History

History

The Wolfson Foundation was established in 1955. Sir Isaac Wolfson, his wife, Edith, and their son, Leonard were the charity’s founder trustees.

Leonard (later Lord Wolfson of Marylebone) became Chairman in 1972 and served until his death in 2010. His daughter, Dame Janet Wolfson de Botton, has been Chairman since 2010.

Sir Isaac Wolfson was Chairman of Great Universal Stores, a group of companies including clothing and furniture manufacturers, retail chains and mail-order businesses. The Foundation’s investments were initially based on Great Universal Stores shares, until they were diversified in the 1990s.

Since 1955, we have awarded over £1 billion in grants (£2 billion in real terms) to more than 14,000 projects all over the UK, from Cornwall to the Shetland Islands.

Continuing the tradition

Our priorities must and do adapt to changing circumstances. But our history is important to us, and many of the Foundation’s underlying principles and values date back to the early years. While the Trust Deed was defined in broad terms, by 1960 the trustees had identified key areas for funding including medical research and health, education, and science and technology. These are still key areas for us today, alongside investment in heritage, humanities and the arts.

One of the early aims of the Foundation was to create a Board of trustees ‘of wide experience and enjoying public confidence.’ As well as the three founding family members,  the first trustees were eminent academics from a variety of spheres. Our Board continues to maintain a balance of family members and independent, often academic, experts.

Four themes that drive us

Four factors have influenced our grant-making since the 1950s. Firstly, we have always aimed to set the highest standards. We value excellence and support infrastructure that allows it to flourish.

Secondly, we have always aimed to identify important areas that are under-funded.

We also like to see Wolfson funds being used as a catalyst, so that the Foundation’s funding can be a source of additional support from other areas.

Lastly, we value collaboration. We look to create fruitful partnerships with other funders or expert bodies in all our areas of activity.

Read more about our history in this publication for our 60th anniversary in 2015.

Our historic archive is professionally managed by the Royal Society and is freely available to researchers.