Guy's And St Thomas' Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £37.7m (2023/24)
• Endowment Value: £1bn
• Decision Time: 2-3 weeks
• Grant Range: £500 - £250,000+ (varies by programme)
• Geographic Focus: London (Lambeth & Southwark) with UK-wide NHS charity focus

Contact Details

• Website: http://www.gsttfoundation.org.uk/
• Email: info@gsttfoundation.org.uk
• Phone: 020 7089 4550
• Address: The Grain House, 46 Loman Street, London SE1 0EH

Overview

Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation is an independent charitable foundation with over 500 years of history, previously known as Guy's and St Thomas' Charity. Established in its current form in 2021, the Foundation manages a £1bn endowment focused on building the foundations of a healthier society by investing in people and ideas to drive more equitable health. Led by CEO Kieron Boyle, the Foundation operates through multiple channels including direct NHS charity grants, Impact on Urban Health initiatives, and strategic partnerships. The Foundation committed £37.7m in 2023/24, demonstrating consistent substantial investment in health equity initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Guy's & St Thomas' Charity Staff Grants: £500 - £250,000 (for NHS Trust staff projects creating equitable health outcomes)
• Impact on Urban Health: Strategic partnerships and community grants (amounts vary, recent £3m partnership with Black Thrive Global)
• Special Purpose Funds: Targeted funding for specific research or patient care areas
• Health Impact Investments: £30m committed to healthcare innovation funds

Application methods: Staff grants via “Share Your Idea” form, Impact on Urban Health through invited partnerships

Priority Areas

• Health equity and reducing health inequalities
• Patient experience improvements at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
• Staff wellbeing and support initiatives
• Urban health challenges (childhood obesity, multiple long-term conditions, air pollution, adolescent mental health)
• Healthcare innovation and research with direct patient benefit
• Community-led health initiatives in Lambeth and Southwark

What They Don't Fund

• Projects that can be funded by the NHS
• Items or services that are core NHS responsibilities
• Projects not directly benefiting Guy's and St Thomas' patients or staff (for charity grants)
• Permanent staffing costs

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Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership:

• Kieron Boyle: Chief Executive Officer
• Ethan Hall: Chief Investment Officer
• Susanne Given: Chair of Trustees
• Julia Palca: Vice Chair (joined January 2025)

The Board of Trustees oversees all areas of work with specialist committees including Investment Committee, Charities Strategy Committee, and four Impact on Urban Health programme committees. No trustees receive remuneration.

Leadership Vision: Kieron Boyle emphasizes their commitment to using “the whole £1 billion endowment to deliver both a health impact and a financial return,” demonstrating innovative approaches to philanthropic investment.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For NHS Staff Grants:

1. Submit “Share Your Idea” form online
2. If eligible, invited to complete full application (minimum 2-week deadline)
3. Review by Charitable Committee

For Impact on Urban Health:

Partnership-based approach, often initiated through conversations rather than formal applications

Decision Timeline

• Initial “Share Your Idea” response: 10 days
• Final funding decision: 2-3 weeks after full application submission
• Notification via email with committee feedback if unsuccessful

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants can reapply with revised proposals and receive feedback from the committee to improve future applications.

Application Success Factors

Key Criteria for Success:

• Clear demonstration that the project cannot be funded by the NHS
• Direct benefit to patients at Guy's and St Thomas' or staff providing care
• Realistic funding requests appropriate to expected outcomes
• Strong evidence of need and impact
• Support from line managers and relevant departments

Strategic Guidance:

The Foundation looks for “fresh thinking and bold action” and projects that create “more equitable health outcomes, access and experience.” They prioritize initiatives that “go above and beyond what the NHS can provide.”

Recent Successful Projects:

• £1.4m population health management hub investment
• Cutting-edge radiotherapy equipment for multiple brain tumours
• £3m Black Thrive Global strategic partnership for racial health equity

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Equity Focus: All applications should demonstrate how they advance health equity and reduce inequalities
• Beyond NHS: Clearly articulate why the NHS cannot fund the project and how it enhances standard care
• Patient Impact: Strong emphasis on direct patient benefit and improved experience
• Partnership Approach: For larger initiatives, consider how your organization can partner with their existing networks
• Urban Health: Organizations working on urban health challenges in diverse communities are particularly well-aligned
• Innovation Welcome: They support both evidence-based approaches and “exciting, brand-new ideas”
• Long-term Vision: They take a long-term view of health challenges using their substantial endowment strategically

References

• Guy's & St Thomas' Foundation website (https://gsttfoundation.org.uk/) -
• Annual Report 2024 (https://gsttfoundation.org.uk/latest/annual-report-2024/) -
• Staff Funding Advice (https://gsttcharity.org.uk/staff/staff-funding/advice-on-applying/) -
• Impact on Urban Health website (https://urbanhealth.org.uk/) -
• Charity Commission Register entry 1160316 -
• 360Giving GrantNav data -