Occasionally, the Foundation makes exceptional grants (normally capital), above the maximum grant awarded through the Main Grants Scheme.  An exceptional grant will only be considered, where, for example, an overriding factor is that the project will not occur without the Foundation grant or where the project is of national importance.

Exceptional grants are rare, and should be discussed with the Chief Executive before an application is made.

Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff, was awarded £550,000 in 2018 to fund the acquisition of the Foyle Opera Rara Collection (£500K) and £50K to support new Part/Time Archivist and initial costs in first year after acquisition.

Royal Academy of Music, London, was awarded £1,200,000 in 2003 to save from dispersal and maintain for public access the Menuhin archive, one of the most comprehensive, significant and detailed records of musical life during the 20th Century.

King’s College London was awarded £2,000,000 in 2000 towards creating the Foyle Special Collections Library.