Eversheds Sutherland (international) Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £652,731 (FY 2023/2024 to over 100 charities)
• Total Income: £498,847 (FY 2024)
• Total Expenditure: £388,772 (FY 2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Determined by trustees at their discretion
• Grant Range: £2,000 - £12,000+ (individual grants vary significantly)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales, with international partnerships

Contact Details

Address: 1 Callaghan Square, Cardiff CF10 5BT

Phone: +44 20 7919 4500

Email: emmasharkey2@eversheds-sutherland.com

Alternative Contact: KathPring@eversheds-sutherland.com

Website: https://www.eversheds-sutherland.com/en/global/about/responsible-business/community

Overview

The Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust (Charity No. 1083594) was registered on 22 November 2000. The trust operates as the charitable arm of Eversheds Sutherland, an international law firm. With total income of £498,847 in the financial year ending April 2024, the trust distributed £652,731 to over 100 charities through a combination of strategic partnerships, locally-selected charities, emergency appeals, and matched funding for staff fundraising efforts. The trust's objectives are to support charitable institutions and objectives at the trustees' discretion, for the benefit of the public. The trust is funded through annual donations from the firm's partners, with the majority allocated by reference to the number of people in each office, ensuring widespread participation across the firm's UK locations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates through multiple funding streams:

• Strategic Firmwide Partnerships: Multi-year partnerships with selected charities aligned with themes of education, homelessness, and the environment
• International Rescue Committee (5-year global partnership from 2023)
• Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) - ongoing partnership
• LandAid - £10,000 annually (committed partner since 2021)

• Office-Level Grants: Each office allocates funds to local charities chosen by local panels
• Historical example: £12,000 each to Médecins Sans Frontières, Scope, and Crisis (2015)

• Small Grants Programme: Support for specific projects
• Wetland Link International Small Grants: Up to £2,000 per project (7 grants awarded in 2023)

• Matched Funding: The trust matches individual and team fundraising efforts by Eversheds staff members
• “Step up to the plate” campaign raised over $80,000 globally for local foodbanks

Priority Areas

Based on recent partnerships and grants, the trust prioritizes:

• Education and Youth Development: Enabling Enterprise partnerships, support for youth skills programs
• Homelessness: LandAid partnership supporting youth homelessness projects, EndYouthHomelessness
• Environment and Conservation: WWT partnership supporting Generation Wild and Blue Influencers programmes
• International Humanitarian Aid: International Rescue Committee (IRC) global partnership
• Water and Sanitation: WaterAid (partnership since 2016)
• Emergency Appeals: The trust responds to global emergency situations with discretionary grants

What They Don't Fund

As a corporate charitable trust primarily driven by internal nominations and trustee discretion, there is no published list of exclusions. However, the trust's structure suggests:

• Organizations without connection to firm staff or strategic priorities are unlikely to receive funding
• The trust focuses on registered charities rather than individual beneficiaries (though both are within their objects)
• Grants appear to align with the firm's responsible business strategy and staff interests

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of 2024)

• Mark Fletcher - Chair (appointed 15 May 2015)
• Kathryn Roberts - Trustee (appointed 04 August 2016), Chair of Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
• Jonathan Bowley - Trustee
• Naeema Choudry - Trustee
• Peter Scurlock - Trustee
• Lana Issam Rushdi Al Habash - Trustee (appointed 07 June 2023)
• Maximiliaan van Drunen - Trustee (appointed 21 June 2023)
• Wesley Harling Lee Pang - Trustee (appointed 01 May 2024)

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust has no employees and operates through the volunteer efforts of trustees and staff at the law firm.

Decision-Making Structure

• Local Panels: Staff at all levels are represented on local panels in each office, which decide upon awards to be made from that office's allocation
• Firmwide Partnerships: Major partnerships are selected through a democratic process where colleagues vote on a shortlist of organizations
• Trustee Discretion: The trustees retain ultimate discretion over all charitable allocations

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Eversheds Sutherland (International) Charitable Trust primarily makes grants through:

1. Strategic partnerships selected by the firm through internal voting processes
2. Local charity nominations by staff members, decided by local office panels
3. Matched funding for employee fundraising initiatives
4. Trustee discretionary grants to charities aligned with the firm's responsible business strategy

Grants are typically awarded to organizations that have a connection to the firm through staff relationships, strategic alignment with corporate responsibility themes, or existing partnerships.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded throughout the year based on trustee meetings, local panel decisions, and ongoing partnership commitments rather than fixed application deadlines.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the trust does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the trust does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors determine which organizations receive support:

Staff Connection and Engagement

• Organizations benefit when Eversheds staff members actively champion their cause and engage in fundraising efforts
• The trust provides matched funding for internal teams and individuals fundraising for specific causes, incentivizing staff-driven charitable activity
• Local panels include “staff at all levels,” ensuring broad representation in decision-making

Strategic Alignment

• The firm has focused on three key themes: education, homelessness, and the environment
• Long-term partnerships (3-5 years) are established with organizations that align with these strategic priorities
• The International Rescue Committee partnership was announced as fitting the firm's commitment to supporting vulnerable populations

Democratic Selection

• For major firmwide partnerships, the firm invites colleagues to vote on a shortlist of organizations
• This democratic approach ensures staff buy-in and engagement with selected partners
• Organizations that resonate with the firm's workforce across multiple offices are more likely to be selected

Track Record of Partnership

• Several partnerships have been extended beyond their initial terms (e.g., WaterAid since 2016, LandAid extended beyond initial 3-year commitment)
• Organizations that demonstrate effective use of funding and maintain strong relationships with the firm benefit from continued support

Emergency and Timely Response

• The trust has shown willingness to respond to global emergency appeals, suggesting flexibility for organizations addressing urgent humanitarian needs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this trust supports charities through internal nominations, strategic partnerships, and matched funding for staff initiatives rather than open applications
• Staff connections are crucial - organizations with existing relationships to Eversheds Sutherland employees have the best prospects for support
• Strategic themes matter - education, homelessness, and environment are current priority areas for firmwide partnerships
• Long-term partnerships preferred - the trust commits to multi-year relationships (3-5 years) rather than one-off grants for strategic partners
• Significant annual giving - with over £650,000 distributed to 100+ charities annually, the trust makes meaningful contributions across a broad portfolio
• Democratic processes - staff voting and local panel representation mean organizations that appeal to the firm's workforce have advantages
• Matched funding opportunities - organizations can benefit if they can engage Eversheds staff members in fundraising activities, as the trust provides matched funding for employee initiatives

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Toby and Regina Wyles Charitable Trust
• Henry and Rebecca Tinsley Charitable Trust
• FB Coales No 4 (Family) Trust
• E B M Charitable Trust
• The Scotshill Trust
• The Musk-Burton Family Trust
• The Spear Charitable Trust
• Evelyn Partners Charitable Trust
• The Doouss Charitable Trust
• David Lister Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales. “EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND (INTERNATIONAL) CHARITABLE TRUST - Charity Overview (1083594).” Register of Charities. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1083594&subid=0

• Charity Commission for England and Wales. “EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND (INTERNATIONAL) CHARITABLE TRUST - Trustees.” Register of Charities. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3973195/trustees

• Eversheds Sutherland. “International Responsible Business Report 2024 - Community.” https://ezine.eversheds-sutherland.com/international-responsible-business-report-2024/community

• Eversheds Sutherland. “Charitable giving UK.” https://www.eversheds-sutherland.com/global/en/where/europe/uk/overview/csr/charitable-giving.page

• Eversheds Sutherland. “Our Partnerships - Corporate Responsibility.” https://www.eversheds-sutherland.com/global/en/who/about-us/corporate-responsibility/our-new-partnerships.html

• Eversheds Sutherland. “Eversheds Sutherland announces a five-year global partnership with the International Rescue Committee.” Press Release. https://www.eversheds-sutherland.com/en/united-states/news/eversheds-sutherland-announces-a-five-year-global-partnership-with-the-international

• LandAid. “LandAid receives support from Eversheds Sutherland.” https://landaid.org/news-and-stories/landaid-receives-support-from-eversheds-sutherland/

• Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. “Eversheds Sutherland funding helps open doors for families and young people to experience wetlands.” https://www.wwt.org.uk/about-us/news/eversheds-sutherland-funding-helps-open-doors-for-families-and-young-people-to-experience-wetlands

• Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. “Eversheds Sutherland Partnership.” https://www.wwt.org.uk/join-and-support/partner-with-us/who-we-partner-with/eversheds-sutherland

• Giving is Great. “EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND (INTERNATIONAL) CHARITABLE TRUST - Charity Factsheet.” https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1083594