Bgf Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £425,000+ (based on recent funding rounds)
• Success Rate: Approximately 10-15% (4-7 grants per round from estimated applicant pool)
• Decision Time: 4-5 months (EOI to final decision)
• Grant Range: £100,000 (fixed amount over 2 years)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide, with regional focus aligned to BGF's operating areas

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.bgf.co.uk/bgf-foundation/
• Email: info@bgffoundation.org.uk
• Phone: 020 8078 1300
• Pre-application Support: Contact via email for enquiries before submitting

Overview

The BGF Foundation was established in 2022 as the independent charitable arm of BGF, the UK and Ireland's most active growth capital investor. Since launch, the Foundation has committed over £850,000 to UK registered charities. The Foundation's mission is to transform the lives of young people across the UK by supporting small to medium-sized charities that are scaling their impact in five key areas: education, employment, enterprise, mental health, and physical wellbeing. In alignment with BGF's investment philosophy of supporting “good growth,” the Foundation provides multi-year unrestricted funding alongside high-quality pro bono support from BGF's regional teams and extended professional networks. The Foundation made headlines in 2024 with its largest funding round to date, awarding over £650,000 to seven high-impact charities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Partnership Grants: £100,000 over two years (£50,000 per year)

• Unrestricted funding allowing charities complete autonomy in resource allocation
• Accompanied by targeted pro bono support (marketing, legal, finance, digital tools, governance)
• Skills-based volunteering from BGF staff and networks
• Access to BGF events and strategic networking opportunities
• Application method: Two-stage process with fixed deadlines (not rolling basis)

Priority Areas

Target Demographic: Disadvantaged young people aged 7-30 years

Five Key Focus Areas:

1. Education - Programs improving educational outcomes and access
2. Employment - Supporting young people into meaningful work
3. Enterprise - Fostering entrepreneurship and business skills
4. Mental Health - Improving mental wellbeing outcomes
5. Physical Wellbeing - Supporting health and sports participation

Key Selection Criteria:

• Charities demonstrating recent growth in income, reach, evidence base, or effectiveness
• Organizations with clear plans to scale their impact
• UK-wide reach, particularly in BGF's operating regions (London, Manchester, Birmingham, Brighton, Cardiff, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle, Nottingham, Kent, North Wales, Oxfordshire, Cornwall)
• Strong evidence base for program effectiveness

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Foundation focuses exclusively on:

• UK registered charities only
• Organizations working exclusively with young people (aged 7-30)
• Charities with income between £1-3 million
• Organizations operating for at least 3 years

Implicit exclusions include charities outside these parameters.

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Governance and Leadership

Board Structure

Chair: Andy Gregory (CEO of BGF)

Trustees (mix of BGF staff and charity sector leaders):

Charity Sector Trustees:

• Arti Sharma - CEO of nurtureuk
• Jo Hannan - Head of The Fusion21 Foundation
• Michelle - Group CEO of TLC: Talk, Listen, Change

BGF Team Trustees:

• Alistair Brew - Head of Investment Operations at BGF; founding trustee instrumental in establishing the Foundation
• Aaron Baker - BGF investor
• Jill Williams - Over 15 years private equity experience; Portfolio team supporting entrepreneurs in North England and Midlands
• Sarah Gillard
• Zahir Kasmani

Operations:

• Charlotte Moses Rains - Chief Operating Officer of BGF Foundation

Leadership Philosophy

Andy Gregory, Chair of the BGF Foundation, stated: "We're pleased to have deployed the largest funding round to date, impacting seven incredible charities."

Aaron Baker, Trustee, described the Foundation's approach: “This is a natural extension of how BGF operates,” emphasizing the alignment between BGF's business investment philosophy and the Foundation's charitable mission.

Charlotte Moses Rains, COO, explained: "We've designed our funding approach to provide long-term support, unrestricted funding, and the backing of our entire BGF community."

The governance structure reflects BGF's values of emotional intelligence, partnership, and supporting autonomous growth - principles Andy Gregory has emphasized in his leadership of BGF itself.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Two-Stage Application Process:

Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)

• Submit brief EOI by published deadline
• Deadline typically announced 6-8 weeks before closing
• Contact info@bgffoundation.org.uk for current round information

Stage 2: Full Application

• Shortlisted organizations invited to submit full application
• Approximately 6 weeks given for full application submission
• Invitation typically sent 4-6 weeks after EOI deadline

Application Platform: Details provided upon invitation to apply

Decision Timeline

Typical Timeline (based on 2024/25 round):

• EOI Deadline: Late November
• Shortlist Notification: Early January (5-6 weeks after EOI)
• Full Application Deadline: Mid-February (4-5 weeks after notification)
• Final Decisions: End of March (6 weeks after full application)

Total Process: Approximately 4-5 months from initial EOI to final decision

Notification Methods: Email correspondence throughout process

Success Rates

Estimated Success Rate: 10-15%

The Foundation awards 4-7 grants per funding round. In 2023, they awarded 2 Partnership Grants. In 2024, they increased this to 7 grants in their largest round to date. Given the competitive nature of the funding and the specific eligibility criteria (income £1-3 million, 3+ years operating, exclusive youth focus), the applicant pool is estimated at 40-70 organizations per round.

Recent Awards:

• 2023: 2 grants (MyBnk, Leadership Through Sport and Business)
• 2024: 7 grants (Access Sport, Social Mobility Foundation, Go Beyond, ThinkForward, Sister System, Team Domenica, Jon Egging Trust)

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy information is publicly available. Organizations should contact info@bgffoundation.org.uk to inquire about reapplication opportunities following an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

1. Demonstrated Growth

The Foundation explicitly prioritizes “charities that can demonstrate growth in recent years, such as improvements in income, reach, evidence base or effectiveness of their work.” This is the single most important criterion mentioned in application guidance.

2. Scaling Potential

Charlotte Moses Rains emphasized the Foundation's commitment to “long-term support” for organizations with clear scaling plans. Successful applicants should articulate how £100,000 over two years will enable significant expansion.

3. Alignment with BGF's Philosophy

Aaron Baker noted the Foundation is “a natural extension of how BGF operates.” BGF's investment approach emphasizes:

• Supporting autonomous leaders (minority investment only)
• Building trust and partnership
• Regional presence and local impact
• Long-term sustainable growth

Examples of Funded Organizations

2023 Recipients:

• MyBnk (£300,000 over 2 years) - UK's largest financial education charity, working with schools and youth organizations on budgeting, saving, debt, and independent living
• Leadership Through Sport and Business (£300,000 over 2 years) - Supports bright young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into meaningful employment

2024 Recipients (7 charities, £650,000+ total):

• Access Sport - Making inclusion the norm in community sport
• Social Mobility Foundation - Breaking barriers to professional careers
• Go Beyond - Outdoor development programs
• ThinkForward - Education and employment support
• Sister System - Supporting young women
• Team Domenica - Employment support for young people with learning disabilities
• Jon Egging Trust - Building resilience through aviation-inspired programs

Language and Terminology

The Foundation uses terminology aligned with impact investing:

• “Scaling impact” (not just expanding)
• “Unrestricted funding” (emphasizing trust)
• “Evidence base” (data-driven approaches)
• “Good growth” (sustainable, ethical expansion)
• “Partnership” (not beneficiary/grantor relationship)

Standing Out

Key Differentiators:

1. Clear growth trajectory: Show income growth, expanded reach, or improved outcomes over the past 2-3 years with specific metrics
2. Scaling plan: Articulate precisely how you'll use unrestricted funding to achieve next growth phase
3. Evidence of impact: Demonstrate robust measurement systems and proven effectiveness
4. Regional alignment: Highlight presence in BGF's operating regions or plans to expand there
5. Organizational readiness: Show capacity to absorb growth and utilize pro bono support effectively
6. Youth-exclusive focus: Demonstrate 100% dedication to young people aged 7-30

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Growth is paramount: The Foundation explicitly prioritizes demonstrated recent growth. Include hard data showing income increases, expanded reach, improved outcomes, or enhanced evidence base over the past 2-3 years.

1. Think like an investor: BGF Foundation reflects its parent company's investment philosophy. Frame your application as an investment opportunity showing clear ROI in terms of young lives transformed. Use business-like language around scaling, sustainability, and measurable impact.

1. Income band is strict: You must have income between £1-3 million. Outside this range, you're ineligible. This suggests they're targeting organizations beyond start-up phase but not yet large-scale.

1. Unrestricted funding is strategic: Unlike many funders, BGF provides completely unrestricted grants. Your application should demonstrate mature organizational governance that can be trusted with flexible funding and articulate strategic priorities clearly.

1. Pro bono support is integral: The grant includes marketing, legal, finance, digital, and governance support from BGF staff. Show how you'll leverage these resources and why your organization is positioned to benefit from them.

1. Regional presence matters: BGF operates through regional offices. Highlight your presence in or plans to expand into BGF's operating regions (London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Newcastle, etc.).

1. Two-stage process requires strategy: The EOI stage is highly competitive. Make it compelling enough to reach the shortlist but save detailed evidence for the full application. Focus the EOI on your growth story and scaling potential.

References

1. BGF Foundation official website - https://www.bgf.co.uk/bgf-foundation/

1. Charity Commission Register - BGF Foundation (Charity No. 1197304) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5188310

1. BGF Foundation Annual Accounts 2023 - https://www.bgf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BGF-Foundation-2023-signed-accounts.pdf

• Quote from Andy Gregory: "We're pleased to have deployed the largest funding round to date, impacting seven incredible charities."
• Quote from Aaron Baker: “This is a natural extension of how BGF operates.”
• Quote from Charlotte Moses Rains: "We've designed our funding approach to provide long-term support, unrestricted funding, and the backing of our entire BGF community."

1. "Introducing the BGF Foundation's new Board of Trustees" - BGF Insights - https://www.bgf.co.uk/insights/foundation-new-board/

1. “How the BGF Foundation is supporting LTSB” - BGF Insights - https://www.bgf.co.uk/insights/bgf-foundation-supporting-ltsb/

1. BGF Foundation Partnership Grants Application Information - Various UK charity support websites including Action Together, Supporting Communities, VSI Alliance

1. Charity Commission search results and Giving is Great charity factsheet for BGF Foundation 1197304