Don Hanson Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 1122463

Annual Expenditure: £1.6M

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: Approximately £1.6 million (2024 expenditure)
Total Giving Since 2007: Over £1 million to 100+ charities
Grant Range: Up to £1,000 (schools program); larger grants by trustee discretion
Geographic Focus: UK-based with international reach (USA, Australia)
Application Method: Schools program (rolling); general grants (invitation/trustee discretion)

Contact Details

Address: Room 3, Rose House, 70 Barnes High Street, Barnes, London SW13 9LD, United Kingdom

Email: andrew.fox@donhansoncharity.org (general inquiries); info@hansonbox.org (schools program)

Phone: 0207 152 4533

Website: www.donhansoncharitablefoundation.org

Charity Number: 1122463

Overview

The Don Hanson Charitable Foundation was established in 2007 by James Donald Hanson (1935-2014), a former Managing Partner of Arthur Andersen UK and Deputy to the worldwide Chief Executive of Andersen Worldwide. Since its inception, the Foundation has supported over 100 charities and causes with more than £1 million in total giving. In 2024, the Foundation had an income of £104,812 and expenditure of £1,644,591, demonstrating significant charitable distribution from reserves and accumulated funds.

The Foundation operates three primary program areas: the Schools Program (including the flagship Hanson Box educational resource project distributed to 56,500 primary schools worldwide), the DARWIN200 conservation leadership training initiative, and the Brighter Futures Program supporting organizations working in education, mental health, nutrition, homelessness, and unemployment. The Foundation positions itself as “an incubator and accelerator of good causes” seeking to maximize impact at the frontline of need through sustainable partnerships with like-minded organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Schools Program - Match-Funding Grants

Amount: Up to £1,000 per school
Eligibility: UK schools registered with Hanson Box program
Application Method: Rolling basis through hansonbox.org
Focus: Projects that expand educational resources and inspire learning
Recent Examples: Greenhouses, vegetable gardens, wild spaces, reading rooms, kitchen renovations, author visits, wellness spaces, high-altitude rocket launches
Total Distributed: Over £20,000 to schools to date

Brighter Futures Program

Amount: Not publicly specified; grants determined by trustees
Method: Strategic partnerships; no public application process
Focus: Organizations working with individuals facing significant life challenges
Current Partners: Nine named partner organizations including Nourish Community Foodbank, Refocus, Safer Communities Alliance CIC Kent

General Charitable Grants

Method: Trustee discretion; invitation-based
Approach: The Foundation states they want their “giving to have the maximum impact at the frontline of need, which often means supporting smaller organisations and projects”

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports causes across diverse sectors:

Education: Primary schools, educational outreach, conservation education
Healthcare & Medical Research: Cancer research, children's hospitals, dystonia, epilepsy
Homelessness & Social Services: Food banks, homeless shelters, social welfare
Mental Health: Organizations supporting mental health recovery and wellbeing
Nutrition: Food security and community nutrition programs
Unemployment Support: Organizations helping people rebuild their lives
Conservation: Wildlife conservation, environmental education
Military & Veterans: Support for armed forces personnel and veterans
International Development: Water, international aid organizations
Child Protection: Safeguarding and protecting children worldwide

Past beneficiaries include: Aid to Church In Need, Cancer Research UK, Help for Heroes, Great Ormond Street Hospital, NSPCC, St. Mungo's, WaterAid, Oxfam, Prince Alice Hospice, Combat Stress, Dystonia Society, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Street Child United, and many others.

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation's website does not explicitly list exclusions. However, based on their stated focus on “frontline need” and support for “smaller organisations and projects,” they appear to prioritize:

Direct service delivery over administrative overhead
Organizations where funding can make measurable impact
Causes aligned with founder Don Hanson's interests and geographic connections (UK, Russia, Far East, Australia, Vietnam)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Andrew M. Fox - Chairman of Trustees

Life Trustee since foundation in 2007. Former Eurobond trader, founder of Pacific Gemini financial services in Russian Far East, founder of Vladivostok Stock Exchange and Tiger Securities. British Honorary Consul to Russian Far East for 25 years. Economics and Land Economy graduate, Pembroke College, Cambridge. Met Don Hanson in 1996 and invested together across Russia, Thailand, Australia, America, and Vietnam. Also serves as Director of Internet Mobile Communications Ltd.

Simon M. J. Leary - Trustee

Life Trustee since the Foundation's inception. 30-year career including partnership at Big Four consulting firm. Senior adviser to global consulting firm with Middle East focus. Extensive emerging markets experience (6 years Asia-Pacific, 4 years Middle East). Advised World Bank and Asian Development Bank on public sector reform. Fellow of Royal Society of Arts and Royal Society of Medicine. Cambridge University, London Business School, and INSEAD graduate.

Paul Mercer - Trustee

Appointed September 2024. Founder and director of Welund risk consultancy. Engineering degree from Nottingham University. Background as researcher, journalist, and author. 12 years as elected borough councillor; 7 years cabinet member for housing, homelessness, and refugees in Charnwood. Charitable fundraising experience in Africa.

Jonathan Palmer - Trustee

Life Trustee since the Foundation's inception. Former senior financial analyst at Sainsburys and head of strategic planning at WHSmith plc. Founded The Bridge Management Group 30 years ago. Advisory experience with 15+ charities on governance, change management, and operational efficiency. MA Cambridge University, MSc Brunel University. Fellow of Royal Society of Arts.

Key Staff

Stewart McPherson - Manager, Schools Program

Joined 2018. Manages Hanson Box project and Schools Program. Co-founded DARWIN200. Authored 40 natural history books, created 3 wildlife TV documentary series, and organized 400+ expeditions to 40+ countries. Durham University and Yale University educated.

Caroline Cary - Events Coordinator

30+ years event organization experience. Has raised over £4.5 million for charitable causes. Organized Foundation's fundraising events including the November 2023 “Protecting Children Worldwide” dinner.

Joanna Ploszynska - Administrator

Joined 2017. AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting; pursuing AAT Professional Diploma. Office administration and trustee support.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For UK Schools:

Schools have a clear public application route through the Hanson Box program:

Register for the Schools Program at hansonbox.org
Request a free annual Hanson Box (educational resource box)
Access periodic match-funding grant opportunities (up to £1,000) throughout the year
Applications are rolling rather than fixed deadlines
Contact: info@hansonbox.org

For Other Organizations:

The Don Hanson Charitable Foundation does not operate a public application process for general charitable grants. Instead, the Foundation works through:

Trustee Discretion: The four trustees identify and select charitable causes based on their assessment of need and impact
Strategic Partnerships: The Foundation seeks “sustainable partnerships with organisations of like mind” through its Brighter Futures Program
Geographic Connections: Causes connected to areas important to founder Don Hanson (UK, particularly Yorkshire and London; Russian Far East; Australia; Vietnam; Thailand; USA)
Network Referrals: Organizations may be identified through the trustees' extensive networks in business, consulting, and charitable sectors

Organizations cannot submit unsolicited grant applications for the general grant program. However, charities working in the Foundation's priority areas may contact the Foundation to introduce their work:

Email: andrew.fox@donhansoncharity.org
Phone: 0207 152 4533

Decision Timeline

Schools Program: Decisions typically made within weeks of application during active grant rounds

General Grants: No specified timeline; grants are awarded as trustees identify suitable recipients throughout the year

Success Rates

Schools Program: Success rates not published, but over £20,000 has been distributed to schools, suggesting hundreds of grants awarded since 2019

General Grants: Not applicable; no open application process

Reapplication Policy

Schools Program: Schools can apply for grants in multiple funding rounds; program membership is ongoing

General Grants: Not applicable due to trustee-led selection process

Application Success Factors

Since the Foundation operates primarily through trustee discretion rather than open applications for general grants, traditional success factors differ from typical grant-makers. However, research reveals the following insights:

For Schools:

Innovative Learning Projects: Successful grants have funded greenhouses, vegetable gardens, wild spaces, reading rooms, wellness spaces, and high-altitude rocket launches
Match Funding: Projects that can secure matched funding demonstrate sustainability
Connection to Hanson Box Themes: Projects aligned with conservation, geography, history, archaeology, or astronomy may resonate with the Foundation's educational mission
Clear Educational Impact: Applications should demonstrate how resources will expand learning opportunities and inspire students

For Organizations Seeking Strategic Partnerships:

Frontline Impact: The Foundation explicitly states they want “giving to have the maximum impact at the frontline of need”
Smaller Organizations: The Foundation notes this “often means supporting smaller organisations and projects”
Sustainability: They seek “sustainable partnerships” that can “grow their beneficial impact across wider catchment areas”
Like-Minded Values: Partners should share the Foundation's focus on helping individuals facing significant challenges access brighter futures
Capacity for Growth: The Foundation positions itself as “an incubator and accelerator of good causes”
Geographic Relevance: Historical connections to UK (especially Yorkshire and London), Russia, Far East, Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, and USA may be advantageous
Personal Networks: Given the trustee-led model, connections through the trustees' extensive business, consulting, and charitable networks may facilitate awareness

Observed Patterns from Past Support:

Mix of well-known national charities (Cancer Research, Great Ormond Street, NSPCC) and smaller frontline organizations
Strong representation of organizations addressing homelessness, food insecurity, and social welfare
Support for both UK-based and international causes
Long-term strategic partnerships rather than one-off grants (e.g., Jane Goodall Institute, Global's Make Some Noise)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Schools have a clear pathway: UK schools can directly access match-funding grants up to £1,000 by registering with the Hanson Box program at hansonbox.org—this is the Foundation's only public application process

General grants are invitation-based: For non-school organizations, there is no public application process; grants are awarded through trustee discretion and strategic partnership development rather than competitive applications

Focus on frontline impact: The Foundation prioritizes funding that reaches those in need directly, often through smaller organizations with lower overhead and greater community connection

Strategic partnerships over one-off grants: The Foundation seeks long-term relationships with organizations through its Brighter Futures Program, positioning itself as an “incubator and accelerator” rather than a traditional grant-maker

Diverse trustee expertise: The four trustees bring extensive experience in accounting, finance, consulting, emerging markets investment, public sector reform, and local government, suggesting they value well-governed organizations with sound financial management

Educational and conservation focus: Beyond general charitable support, the Foundation has significant commitment to education (56,500 Hanson Boxes distributed worldwide) and conservation (DARWIN200 project), making organizations in these sectors particularly aligned with their mission

Network and relationship-driven: Given the trustee-led model and founder's background in global investment and business, organizations with connections to the trustees' networks or geographic areas of interest (UK, Russia, Far East, Australia, Vietnam) may have greater visibility

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References

All sources.