Stephen Taylor Foundation

Charity Number: 1168032

Stay updated on changes from Stephen Taylor Foundation and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (discretionary grant-making)
  • Decision Time: Not specified
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales, with emphasis on inner city areas

Contact Details

  • Email: contact@stf.london
  • Registered Address: Farrer & Co, 65-66 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3LH
  • Website: stf.london
  • Phone: 020 3375 7000
  • Note: The foundation does not accept postal inquiries and emails are read but not automatically replied to in order to minimize administrative costs

Overview

The Stephen Taylor Foundation (STF) was established in 2016 in memory of Stephen Taylor (1967-84) by his brother Martin Taylor, a London-based businessman and accountant. Stephen was tragically killed by a hit-and-run driver while crossing Lewisham Way in South East London. Funding for the STF is provided solely by Martin Taylor. The foundation supports people, causes, and projects that Stephen would have had a natural affinity for, focusing on initiatives with educational, environmental, community, and youth themes at their heart. Stephen had diverse interests including music, sports, fashion, and art, and was actively engaged with inner London's cultural scene. He possessed a very strong sense of right and wrong and believed that people and communities should be treated with respect by everyone.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates with a discretionary grant-making approach rather than formal grant programs. The charitable objects are deliberately broad: “Such exclusively charitable purposes for the benefit of the public as the charity trustees from time to time in their absolute discretion think fit.”

This gives trustees complete discretion to support any charitable purpose they choose, though there is a clear preference for certain themes.

Priority Areas

Projects most likely to align with Stephen's memory and interests include:

  • Education: Educational initiatives, particularly those serving young people in urban areas
  • Environment: Environmental causes and sustainability projects
  • Community Development: Community-based projects that strengthen local areas, particularly inner city communities
  • Youth Programs: Youth-centered work and initiatives supporting young people
  • Geographic Focus: While not exclusive, there is a preference for inner city areas, reflecting Stephen's connection to South East London and inner London's cultural scene
  • Values Alignment: Projects that demonstrate respect for people and communities across all backgrounds, and promote social justice

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published explicit exclusions. As a discretionary grant maker funded solely by the founder's brother, they make grant decisions based on trustee discretion rather than open application criteria.

Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for Stephen Taylor Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by three trustees:

  • Martin Edward Taylor (Chair) - Appointed 06 July 2016. Martin is Stephen's brother and the sole funder of the foundation. He is a London-based businessman and accountant who previously ran an asset management company from 2000-2016. Martin was born and grew up in Lewisham, South East London, and attended local schools in Deptford and Kidbrooke with Stephen.
  • Lisa Joanne Taylor (Trustee) - Appointed 05 July 2016
  • Richard James Walker (Trustee) - Appointed 05 July 2016

The foundation operates with minimal administrative costs, with no employees receiving benefits over ??60,000 and no trustees receiving remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Stephen Taylor Foundation does not operate a formal, open application process. As a discretionary grant maker funded by a single individual, the foundation appears to identify and support causes at the trustees' discretion rather than accepting unsolicited applications through a structured process.

Organizations wishing to explore potential funding should:

  • Email: contact@stf.london
  • Note: The foundation explicitly states that emails “will be read but will not be automatically replied to in order to minimise administrative costs that could otherwise be spent on charitable causes”
  • Do not send postal inquiries - the foundation will not reply to queries received by post

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the discretionary nature of the grant-making, timelines likely vary depending on trustee meetings and availability.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation operates on a discretionary basis rather than accepting competitive applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified. Given the informal structure, there is no formal reapplication policy.

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Foundation's Approach

This is a private family foundation with a deeply personal mission - honoring Stephen Taylor's memory by supporting causes he would have cared about. Success factors differ significantly from traditional grant makers:

  • Personal Connection: The foundation is funded entirely by Martin Taylor in memory of his brother. Projects that would genuinely resonate with Stephen's interests (music, sports, fashion, art, inner London culture) are most likely to align.
  • Values-Driven: Stephen had “a very strong sense of right and wrong” and wanted communities to be treated with respect. Projects demonstrating social justice, community empowerment, and respect for diverse populations will align with the foundation's values.
  • Inner City Focus: While not exclusive, projects serving inner city communities, particularly in London and especially South East London, have natural alignment given Stephen's connection to these areas.
  • Youth Engagement: Projects that support young people, particularly in urban settings, align well with the foundation's youth-centered priorities.
  • Efficiency: The foundation deliberately minimizes administrative costs to maximize charitable impact. This suggests they value direct, efficient approaches to community benefit.

Strategic Considerations

  • Relationship-Based: Without a formal application process, building awareness and relationships with the trustees is key
  • Alignment Over Scale: The foundation's discretionary approach suggests they prioritize mission alignment over organization size or track record
  • Low-Cost Operations: The foundation's commitment to minimizing admin costs suggests they may prefer supporting organizations with similar efficiency values

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Discretionary Grant Maker: This foundation does not accept open applications through a formal process - grants are made at trustee discretion
  • Personal Mission: The foundation honors Stephen Taylor's memory, so projects must genuinely align with his interests in education, environment, community, youth, and the arts
  • Inner City Focus: While operating across England and Wales, there is a clear preference for inner city communities, particularly in London
  • Values Matter: Projects must demonstrate respect for people and communities, social justice, and community empowerment
  • Minimal Contact: The foundation deliberately minimizes administrative engagement to maximize charitable spending - do not expect formal responses to inquiries
  • Relationship Building: Without a formal application process, building awareness through networks, mutual contacts, or aligned work in South East London may be the most effective approach
  • Efficiency-Focused: The foundation values keeping administrative costs low, suggesting preference for organizations with similar values and efficient operations

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get Beta Access NowLearn More

References