Nuffield to explore different funding options

The Nuffield Foundation is considering alternative routes for funding projects beyond its seven responsive mode programmes, its acting director and head of education Josh Hillman has said.

In an interview with Research Fortnight, Hillman said that the foundation was looking at the possibility of co-funding research centres, granting individual fellowships, and doing more commissioning or tendering of projects in its own or with other funders. At present, most of the foundation’s research funding is awarded in the form of grants to universities and independent research institutes, with a few going to voluntary organisations for practical developments or innovation.

Hillman, who took over from Sharon Witherspoon after her resignation as chief executive in June 2015, says that most of these changes won’t be introduced until the foundation’s incoming chief executive Tim Gardam takes up his duties in September. However, the charity has started doing the preparatory work needed for their implementation, he says.