Who We Are
The Royal Oak Foundation seeks to raise awareness of and advance the work of the National Trust of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland by inspiring support from the United States for the Trust’s efforts to preserve and protect historic places and spaces—for ever, for everyone.
Royal Oak members enjoy unlimited access to over 350 historic sites of outstanding interest and importance as well as 610,000 acres of countryside in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and over 775 miles of coastline.
Historic properties range from the great former Tudor palace and Sackville family seat of Knole to Winston Churchill’s Chartwell and the boyhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Countryside areas include significant parts of both the Lake and Peak Districts as well as Wales’ Snowdonia region, East Anglia’s Wicken Fen and the South Downs. Coastal areas under the Trust’s protection include the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, Cornwall’s rocky shores, and the sweeping sands of Norfolk. You can visit many of these places through Royal Oak’s Travel Programs.
In the United States, Royal Oak offers a wide range of programs and activities focused on the National Trust, British art and architecture, fine & decorative arts, gardens, history, as well as conservation and historic preservation. These tours and day trips, as well as our Royal Oak Lecture Series, are offered in cities across the U.S.
Royal Oak also hosts annual special events, such as its annual fundraiser, the Annual Benefit, honoring patrons of the arts and design fields, and the acclaimed Seeds For Thought garden lectures.
As an independent American not-for-profit organization, Royal Oak fundraises for National Trust priorities and offers Americans a tax-deduction for their contributions and membership dues. Overly nearly 50 years, the Foundation has raised and granted almost $20 million to support the work of the National Trust. Projects range from the acquisition of important coastline, to restoring historic houses, to helping re-acquire works of art separated from their original properties. Royal Oak also sponsors selected Fellowships for Americans who wish to learn more about the National Trust and the rich heritage of Great Britain.
The Royal Oak Foundation’s grant-making and educational programs are made possible by membership dues, special events, and your generous contributions. We thank our supporters and encourage you to join them.
Please check your membership status in My Account and click the Renew button if your membership has not lapsed.
