GrantRadar

The Gosling Foundation

The Gosling Foundation grants

The Gosling Foundation (registered charity 326840), a private grant-making foundation set up in 1985 by the late Sir Donald Gosling, funds UK charities, CIOs and CICs in two areas: the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, and youth (young people up to age 21). General applications must be for at least £5,000, are accepted year-round and are for projects rather than core or unrestricted costs. It has given over £100 million since 1985. Sea Cadets have a separate small cadet fund (under £5,000) with June and December deadlines.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
From £5,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Charities, CIOs and CICs registered and working in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, with an annual income under £30 million and at least two years of financial accounts
  • Youth groups (e.g. Sea Cadets, Scouts, Girl Guides, performing arts groups) working with young people up to age 21 are named
  • Units, establishments and ships of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines can also apply; serving personnel based overseas may apply for projects benefiting several personnel
  • Individuals cannot apply
  • The project must cost more than £5,000 (this minimum does not apply to Royal Navy/Royal Marines applicants or Cadet Fund requests)

What it funds

  • Projects supporting the Royal Navy and Royal Marines
  • Youth work for young people up to age 21, such as maritime organisations, physical activity, resilience clubs, challenge schemes and mentoring
  • Youth groups such as Sea Cadets, Scouts, Girl Guides and performing arts groups are named
  • Eligible costs are:
  • Project expenses with a direct impact on beneficiaries
  • Capital work (new buildings, extensions, renovations, recreational areas)
  • Salaries of staff delivering a specific project
  • Equipment and furniture
  • Events that directly benefit grant recipients

Funding is normally for one year; multi-year funding of up to three years is considered only in exceptional circumstances.

Project-specific core cost contributions of about 5% may be considered at the trustees' discretion.

What it will not fund

  • Organisations with an annual income of £30 million or more
  • Charities with fewer than two years of financial accounts
  • Individuals
  • Requests for 100% of project costs (trustees want funds raised from several sources; full funding only occasionally, at their discretion)
  • Core or running costs such as general salaries, rent and utilities
  • Unrestricted funding
  • Professional consultancy fees
  • Health and mental health support
  • Healthcare, hospices, medical research and medical equipment
  • Mainstream educational institutions and NHS facilities
  • Heritage and conservation projects (naval heritage only occasionally, and by solicitation)
  • Churches and religious bodies, unless registered as secular charities with strong evidence of secular activity benefiting a broad section of the community
  • Discriminatory organisations
  • Projects outside the UK

Vehicles are considered case by case, not routinely

Unsuccessful applicants must wait one calendar year before reapplying; previous grant holders must wait two years from receiving funding

How to apply

  1. Read the Funding Criteria and Funding FAQs pages (https://www.thegoslingfoundation.com/funding-criteria, https://www.thegoslingfoundation.com/funding-faqs)
  2. Complete the online eligibility quiz
  3. On the Make an Application page (https://www.thegoslingfoundation.com/make-an-application), choose the right form: Royal Navy & Royal Marines, General, or Sea Cadets
  4. Complete and submit the online application form; you receive an automated acknowledgement
  5. Applications are assessed over about six weeks and you are updated after the trustees' meeting
  6. If successful, allow at least four weeks for payment, and complete a Grant Report Form when the project ends

PDF copies of the RNRM and General application form questions are available to preview

Sea Cadets applications (under £5,000) have deadlines of 30 June and 31 December each year

No individual feedback is given on unsuccessful applications

Have ready

Online application form (General, Royal Navy & Royal Marines, or Sea Cadets)

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