Matchroom Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 1167276

Annual Expenditure: £0.9M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £855,801 (FY 2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £300,000+
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide

Contact Details

Website: www.matchroomsport.foundation

Email: mcf@matchroom.com

Phone: 01277 359917

Overview

The Matchroom Charitable Foundation (Charity Number 1167276) was established in July 2016 to centralise the benevolent efforts of Matchroom Sport, the global sports promotion company headed by Eddie Hearn, and its subsidiaries including the Professional Darts Corporation, Matchroom Boxing, World Snooker, and Matchroom MultiSport. Since inception, the foundation has donated over £4.5 million to a wide range of UK charities through 63 grants to 29 different organisations. In the financial year ending June 30, 2024, the foundation had a total income of £1,686,015 and expenditure of £855,801. A significant portion of the foundation's funding comes from £1 contributed for every ticket sold at Matchroom events, with over 400,000 tickets sold annually across 200+ event days.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a rolling application process without fixed deadlines. Grant amounts vary significantly based on project scope:

  • Small Grants: From £1,000 (via Sheffield Legacy Fund partnership)
  • Major Grants: £25,000 - £150,000 for significant programmes
  • Multi-year Strategic Grants: £300,000+ over three years for transformational projects

Application Method: Email an overview of your organisation and funding requirements to mscf@matchroom.com

Priority Areas

The foundation aims to create "significant and sustainable impact on deserving causes which make a difference to people's lives" with particular focus on:

  • Children's and Adult Hospices: Major support for hospice care including Haven House, Jessie May, Bluebell Wood, Saint Francis Hospice, and The J's Hospice
  • Grassroots Sport Development: Boxing clubs, community sports facilities, and youth participation programmes
  • Youth Services and Development: Young people's programmes, skills development, and inclusion initiatives
  • Disability Support: Special needs organisations, assistive technology, and adaptive sports programmes (SNAP, British Blind Sport, British Disabled Angling)
  • Community Health and Wellbeing: Physical and mental health projects, social inclusion, and rehabilitation facilities

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are published, though all grants must support UK-registered charities that align with the foundation's mission of making a difference to people's lives.

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a board of 7 trustees who serve without remuneration:

  • Susan Joan Hearn - President and Chair of the Foundation
  • Jason Elliott Ferguson - Trustee
  • Edward Robert Charles Lowy - Trustee
  • Catherine Louise Godding - Trustee
  • Wendy Frances Barker - Trustee

Barry Hearn OBE, founder of Matchroom Sport, established the foundation and remains actively involved. Eddie Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport, continues the family's philanthropic commitment.

Quote from Barry Hearn: “I am very proud of the work that Matchroom Sport Charitable Foundation has done over the past three years and extremely grateful to the Trustees of the Foundation for their hard work and enthusiasm. As a company Matchroom Sport have been one of the success stories in our industry over the past four decades and it is personally satisfying to see our Foundation put something back and help those in need.”

Quote from Susan Hearn: “Donating this money is the least we can do to ensure [organisations like] Paces can continue its work and offer the best possible future to the individuals it supports.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via email. The process is straightforward:

  1. Email mscf@matchroom.com with an overview of your organisation
  2. Include specific details of your funding requirements
  3. Explain the potential impact and how funds will make a difference

No formal application forms or pre-application meetings are required, though the foundation welcomes direct contact to discuss proposals.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. Interested organisations should contact the foundation directly for guidance on expected timeframes.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publish application numbers or success rates. However, with £855,801 distributed annually across multiple grants and a growing portfolio (63 grants to 29 charities to date), the foundation maintains an active grant-making programme.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Contact the foundation directly to discuss reapplication opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrated Impact

The foundation prioritises projects that create “significant and sustainable impact” on people's lives. Successful applications clearly articulate how funding will make a meaningful difference to beneficiaries.

Connection to Sport or Matchroom Values

While not exclusively focused on sport, many major grants support sports-related causes, particularly grassroots boxing, community sport facilities, and youth participation. The foundation also strongly supports causes close to the Hearn family's hearts, particularly hospice care and disability support.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects

  • Empire Fighting Chance: £300,000 over three years to support 100 amateur boxing clubs across the UK, enabling thousands of young people to access boxing programmes
  • Addenbrook's Charitable Trust: £300,000 over three years to open the Matchroom Gym, a dedicated children's rehabilitation gym and therapies room at Cambridge Children's Hospital
  • Alexandra Palace: £150,000 to fund the Young People's Park Programme promoting physical and mental health among young people
  • Sheffield Legacy Fund: £25,000 to provide grants up to £1,000 for community-led physical and mental health projects
  • Lifelites: £35,000 for assistive and sensory technology at four children's hospices
  • Paces Sheffield: £40,000 to support individuals with cerebral palsy and motor disorders

Strategic Partnerships

The foundation is open to multi-year partnerships with organisations delivering transformational change, as evidenced by several three-year commitments worth £300,000.

Clear Funding Requirements

Successful applicants provide specific details about funding needs and project budgets, enabling trustees to understand exactly how their support will be used.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Strong sport connection helps but isn't essential: While grassroots sport (especially boxing) receives significant funding, hospices, disability organisations, and youth services are equally well-supported
  • Emphasise sustainable impact: Use language around "making a difference to people's lives“ and ”sustainable impact on deserving causes" to align with foundation values
  • Consider multi-year proposals: The foundation supports strategic partnerships with three-year funding cycles for substantial projects
  • Keep it simple: No complex forms required—a clear email outlining your organisation and funding needs is sufficient
  • Scale appropriately: Grants range from £1,000 to £300,000+, so match your request to project ambition and organisational capacity
  • Leverage local connections: The foundation has particular interest in Essex/Sheffield areas and organisations connected to Matchroom event locations
  • Demonstrate grassroots impact: Projects supporting young people, vulnerable individuals, and community-led initiatives align well with foundation priorities

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