One hundred years ago, Joseph Rowntree transferred a substantial part of his wealth into three trusts bearing his name.

A Quaker as well as a successful businessman, Joseph Rowntree wanted his money to be used to tackle the root causes of social problems, rather than treating their symptoms. In his 'founder's memorandum', he saw it as a continuing objective of the three trusts:

“ … to search out the under-lying causes of weakness or evil in the community, rather than of remedying their more superficial manifestations … ”

A century later, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation is a leading funder of social research and development work in the UK. It remains faithful to Joseph's vision of social improvement not just through understanding the underlying causes of problems but also through working to bring about change. It is also responsible for the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust. (The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Ltd also mark their centenaries in 2004. The three bodies are entirely independent of each other.)

“I hope that … these trusts may be living bodies, free to adapt themselves to the ever-changing necessities of the nation … ”

Learn more about the Foundation's history:

• a timeline of key events
• an overview of how the Foundation's work has developed through the century in six key areas: communities, poverty, homes, families, care and disability.

“If the enormous volume of the philanthropy of the present day were wisely directed it would, I believe, in the course of a few years change the face of England.”

Today's priorities still reflect Joseph Rowntree's interest in tackling disadvantage and providing better homes and neighbourhoods. There is always much more to be done. The existence in contemporary Britain of a substantial minority whose relative poverty excludes them from the prosperity and opportunities enjoyed by the majority demonstrates the continuing relevance of Joseph's vision. It remains a spur to finding new solutions in the search for social justice just as it was a century ago.

Searching out underlying causes

The research and development programme focuses on the core areas of 'poverty' and 'place'. A Poverty and Disadvantage Committee oversees work on social deprivation. Its counterpart overseeing 'place' issues is a Housing and Neighbourhoods Committee. These are permanent committees. In addition, Single Programme Committees examine specific themes for set periods. A Practice and Research Committee supervises work linked to the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust. Find out more about our current research priorities.

Bringing about change

“ … there may be no better way of advancing the objects one has at heart than to strengthen the hands of those who are effectively doing the work that needs to be done … ”

Concise project summaries (Findings), publications, press releases, launch events, roadshows, seminars and direct mailing ensure that research messages reach those who most need to hear them.

A Policy and Practice Development (PPD) department takes forward research messages and commissions further work that can enable real change to be achieved.

“I do not want to establish communities bearing the stamp of charity but rather of rightly ordered and self-governing communities.”

All of the quotations above are by Joseph Rowntree, many of them are from his founder's memorandum.