The Rootstein Hopkins Foundation was founded as a registered Charity in 1990 to provide financial support to Art Institutions, artists, art students, lecturers and designers. The Royal College of Art received funding from the Rootstein Hopkins Foundation to support research students whose work incorporates an element of drawing.

Students included Jo Longhurst in the Department of Photography, Joe Simpson in the Department of Vehicle Design, Sofie Beier in Communications Art and Design and Suzanne Stankard in the Department of Textiles.