Reviewed: April 2025

The length and detail of a strategy will depend on the primary purpose of the document and how you seek to use it.  Often strategies have several audiences and purposes, and therefore compromises may be needed regarding structure, length, level of detail etc. 

Questions to consider and information to include:

Why the charity funds research

• The mission and aims of the charity.
• The unique role of the charity in, and how it adds value to, the research landscape.

What research or clinical/health priorities have been identified, and why they are important

• The areas of research the charity intends to support or, differentiating between what the charity will support directly through funding and what they will support through alternative means.
• Why these areas have been prioritised and the rationale behind the chosen approach to their resourcing and funding.
• How the strategic fit of a funding application will be assessed during expert review.

How the charity plans to fund this research

• The types of grants, including times scales, that the charity will support and the extent of this support, including what costs the charity will cover.
• Any funding partnerships that the charity has or wishes to develop.

Who and where the charity will fund research

• What types of people/institutions the charity will fund.
• What experience these individuals are required to have.
• Define any regional or institutional priorities or restrictions.

When the grant will be awarded and how the charity will support its researchers and strategy

• Define when funding will become available and the timescale for the delivery of all grant programmes.
• Explain how the charity will support researchers beyond the award of the grant.
• Some charities include how they will involve patients and the public in research they fund, from participation and involvement to funding decision making.

When the charity will review this research strategy

View our other guidance on developing and sharing a research strategy:

• Setting research priorities
• Publishing and sharing the strategy