Ceo Sleepout

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £629,641 (2023-24)
• Total Raised Since 2013: £5.5+ million
• Grant Range: Variable by event and location
• Charities Supported: 200+ frontline organizations
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (events in major cities)
• Decision Time: Event-based distribution

Contact Details

Address: Boho Four, Cleveland Street, Middlesbrough, TS2 1AY

Website: www.ceosleepout.co.uk

Email: info@ceosleepoutuk.com

Phone: 07922478994

Charity Number: 1154963

For charity partnership inquiries, download the Charity Partner Pack from: ceosleepout.co.uk/charity-partners/

Overview

CEO Sleepout was founded in December 2013 by Middlesbrough businessman Andy Preston, inspired by a similar Australian initiative. The charity has grown into a national phenomenon that unites business leaders to fight homelessness and poverty across the UK. Since its inception, CEO Sleepout has raised over £5.5 million from more than 8,000 executives, supporting over 200 frontline charities. In the financial year ending March 2024, the charity had an income of £767,620 and distributed £629,641 in charitable activities. The organization operates as a lean charity with only one full-time paid employee (CEO Bianca Robinson), 3 trustees, and 18 volunteers. The funding model is unique: business executives are sponsored to sleep outdoors for one night at events held in major UK cities, with the majority of funds raised distributed to local charities fighting homelessness and poverty within a few miles of each sleepout location, as well as to national organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Distribution Model

CEO Sleepout does not operate traditional grant programs with fixed amounts. Instead, funding is distributed based on:

• Event-based giving: Charities are selected as partners for sleepout events in specific cities
• Local focus: Majority of funds raised at each event go to local charities within a few miles of the event location
• Unrestricted funding: Grants are provided as unrestricted funds to maximize impact
• Partner designation: Charities become “Charity Partners” for specific events

Grant Amounts (Examples from Past Beneficiaries)

• Depaul UK: £190,939 (top beneficiary)
• Individual event fundraising ranges from £10,000 to £228,000+ per city event
• Total annual charitable distribution: £629,641 (2023-24 financial year)

Priority Areas

Organizations must work on:

• Homelessness (primary focus)
• Hunger and food insecurity
• Poverty relief
• Life skills and opportunities for marginalized individuals

Geographic Priority

• Local charities near sleepout event locations (Leeds, Manchester, London, Bristol, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Kent, Oxford, York, Reading, Portsmouth, Durham, and other cities)
• National organizations working across the UK on homelessness

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations not focused on homelessness, hunger, or poverty
• Projects outside the UK
• Individual applications (only registered charities)
• Causes unrelated to their core mission

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Governance and Leadership

Chairman & Founder

Andy Preston - Elected Mayor of Middlesbrough, investor, and charity founder. Born and raised in Middlesbrough, Andy gained an MA from the University of Edinburgh before working as a financial markets trader in London, building trading businesses for international financial organizations and managing a hedge fund group. He founded CEO Sleepout in 2014, growing it voluntarily until 2017 when it became a national phenomenon.

CEO

Bianca Robinson - The only full-time paid employee, Bianca strategically guides the charity and operationally delivers on the annual fundraising and grant-making plan. Her background includes serving as Managing Director at a creative agency, lecturing MBA students, and working as a freelance digital and brand specialist. Originally from New Zealand, she now lives in Saltburn By The Sea.

Trustees

1. Abu Ali - Managing Director, Williams Ail Corporate Finance
2. Niklas Tunley - Head of Corporate and Commercial, Endeavour Partnership

Note: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Leadership Philosophy

The organization emphasizes that leadership extends beyond gestures. As one participant noted: "For me, giving back goes beyond a mere gesture; it's deeply woven into who I am. Having faced my own hardships, I'm acutely aware of the challenges life can throw. Despite the position one might attain, it's vital to remember our roots and those who journey alongside us."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Download the Charity Partner Pack from ceosleepout.co.uk/charity-partners/

Step 2: Review partnership requirements and select relevant city event(s)

Step 3: Submit partnership application (details in Partner Pack)

Application Method: Event-based partner selection (not rolling applications)

Selection Criteria

• Registered UK charity working on homelessness, hunger, or poverty
• Alignment with CEO Sleepout's mission
• Local presence or national reach in homelessness services
• Ability to engage with corporate audience

Decision Timeline

• Event schedule: Events typically held between September and November each year
• Partner selection: Occurs in advance of each event season
• Fund distribution: After each event (exact timeline varies)

Partnership Benefits

• Unrestricted grant funding from event proceeds
• Exposure to corporate audience of business leaders
• Opportunity to present work at high-profile events
• Networking with business executives who can become long-term supporters

Reapplication Policy

Charities can partner with multiple events in different cities or reapply for subsequent years. No waiting period for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

What Makes a Strong Partner

1. Clear homelessness/poverty focus: Organizations must be frontline services directly tackling homelessness and poverty. Service delivery is prioritized over advocacy-only organizations.

1. Local presence: For city-specific events, having a strong local presence and track record in the event city significantly increases chances of selection.

1. Engagement capacity: Partners should be able to engage with business leaders at events, share impact stories, and build relationships with the corporate audience.

1. Unrestricted fund utilization: Demonstrate ability to use unrestricted funds effectively for maximum impact on core services.

Recent Partner Examples

• London: Providence Row (combating East London homelessness)
• Kent: Porchlight (homeless and vulnerable people support)
• Bristol: BILLYCHIP CIC and Help Bristol's Homeless
• Leeds: Leeds United Foundation
• York: Carecent
• Reading: Launchpad Reading
• National: Depaul UK, Cardinal Hume Centre

Strategic Advice

“To partner with CEO Sleepout, get your work in front of a corporate audience, and benefit from unrestricted funds raised at CEO Sleepout events, please download our Charity Partner Pack.”

The organization values:

• Frontline service delivery
• Geographic alignment with event locations
• Ability to articulate impact to business audiences
• Collaborative approach to fighting homelessness
• Willingness to engage with event participants

Common Success Factors

• Being selected as a charity partner for a city where you have strong local impact
• Having compelling stories of individuals helped
• Demonstrating efficient use of unrestricted funds
• Building relationships with the CEO Sleepout team ahead of application
• Showing how funds will directly impact local people experiencing homelessness

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Event-based model: This is not a traditional grant application process. You must become a “Charity Partner” for specific city events. Download the Charity Partner Pack first.

1. Local impact matters: If applying for a city-specific event, demonstrate strong local presence and track record in that geographic area. The majority of funds stay within a few miles of each event.

1. Unrestricted funding advantage: Emphasize your ability to deploy unrestricted funds flexibly and effectively. CEO Sleepout provides unrestricted grants specifically to maximize charity impact.

1. Corporate engagement: Highlight your organization's ability to engage with business leaders, as partners are expected to participate in events and connect with the corporate audience.

1. Frontline focus: Prioritize direct service delivery over advocacy. CEO Sleepout funds organizations directly helping people experiencing homelessness, not policy organizations.

1. Multiple opportunities: Consider applying for multiple city events if you have national reach, or build relationships for future years if not selected initially.

1. Lean, mission-driven funder: CEO Sleepout operates with minimal overhead (one full-time employee) and distributes the vast majority of funds raised. They value similar efficiency in partners.

References

1. CEO Sleepout UK official website - www.ceosleepout.co.uk
2. Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 1154963, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1154963
3. CEO Sleepout UK - Charity Partners page, https://ceosleepout.co.uk/charity-partners/
4. CEO Sleepout UK - About page, https://ceosleepout.co.uk/about/
5. CEO Sleepout UK - The Team page, https://ceosleepout.co.uk/about/the-team/
6. CEO Sleepout UK - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CEO_Sleepout_UK
7. Hospitality & Catering News - “CEO Sleepout raises over £228K and counting for London homelessness”
8. Charity Times - “CEO interview: Andy Preston on why business people are sleeping outside for charity” https://www.charitytimes.com/ct/ceo-sleepout-andy-preston-interview.php