William Grant had a vision to make the best dram in the valley. Assisted by his wife Elizabeth, their seven sons and two daughters, he built the Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown, Scotland. The first drop of spirit flowed through its stills on Christmas Day, 1887.
William Grant & Sons is now a global business but remains wholly family-owned. Guided by the independent spirit of its founder, it brings a pioneering approach to building brands that are loved the world over.
William Grant played an active role in community life in Dufftown. Subsequent generations of his family sustained and expanded the company’s contribution to the greater good through investment, sponsorship and philanthropy, reflecting both the family’s shared values and their own personal passions.
Having committed to set aside 1% of pre-tax profits for good causes, the company’s continued growth led to the creation of the William Grant Foundation in 2014. The Foundation provides a proactive way of managing and directing donations on the company’s behalf, under the direction of the William Grant families.
The Foundation’s work is facilitated and supported by a small staff team based at William Grant & Sons’ offices in Bellshill, Lanarkshire.
Audrey is responsible for grant payments and administration. She has over 30 years’ experience in administration, 24 years of which was with the Cooperative Retail Group. She joined the Foundation from the energy sector where she was in a compliance role.
Elaine has particular responsibility for our Youth Opportunities and Natural and Built Environment themes. Prior to joining the Foundation, she worked in third sector infrastructure support roles, with Greenspace Scotland and latterly the Third Sector Interface network.
Rowan has particular responsibility for our Health and Social Causes and Scottish Culture and Heritage themes. Her first jobs involved working with young people, enabling them to take action on topics that matter to them, particularly our environment. She then moved into evaluation support for charities, and then funding, working for the National Lottery Community Fund before joining the Foundation. Rowan is currently on maternity leave.
Nick oversees the Foundation’s work and leads our contribution to wider initiatives relating to funding and civil society. He began his career in community arts and events before moving into grant-making and philanthropy. He joined as our first CEO following eleven years working at Scotland’s community foundation, Foundation Scotland.
Mhairi helps us use evidence and insight from a range of sources in our work and supports the team and our giving groups to share what we’re learning as we go. She has 15 years’ experience of working in related roles with other funders, including with The National Lottery Community Fund and Life Changes Trust and more recently as a freelance consultant.
Jane leads on our Health and Social Causes and Scottish Culture and Heritage themes. With over 20 years’ experience in community development, social enterprise and funding in Scotland, she’s an established freelance consultant and mentor to charities and community organisations, helping them with strategy, governance and fundraising. Jane has joined the Foundation for a year in this maternity cover role.
