The Racing Foundation

Racing Foundation Small and Open Grants

The Racing Foundation funds charitable projects that directly benefit the UK horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industry: its people (welfare, health, poverty relief, education and training, diversity), equine welfare, and environmental, social and governance work. Small Grants go up to £30,000 and Open Grants from £30,000 upwards. Applications go through a three-stage process (online expression of interest, a fuller second-stage form, then a trustee decision) in three rounds a year. Applications that miss a deadline are carried forward to the next round.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £30,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Heavy; budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

Charities, meaning institutions established for exclusively charitable purposes: charities registered in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, unregistered charities with annual income under £5,000, and charities regulated by another body such as universities, higher education corporations, registered Industrial and Provident Societies and Friendly Societies
Non-charitable organisations can also apply if the project has a defined charitable purpose associated with the Thoroughbred horseracing and breeding industries
Most grants go to organisations whose objects are directly associated with the industry; others may be funded where the work is exceptional and directly benefits industry participants
The Foundation considers an applicant's ability to self-fund, including its reserves
Applications are expected to align with industry strategies where they exist, and social impact and community engagement applicants should read the Foundation's guidance notes on British Racing's Social Impact Strategy

What it funds

Charitable projects associated with the UK Thoroughbred horseracing and breeding industries that fit the Foundation's strategy, in three areas:

Racing's People: the health or rehabilitation from injury of current or former members of the horseracing industry; prevention or relief of poverty among them and their dependents; community development in areas particularly connected with horseracing (where it benefits current or former industry members); education and training connected with horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding; and the industry's diversity and inclusion agenda
Equine Welfare: improving the welfare of current or former Thoroughbred racehorses, including safety, traceability, aftercare and equine science research
ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance): engaging new and diverse audiences; promoting diversity and inclusion; racing-related activities with positive impact on local communities where the sport operates; environmental awareness and sustainability; bringing parties together to work on solutions; and capability and capacity building such as transferable templates and generic resources
Project costs, research costs and capital projects, including overheads and staff salaries
Core costs, where they will have a positive long-term impact on the organisation or industry
Items of equipment under the Small Grants Programme (up to £30,000) where welfare-related need and impact can be demonstrated
Innovative or risky projects with the potential to achieve a substantial impact
Joint applications from organisations working in collaboration

research must be commissioned and managed by the relevant industry stakeholder, who holds the grant, rather than by the academic institution. Equine science research grants follow a separate process administered by the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

What it will not fund

Work that does not deliver benefits associated with the UK horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industry
Grants to individuals or to causes that will benefit one person
Long-term grants towards staffing costs primarily associated with fundraising
The promotion of religion
Work that addresses gambling addiction, unless specifically focussed on participants within the horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industry
Retrospective funding (work that has already taken place)
Work that does not have a charitable purpose
Basic stable management equipment
Large capital development or facility improvement projects where the applicant does not own the premises
General appeals or mail shots

How to apply

Read the guidance notes and the grant applications privacy notice
Stage 1: complete the short online expression of interest with basic applicant information, your most recent audited accounts and a project overview of no more than two pages (Word) covering what you want funded, the need, the difference it will make, fit with industry strategies, total cost, match funding and the amount requested
Stage 2: if successful at Stage 1, complete the more detailed second-stage form emailed to you, with specific questions, a detailed budget and supporting documents; the Grants Manager contacts small grant applicants, and arranges a meeting or call for requests over £30,000
Stage 3: the Small Grants Committee or the Board of Trustees decides at its scheduled meeting, and you are told the outcome within two weeks

there are three funding rounds a year; the 2026 first-stage deadlines were 30 January, 5 May and 21 August, and applications received after a deadline are carried forward to the next round. Trustees will not accept personal approaches in support of an application.

equine science research grants are applied for through the Horserace Betting Levy Board's system, not this process.

Have ready

Most recent audited accounts
A project overview of no more than two pages, as a Word document
A detailed budget breakdown of costs and supporting documents (second stage)

applicants may be asked for a business plan and fundraising strategy for the project and the charity as a whole, and for endorsement from relevant industry organisations at second stage.

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