The Waterloo Foundation grants: what they fund and how to apply
The Waterloo Foundation is an independent, Cardiff-based grant-maker that funds work in Wales and internationally. It runs four main programmes — World Development, Environment, Child Development and Wales — with grants from around £5,000 for small Welsh projects up to £150,000 in total for international and environmental work. You apply by email, with no application form.
What the Waterloo Foundation funds
The Foundation supports projects that address global inequalities in opportunity and wealth, and that tackle the unsustainable use of the world’s natural resources. It does this through four main programmes:
- World Development — sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, education, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in developing countries.
- Environment — countering environmental damage, focused on increasing marine fish stocks and protecting tropical rainforests.
- Child Development — research, dissemination, and small Wales-based intervention projects on certain child development conditions (its “One Brain” vision).
- Wales — organisations in Wales working with unpaid carers, on equity in education, or on pathways out of poverty.
How much you can apply for
Grant sizes vary by programme:
- Wales: typically £5,000 to £30,000.
- World Development: Main Grants (SRH and Nutrition) are usually up to £100,000 in total over two to three years; Small Grants are usually up to £10,000 in total over two to three years.
- Environment: typically £100,000 to £150,000 in total, spread over multiple years.
- Child Development: varies by research call and project type.
Who can apply
The Foundation funds charitable organisations whose work fits one of its programmes and geographies. The Wales programme is for organisations working in Wales, and Child Development interventions are also Wales-based, while World Development and Environment fund work internationally (overseas applicants usually need references). This is not a general UK grant-maker — your work must match a specific programme and place, so read the relevant guidance before you apply.
Deadlines and rounds
Deadlines depend on the programme. Environment – Marine accepts applications by 1 March and 1 September each year; Environment – Tropical Rainforests by 1 June and 1 November; and Child Development research runs to specific “active call” deadlines. Wales runs on a rolling basis, and World Development follows its own guidance rather than fixed twice-yearly dates. Always check the current deadline for your programme on the Foundation’s website. (Environment deadlines verified 10 Jul 2026 — re-confirm the exact round at publish.)
How to apply
- Identify the single programme your work fits, and read its application guidelines.
- Write a concise proposal — around two to three sides of A4 — following that guidance.
- Send it in the body of an email to applications@waterloofoundation.org.uk (there is no application form).
Start with the guidance here: waterloofoundation.org.uk. Note the Foundation only emails from addresses ending “@waterloofoundation.org.uk” and never texts applicants — useful to know for spotting scams.
Tips
- Match your proposal to one specific programme — a general application that doesn’t fit World Development, Environment, Child Development or Wales will not succeed.
- Keep it short: the Foundation asks for roughly two to three sides of A4 in the email body.
- For small Welsh charities, the Wales programme (£1,000–£10,000) is the most accessible route.
- International applicants: line up references early, as overseas proposals usually need them.
Official source and last updated
Source: The Waterloo Foundation website (waterloofoundation.org.uk), programme and general guidelines pages, checked 10 July 2026. Last updated: July 2026. Confirm amounts and deadlines on the relevant programme page before applying.
Recent grants
[Placeholder — the theme renders recent grants from 360Giving where available. The Foundation lists examples of organisations and projects supported on its own website.]
Similar funders
[The theme auto-lists similar funders. For Welsh funding you may point to the Moondance Foundation (confirmed real, active Wales grant-maker, charity no. 1139224, verified 10 Jul 2026) and community foundations in Wales; for environment/development, other thematic funders.]
Check if your charity is eligible for funders like this — CharityIQ’s free Grant Finder matches your charity to real, published UK funders and cites the source for each. → /grant-finder/
Frequently asked questions
It funds work in four areas. World Development supports sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, education, and water, sanitation and hygiene in developing countries. Environment funds marine conservation and the protection of tropical rainforests. Child Development supports research and small Wales-based projects on certain child development conditions. The Wales programme funds unpaid carers, equity in education and pathways out of poverty.
It depends on the programme. Wales grants typically range from £5,000 to £30,000. In World Development, Main Grants (SRH and Nutrition) are usually up to £100,000 in total over two to three years, and Small Grants are usually up to £10,000 in total over two to three years. Environment grants are typically £100,000 to £150,000 in total, spread over multiple years. Child Development amounts vary by call.
Charitable organisations whose work fits one of its programmes. The Wales programme is for organisations working in Wales; Child Development interventions are also Wales-based; World Development and Environment fund work internationally (overseas applicants usually need references). This is not a general UK funder — your work must fit a specific programme and geography, so check the guidance before applying.
Some programmes have fixed deadlines and others do not. Environment – Marine has deadlines of 1 March and 1 September; Environment – Tropical Rainforests, 1 June and 1 November; and Child Development research has specific call deadlines. The Wales and World Development programmes follow their own guidance. Always check the deadline for your specific programme on the Foundation's website before applying.
There is no application form. You apply by email to applications@waterloofoundation.org.uk, sending a written proposal of around two to three sides of A4 in the body of the email, following the guidance for your programme. Read that programme's application guidelines first so your proposal answers what the Foundation needs. Keep it concise and matched to one programme.