FfWG is an educational charity whose objective is to promote ‘the advancement of education and promotion of higher education and wider learning of women graduates’ by providing grants specifically for living expenses to Women during their postgraduate studies in Great Britain, with the aim of positively impacting their future career and our society as a whole.
The BFWG Charitable Foundation has a long-standing and close association with the British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG), with which its history is closely entwined. Until December 2025, the Charity was a subsidiary of the British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG). However, in December 2025 the Charity Commission approved BFWG Charitable Foundation’s conversion to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). While the two organisations now operate separately, they share a common commitment to supporting and promoting women in higher education and research. BFWG also supports women researchers through its own programme of Scholarships (Academic Awards) for those in the final stages of a PhD or undertaking postdoctoral work.
The BFWG Charitable Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered charity no. 312903. It carries out its work under the trading name Funds for Women Graduates (FfWG), which has been used since 2006 to provide a clear and distinct public identity.
Although independent, the Charity maintains a close and positive relationship with BFWG. BFWG is the sole member of the CIO and plays a role in governance by appointing up to three trustees. The majority of trustees are independently appointed, and the Charity is governed by its own Board, which is responsible for its strategy, funding decisions, and operations.
BFWG, founded in 1907, is a leading Graduate Women’s Organisation in England and Wales. It is part of a large International Graduate Community In a spirit of friendship it brings women of all generations together – locally, nationally and internationally; our vision is to build a better life for women in and through education.
Find out more about our connection with BFWG
“The grant came at a point when the isolation of late-stage PhD work can feel overwhelming, and the recognition from a foundation dedicated to supporting women’s academic achievement was genuinely encouraging.”
Wei Liu
University of Aberdeen 2026