines, or forms—trustees select and approach partners ad hoc. Distinctively, Olwyn avoids conservative or non-women/girls-focused work, excelling in progressive, high-impact partnerships that tackle root causes alongside symptoms through convening and resource-sharing.