Charitable Giving
The Vintners’ Foundation
The tradition of charitable giving has been central to the Vintners’ Company since its earliest days. The Company has long taken pride in the generosity of its members and their commitment to supporting those less fortunate than themselves.
The Company’s principal charitable vehicle is the Vintners’ Foundation, which delivers its current policy for charitable giving. This policy focuses on the following areas:
Supporting charities that relieve poverty and homelessness in Greater London, particularly where individuals are disadvantaged by health, education or economic hardship
Supporting charities that address the social impacts of alcohol abuse or misuse
Supporting young people through youth projects and designated educational establishments in London
Supporting a limited number of other charitable causes, as proposed by members of the Company through a Member’s Petition.
Find out more
Explore below the types of charities we support, the impact they make, and how to apply for funding.
To ensure a fair review process, we can only consider applications submitted through an online form that meet our Eligibility Criteria.
Members of the Vintners’ Company are invited to submit a Member’s Petition.
External charities are invited to submit our online application form.
See below for more information.
What we Fund
Grants are awarded by the Vintners’ Foundation Committee, which meets four times a year - typically in March, June, September and November - to review applications for support.
Most grants are made as one-off awards of up to £5,000. From time to time, however, exceptional initiatives may be selected as Favoured Charities, receiving enhanced funding for up to three years.
Discover more below about some of the inspiring causes supported by the Company.
Are you Eligible?
Read our Eligibility Criteria and Frequently Asked Questions below before submitting an application.
Eligibility Criteria
Before applying, please review the information below to see whether your organisation and project align with the Vintners’ Foundation’s priorities.
About the Foundation
The Vintners’ Company has a long tradition of charitable giving.
The Vintners’ Foundation is the Company’s principal vehicle for delivering this support.
We focus our funding on initiatives that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, particularly in Greater London, and especially in inner London.
Our priority areas are:
Relieving poverty and homelessness, particularly where health, education, or financial hardship are contributing factors
Addressing the social effects of alcohol abuse or misuse
Supporting young people through youth projects and designated educational establishments
Other charitable initiatives proposed by members via a Member’s Petition.
Who Can Apply
We welcome applications from organisations that:
Are registered charities, social enterprises, or Community Interest Companies
Operate primarily in Greater London (with a preference for Inner London)
Deliver work aligned with one or more of our focus areas.
Member’s Petitions are encouraged and play an important role in introducing new charities to the Company.
How to Apply
To be considered, applications must:
Be submitted online using the official application form (or Member’s petition)
Clearly describes the project’s objectives and measurable outcomes
Be submitted by the organisation delivering the project (not on behalf of a third party)
Includes a detailed budget amd the most recent audited accounts.
Our Funding Preferences
Preference is given to applications from organisations that:
Are smaller charities, where our funding can have a bigger impact
Are seeking funding for a specific project, rather than core or general costs
Operate within Greater London, particularly Inner London.
What We Do Not Fund
We do not fund:
Volunteer expenses
Marketing materials, literature, or leaflets
Educational grants for individuals.
We do not normally fund organisations that:
Have received funding from us within the past three years (unless invited to reapply)
Promote a particular religion or restrict services based on religion
Have been established less than two years
Have annual income exceeding £10m or reserves covering more than 12 months’ expenditure
Are submitting applications for projects previously declined.
We do not normally fund projects involving:
Medical research or medical equipment
General or emergency appeals
Political projects
Heritage projects
Working taking place outside London, elsewhere in the UK, or overseas.
Important Note
We receive significantly more applications than we are able to support.
Meeting the elibility criteria does not guarantee funding, but ensures your application will be fully considered.
FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
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Grants are normally made up to £5,000.
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Applications are encouraged from registered charities working within Greater London and preferably Inner London which are concerned with the following: the relief of the poor and homeless who are disadvantaged by reasons of health, education or poverty; alleviation of the social effects of alcohol abuse/misuse; and the support of young people, youth projects and designated educational establishments.
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There are no application deadlines. You can submit an application at any time, but we would not recommend applications for time-critical projects.
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We regret we cannot consider applications for funding which do not meet the Eligibility criteria [include link]
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If three years have passed since the completion of your last successful grant application, you are free to submit another proposal which will be considered on its own merits. However, we cannot guarantee any additional applications will be successful.
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Once you submit your application, you will receive an acknowledgement email.
Your application is assessed by the Charities Secretary and you may be asked for further details.
If your application meets the criteria, this will then be referred to the Vintners’ Foundation Committee for consideration. At this stage the Committee may seek additional information and request a visit before making a decision.
We cannot guarantee your application will be considered at the next Committee meeting following receipt of your application. This will depend on the number of petitions to be considered. Your application therefore may not be considered by the committee for several weeks, or even months.
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Sadly we do not have the resources to provide individual feedback. Common reasons for an application being unsuccessful are:
The application does not meet our basic eligibility criteria
The beneficiaries of the organisation do not fall within our programme areas.
An organisation with over £10 million income per annum
We are not confident of the organisation’s financial position.
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The Vintners’ Foundation has a small team and we regret we are unable to provide detailed guidance and advice. The guidance and information on the website, including our Eligibility criteria and Frequently Asked Questions should help you to determine whether your organisation is eligible to apply.
If you have read all of the guidelines and the FAQs, and you still have a specific question that is not covered on the website, please contact the Charities Secretary.
Apply For A Grant
Have you read our Elibigility Criteria?
Have you read the FAQs?
Complete the application form and submit.
Assessment Timeline
What’s matters most is having a real impact.
Stories from the Charities
Shiv’s Story
Shiv struggled with addiction before joining the Outside Edge Theatre Company, which has been supported by the Vintners’ Foundation as a Favoured Charity for four years. While detoxing at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for 10 days, Shiv was visited by the theatre company, which creates productions with people affected by substance misuse.
Having never been to a theatre, and never imagined himself as an actor, Shiv decided to attend his first workshop.
“It was really outside my comfort zone. It felt a bit strange playing games and drama-based activities. But those two hours were like an escape... You're being creative, you're having fun and you're learning new things.”
Shiv continued attending workshops and was soon offered a role in a play written by the company’s founder. Ten years later, his journey has come full circle: Shiv is now a facilitator at Outside Edge and an NHS Recovery Day Programme Manager.
His story is a testament to how creativity, opportunity, and support can transform lives.
Keith’s Story
Keith joined the Nehemiah Project, an abstinence-based residential programme supported by the Vintners’ Foundation as a Favoured Charity for three years.
Keith’s early life was marked by tragedy at just two yearas old, when his mother tragically passed away. Despite this, he still thrived at school, completed his A Levels, built a successful business, married, and started a family. However, the unexpected death of his father proved a turning point. Substance misuse took hold, leading to the loss of his family and business, and resulting in multiple prison sentences.
Determined to rebuild his life, Keith approached Nehemiah with a positive mindset and commitment to change. During the programme, he completed his recovery, secured full-time employment with Network Rail, was baptised, and gave back by supporting other residents, running Alcoholics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous meetings.
Today, Keith has restarted his business, employs others, and thrives in his own home, proof of the power of determination, structured support, and opportunity.
Tom’s Story
For the past five years, the Company has supported London Youth Rowing’s Alternative Provision Programme, which offers young people at risk of school exclusion the chance to take part in rowing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding.
Kieran Langridge, Inclusion Lead at London Youth Rowing, shares Tom’s* story:
Tom first joined London Youth Rowing through the Active Row programme at his previous school and was eager to rejoin through the Alternative Provision programme at Cavendish.
Full of energy and charisma, Tom has flourished with the structure that rowing brings. Even limited access to rowing machines at school has given him a positive outlet for his determination and confidence. Fiercely competitive, Tom and his friends formed a squad, motivating each other to achieve personal bests and prepare for the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships.
Tom’s personality also shone in the Sky Sports documentary Aquaphobia, where he spoke about teamwork and resilience. Aspiring to become a musician, Tom has developed transferable skills through rowing that will support his ambitions.
*Name has been changed to protect privacy.
Ella’s Story
Ella, a Year 9 student from London, joined the Envision Programme, funded by the Vintners’ Foundation as a Favoured Charity, to grow her confidence in public speaking and strengthen her CV, which already includes the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
At the programme launch, Ella felt nervous speaking in front of others. With guidance and support from mentors, she gradually gained confidence. Their advice, especially during her pitch at the office, helped her develop public speaking skills that she plans to carry forward into the future.
“I was able to join debate club because I had the confidence in my public speaking and leadership skills from doing Envision!”
— Ella, Envision Graduate
The Envision team adds:
“Everyone at Envision would like to say a huge thank you to the Vintners’ Company for all your support over the last year. By getting involved, you are helping to build a society where a young person’s background doesn’t determine their future.”
*Name has been changed to protect privacy.
Annual Donations
Each year the Company also donates to the following organisations and initiatives as part of its close ties with swans, affiliated organisations and its civic duty within the City of London:
History
Charity and education have always been at the heart of the guilds and Livery Companies. One of the earliest charitable acts of the guilds was to care for members in sickness and old age.
By the early fifteenth century, the Vintners’ Company had established the “thirteen little mansions” on the site of the Hall, providing homes for poor and needy men of the trade. These were destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and rebuilt at Mile End, only to be lost again during the Blitz in 1941.
After the war, new homes were constructed at Nutley in Sussex. In 1997, Nutley was sold, and the proceeds were used to build bungalows at The Benevolent’s ‘Vintry Homes’ site in Eastbourne, which were sold in 2013. This marked the end of nearly 600 years of Vintner involvement in almshouses, reflecting a long-standing commitment to caring for those in need.
Supporting the Vintners’ Foundation
🎁Annual Christmas Present Wrapping Day
Now in its second decade, this beloved tradition sees our members help the Salvation Army bring festive cheer to children and families in need.
Donations from members allow us to purchase gifts, which are then wrapped on the day, turning a single appeal into a joyful Company tradition.
Charitable Giving
We focus on:
Relief for the poor and homeless in Greater London, particularly those disadvantaged by health, education, or poverty
Addressing the social effects of alcohol misuse
Supporting young people through education, youth projects, and designated schools
Other charitable initiatives proposed by members of the Company.
Charity has been at the heart of the Vintners’ Company for centuries.
Our members have long supported those less fortunate, and today the Vintners’ Foundation continues that tradition.
Get Involved
Make a difference beyond donations.
Members can volunteer, attend events, and see first-hand the impact of the Foundation’s work.
Volunteer Days
“The Volunteer Day was a fantastic way to get hands-on and see the charities we support in action. I’d recommend it to any member.”
— Liveryman Ben Gibbon
Charity Visits & Events
Attend charity-hosted events or project visits.
Opportunities are highlighted in the Vintners’ Company
monthly E-Swan newsletter sent to all members.
Make a difference
Even small regular donations can make a huge difference when
combined with the generosity of our members.
Donate to the Vintner’s Foundation
Your support helps the Vintners’ Foundation change lives by funding charities and projects that make a real difference. Whether you are a member of the Company or the public, every donation - large or small - has a lasting impact. Thank You.
Members of the Vintners’ Company
Members can support the Foundation through:
Regular donations by Direct Debit
One-off donations
Members of the Public
We warmly welcome one-off donations via our Justgiving page.
Leave a Legacy
Create lasting impact by including the Vintners’ Foundation in your Will.
It’s simple to add a sentence or codicil:
Charity details: The Vintners’ Foundation Vintners’ Hall, 68 Upper Thames Street, LONDON EC4V 3BG Charity number: 1015212
Legacy options:
Residuary gift: A proportion of your estate
Pecuniary gift: A fixed amount
Specific gift: Property or investments
Tax benefits: Reduces Inheritance Tax liability. Charitable gifts of 10% or more can lower the rate from 40% to 36%, leaving more to loved ones while supporting charity.
Vintners’ Foundation’s Charity number: 1015212