New Million Pound Fund To Support Good Causes in Kent

Kent Community Foundation is delighted to announce that applications are now open for grants from the new Charles Burnett III Memorial Fund.

The Fund, in memory of Charles Burnett a generous philanthropist who lived near Lymington in Hampshire will support small grassroots charities across Kent and Medway for the next ten years.

Natalie Smith, Director of Grants and Impact, Kent Community Foundation said, “Kent Community Foundation is delighted to have been asked to administer the new Charles Burnett III Memorial Fund which will deliver £1m to good causes across the county over the next ten years. The Fund is open now for applications from organisations across the county, although applications from coastal communities are particularly welcome.”

The Charles Burnett III Memorial Fund has been established by the family of the late Charles Burnett III, to support grassroots projects in Kent and Medway. As well as being the land-speed record holder for a steam-powered car and class II offshore power boat champion between 1993 and 1996, Charles was also an enthusiastic philanthropist, supporting many worthwhile causes during his lifetime. This new £1 million fund will continue his charitable legacy, meeting the needs of future generations and providing a lasting memorial in Charles’s name.

The Charles Burnett III Memorial Fund will support small charities and community groups who work with, service personnel welfare, the environment, heritage, education (particularly engineering/technology), or offer support to those with neurodiversity.

Applications are open until 6 February 2023, for grants to cover capital, core or service delivery costs and we plan to award one grant of up to £25k, three grants up to £15K and five or six smaller grants up to £5K in the first year.

Organisations who wish to make applications for grants over £5,000 from The Charles Burnett III Memorial Fund, should email natalie@kentcf.org.uk in the first instance, as should those with a live annual application wishing to be considered for this fund. Those seeking up to £5K and without an annual application can apply through our Themed Programmes application form - please choose which area of need your service or project best fits in to; Children, Young People and Families, Elderly and Isolated, Vulnerable Adults, Employability and Enterprise or Environmental. You will find the form here.