Racing Foundation grants
Racing Foundation funds UK charities and voluntary bodies whose work benefits the Thoroughbred horseracing and breeding industry, through Small Grants (up to £30,000) and Open Grants (£30,000 and above).
Guidance last checked 22 July 2026· from the funder’s own website
Overview
Racing Foundation funds organisations whose charitable activities are associated with the UK Thoroughbred horseracing and breeding industries. Its register objects also mention equine welfare, but its published guidance requires work to deliver benefits associated with the UK horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industry specifically. The Foundation lists three types of grant, of which the two named in its published range are Small Grants, up to £30,000, and Open Grants, £30,000 and upwards — check its grants programme page for the third. It does not fund work that fails to deliver benefits to the UK horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industry, retrospective funding for work already carried out, or grants to individuals or causes that benefit only one person. It runs a three-stage application process three times a year, but does not publish the detail of what the opening stage involves.
What they fund
Racing Foundation funds work benefiting the UK Thoroughbred horseracing and breeding industries, through Small Grants (up to £30,000), Open Grants (£30,000+) and a third grant type detailed on its website.
Who and where
It funds organisations, not individuals, across England, Scotland and Wales, whose work is associated with the horseracing and breeding industry.
Who they help
Where they fund
What Racing Foundation says in its own guidance
Quoted directly from the funder’s own website, with a link to the page each quote came from. Always the most current word is theirs — check the source before you apply.
Who they say they'll fund
“consider applications from organisations whose charitable activities are associated with the UK Thoroughbred horseracing and breeding industries for projects”
Source: racingfoundation.co.uk — 1 - What we will fund | Racing Foundation →
What they say they won't fund
“Work that does not deliver benefits associated with the UK horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industry.”
Source: racingfoundation.co.uk — 2. What We Don't Fund | Racing Foundation →
“Retrospective funding, meaning support for work that has already taken place.”
Source: racingfoundation.co.uk →
“Grants to individuals or to causes that will benefit one person.”
Source: racingfoundation.co.uk — 2. What We Don't Fund | Racing Foundation →
Grant sizes they mention
“Three types of grants are offered: SMALL GRANTS Up to £30,000 OPEN GRANTS £30,000 Upwards”
Source: racingfoundation.co.uk — Our Grants Programme | Racing Foundation →
How they say to apply
“The Racing Foundation operates a structured three-stage application process, three times a year.”
Source: racingfoundation.co.uk — 3 - The application process (inc. deadlines) | Racing Foundation →
Their charitable objects
As registered with the Charity Commission (their formal purposes):
The object of the charity is the advancement for the public benefit of any charitable purpose associated with the horse racing and thoroughbred breeding industry or with equine welfare, in each case by making grants for such charitable purpose or purposes.
How to approach them
Start with the official sources — they’re always more current than any directory, including this one.
Common questions
How much does it give?
It offers Small Grants of up to £30,000, and Open Grants of £30,000 and upwards. The Foundation lists a third type of grant on its grants programme page, without stating its size.
What does it fund?
Charitable activities associated with the UK Thoroughbred horseracing and breeding industries.
What won't it fund?
Work that does not deliver benefits associated with the UK horseracing and Thoroughbred breeding industry, retrospective funding for work already carried out, or grants to individuals or causes benefiting only one person.
Who can apply?
Organisations — it does not make grants to individuals.
How do I apply?
Racing Foundation runs a three-stage application process three times a year, though it does not publish what the opening stage involves. Check the funder's own website (www.racingfoundation.co.uk) for current deadlines, and its Charity Commission entry (charity number 1145297), as processes can change.
Is your charity a fit for Racing Foundation?
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Contains public sector information from the Charity Commission for England and Wales licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and grants data from 360Giving used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Figures are derived (filtered and summarised by TrusteeMeetings), not republished unchanged. About the data · Terms of use. This page is a starting point for your own research, not a promise of funding, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with Racing Foundation.