Balance Charitable Foundation announces initial grantmaking focus
Howard Lake | 22 March 2005 | News
The Balance Charitable Foundation, the unclaimed financial assets charity, will initially focus its grant making on providing assistance to disadvantaged and vulnerable older people, particularly over the age of 75.
The Balance Charitable Foundation (for Unclaimed Assets) was established in December 2003 and works in partnership with financial institutions to release the unclaimed assets they hold and to transfer those funds to benefit society by making grants to relevant charities.
Following consultation with leading charities, the over-75’s have been identified as a priority for the first two years, not only because of the well documented need of support by large sections of the UK’s ageing population but also because the BCF’s funds will come partly from assets unclaimed by older people or the deceased.
Advertisement
The Foundation’s grant-making programme will encourage innovation and new approaches, with grants made over a longer period of time than is common in the charitable sector.
In addition to funding practical support projects, the Foundation says that it will separately consider supporting other work which also combats disadvantage, for example child poverty, debt counselling, and volunteering. The BCF intends to lead a national initiative on one of these issues to which financial institutions will be encouraged to contribute as partners, both in expertise as members of the steering group, as well as through funding. The Foundation will consult with the voluntary sector and with financial institutions about this.
The exact level of funds available is not yet clear, but the Foundation expects to award its first round of grants at the end of 2005, with two further rounds in 2006. Each grant will be for £50,000 up to a ceiling figure shortly to be agreed by the trustees.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.