Black Heart Foundation (UK) Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £741,271 (charitable activities, 2023-24)
• Total Impact: £7.5 million+ allocated since inception
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: N/A (proactive selection)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: UK (primarily), with some US and international work
• Accepts Unsolicited Applications: No - proactive grant-making only

Contact Details

Address: C/O Tristan Capital Partners, Berkeley Square House, 8th Floor, Berkeley Square, London W1J 6DB

Phone: 020 3463 8900

Email: info@blackheartfoundation.org

Website: www.blackheartfoundation.org

Overview

The Black Heart Foundation (UK) Limited (Charity No. 1136813) was founded by Ric Lewis, Executive Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Tristan Capital Partners, who was named the most influential black person in Britain in 2019. Established to administer grants for the benefit of underprivileged and under-resourced children with an emphasis on education and health, the Foundation has allocated more than £7.5 million in grants, awards and scholarships since its inception. In the financial year ending April 2024, the Foundation had total income of £1.26 million and spent £741,271 on charitable activities. The Foundation operates two distinct programmes: the Black Heart Scholars Programme (launched 2013) providing gap-funding to individual students, and a proactive organisational grant-making programme supporting community initiatives. The Foundation gained significant momentum following its successful “Each Day. Every Day” campaign launched in 2020 in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, which helped double scholarship recipients and reached over £500,000 in total in the first week (£250,000 raised from supporters, matched pound-for-pound by the Board). To date, the Foundation has funded over 850 scholars, with 75% from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and 66% identifying as female, studying at over 160 different institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Black Heart Foundation operates two distinct funding streams:

1. Black Heart Scholars Programme (For Individuals - Not Organisations)

• Provides gap-funding for individual young people pursuing Further or Higher Education
• Open to applications from individuals through online portal
• Supporting students at 160+ institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Loughborough, and vocational training programmes
• Over 850 scholarships awarded to date

2. Organisational Grants (Invitation Only - No Public Application Process)

• Proactively supports local organisations working with disadvantaged youth
• Focuses on grassroots community initiatives where funding can make the most significant impact
• No disclosed grant amounts or application process
• Organisations are selected by trustees based on alignment with Foundation priorities

Priority Areas

Education & Educational Outcomes

• Programmes improving educational benefits for under-resourced young people
• Alternative academic institutions and vocational training
• Educational access for under-represented communities (particularly BAME students)
• Urban regeneration education (e.g., UrbanPlan for 15-18 year olds)

Health & Well-being

• Children's health initiatives
• Health education programmes (e.g., HIV prevention through Grassroot Soccer)

Sport for Development

• Using sport to inspire and engage youth toward greater educational achievement
• Programmes combining athletic participation with educational/health outcomes

Community Support

• Coaching and pastoral care for talented, ambitious young people
• Grassroots initiatives supporting youth in their local environment
• Programmes providing wraparound support beyond traditional education

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Foundation's focus areas suggest they do not fund:

• Programmes not focused on children and young people
• Organisations without a clear education or health component
• Initiatives not serving under-resourced or under-represented communities
• Capital projects without direct youth benefit
• General operating costs unconnected to youth programming

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (as of 2024)

Ric Lewis - Chairman & Founder

Executive Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Tristan Capital Partners, a London-based real estate investment management company. Named the most influential black person in Britain in 2019. Lewis founded the Foundation with a personal commitment to removing barriers to higher education for underprivileged children.

Matt Dawson

Former England Rugby Captain. Appointed trustee in 2019. Occupation listed as Company Director. Became involved after supporting the Foundation's crowdfunding campaigns.

Michael Vaughan

Former England Cricket Captain. Appointed trustee in 2019. Occupation listed as Media. Joined the board after being a notable donor to the Foundation's “Each Day. Every Day” campaign.

Note: The Foundation has 7 trustees total according to Charity Commission records, though not all are publicly named. No trustees receive remuneration from the charity.

Staffing

The Foundation employs 4 staff members, including one senior employee earning between £120,000-£130,000 annually, reflecting the Foundation's growing operational capacity.

How to Apply to Black Heart Foundation (uk) Limited

How to Apply

For Organisations: No Public Application Process

The Black Heart Foundation does NOT accept unsolicited applications from organisations. The Foundation operates as a “pro-active grant-making trust” where trustees identify and select beneficiary organisations based on strategic alignment with the Foundation's mission.

Organisations cannot apply for funding. The Foundation proactively identifies charities and initiatives it wishes to support, typically through:

• Trustee knowledge of organisations working in priority sectors
• Strategic identification of high-impact grassroots programmes
• Existing networks within the education and youth development sectors

For Individual Students: Application Process Available

Individual students can apply for scholarships through the Foundation's online application portal at www.blackheartfoundation.org or by emailing bhfsp@blackheartfoundation.org. This is separate from organisational grant-making.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable for organisational grants as there is no public application process. Trustees make decisions on organisational grants at their discretion based on their strategic priorities.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the Foundation selects organisations to support rather than reviewing applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organisations cannot apply or reapply as there is no application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Black Heart Foundation does not accept applications from organisations, traditional “success factors” do not apply. However, understanding what the Foundation values can help organisations position themselves to potentially attract the trustees' attention:

Organisations Previously Supported

Understanding the profile of organisations the Foundation has chosen to support provides insight into their priorities:

Urban Land Institute's UrbanPlan Programme

• Since 2015, supporting educational initiative for 15-18 year olds in state schools
• Focus on urban regeneration understanding
• Delivered to 2,500+ students in 100+ state schools across UK
• Demonstrates Foundation interest in: vocational education, urban youth, scalable programmes

Grassroot Soccer

• Works in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and partnerships worldwide
• Uses soccer to educate and inspire at-risk students
• Black Heart Foundation funding enabled expansion in Zimbabwe for HIV prevention education
• Demonstrates Foundation interest in: sport for development, international reach, health education, evidence-based interventions

Royal National Children's SpringBoard Foundation

• Provides 110% bursaries to disadvantaged children and young people
• Places students in state and independent boarding schools
• Worked with 700+ pupils
• Demonstrates Foundation interest in: educational access, wraparound support, life-transforming opportunities

Key Themes Across Supported Organisations

1. Grassroots Impact: The Foundation explicitly states interest in “supporting community initiatives that best support young people at the grassroots level”

1. Measurable Educational Outcomes: All supported organisations demonstrate clear pathways to improved educational achievement

1. Under-represented Communities: Strong focus on BAME youth and under-resourced populations (75% of scholars are from ethnic minority backgrounds)

1. Innovative Delivery Models: Programmes using non-traditional approaches (sport, urban planning, boarding schools) to achieve educational goals

1. Scale and Reach: Supported organisations serve significant numbers (hundreds or thousands) of young people

1. Coaching & Pastoral Care: The Foundation values programmes providing holistic support, not just academic or financial assistance

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No application process exists: Organisations cannot apply for funding from the Black Heart Foundation. The trustees proactively select beneficiaries based on strategic alignment with the Foundation's mission.

• Focus on grassroots education and health: If your organisation works with disadvantaged youth in education or health sectors, particularly using innovative approaches like sport or vocational training, you fit the Foundation's profile - though you still cannot apply directly.

• Strong emphasis on under-represented communities: 75% of scholarship recipients are from BAME backgrounds, indicating this is a core priority across all Foundation activities.

• Trustee-driven decision making: With 7 trustees including high-profile figures from sport and business, decisions about organisational grants are made through trustee discretion rather than competitive application processes.

• Significant recent growth: The Foundation has significantly expanded its scholarship programme in recent years (adding 400+ scholars in 24 months), suggesting increased capacity and ambition that may extend to organisational grant-making.

• Consider alternative pathways: While you cannot apply for organisational grants, the Foundation's network (Tristan Capital Partners, trustees' connections in sport and media) may provide opportunities for organic relationship building within shared sectors.

• Individual scholarships remain accessible: If your organisation works with young people who need educational funding, you can direct them to the Foundation's scholarship programme, potentially building goodwill and awareness of your work.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Wellington Management Uk Foundation
• The Rumi Foundation
• Fantastic Peach Foundation Uk Limited
• Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation
• Star Foundation
• The Rory And Elizabeth Brooks Foundation
• Khoo Teck Puat Uk Foundation
• Merky Foundation Limited
• The Jordan Charitable Foundation
• Man Group Plc Charitable Trust

References

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales - Black Heart Foundation (UK) Limited, Charity No. 1136813.. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5009833

1. Black Heart Foundation Official Website - Beneficiaries page.. https://blackheartfoundation.org/beneficiaries/

1. Black Heart Foundation Official Website - About Us page.. https://blackheartfoundation.org/about-us/

1. Black Heart Foundation Official Website - Welcome page.. https://blackheartfoundation.org/welcome/

1. Black Heart Foundation Official Website - Scholarship Programme page.. https://blackheartfoundation.org/scholarship-programme/

1. Black Heart Foundation News - “Black Heart Foundation charity awards 500th scholarship.”. https://blackheartfoundation.org/black-heart-foundation-charity-awards-500th-scholarship/

1. Wikipedia - The Black Heart Foundation.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Heart_Foundation

1. Find that Charity - Black Heart Foundation (UK) Limited (GB-CHC-1136813).. https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1136813

1. Voice Online - “£1 million campaign launched to fight inequality in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests.” July 9, 2020. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/tech/2020/07/09/1-million-campaign-launched-to-fight-inequality-in-the-wake-of-black-lives-matter-protests/

1. FE News - "Black Heart Foundation's 'Each Day. Every Day' Crowdfunding Equality Campaign Raises Over £500,000 In Its First Week.". https://www.fenews.co.uk/press-releases/52416-black-heart-foundation-s-each-day-every-day-crowdfunding-equality-campaign-raises-over-500-000-in-its-first-week