The Arsenal Foundation

Charity Number: 1145668

Annual Expenditure: £0.7M
Geographic Focus: Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Islington

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £727,473 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 2 months maximum
  • Grant Range: Up to £2,500 (Gunners Fund); larger grants to strategic partners
  • Geographic Focus: Local (Islington, Camden, Hackney) and International

Contact Details

  • Website: https://www.arsenal.com/thearsenalfoundation
  • Email: ssingh@arsenal.co.uk (Gunners Fund applications)
  • Phone: 020 7704 4406
  • Address: The Arsenal Foundation, Highbury House, 75 Drayton Park, London, N5 1BU
  • Contact Person: Samir Singh (Gunners Fund)

Overview

The Arsenal Foundation was launched in 2012 as a grant-giving organisation with the mission to help young people fulfil their potential, in north London and around the world. The charity operates with total funds of approximately £1.8 million and distributed £727,473 in grants and charitable activities during the 2023/24 financial year. The Foundation focuses on work to motivate and inspire young people through education and sport, helping them reach their potential. It works through three official charity partners—Save the Children, the Willow Foundation, and Islington Giving—while also awarding grants through the Gunners Fund to local initiatives and community groups. The Foundation's flagship international programme, Coaching for Life, has been recognised with awards including a Save the Children award for its groundbreaking work supporting refugee children in Jordan.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Gunners Fund (Local Small Grants)

  • Grant Amount: Up to £2,500
  • Geographic Focus: Islington, Camden, and Hackney boroughs
  • Application Method: Email or post, rolling basis
  • Purpose: Supporting local projects and good causes that make a significant community impact

Strategic Partnership Grants (Larger Awards)

  • Official Partners: Save the Children, Willow Foundation, Islington Giving
  • Application Method: Strategic partnerships established at trustee level
  • Grant amounts vary significantly based on programme needs

Islington Giving Partnership

  • Joint funding initiative launched in 2013
  • £150,000 committed over 3 years (historical example)
  • Focus: Creating opportunities for young people and older adults in Islington

Priority Areas

  • Education: Programmes that help young people learn and develop skills
  • Sport and Physical Activity: Using football and sport as tools for development
  • Youth Development: Supporting young people to fulfil their potential
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing: Particularly for vulnerable young people
  • Social Inclusion: Addressing isolation and lack of opportunities
  • Employability: Skills training and employment programmes
  • Refugee Support: International humanitarian programmes for displaced children
  • Community Cohesion: Projects that bring communities together
  • Poverty Relief: Relieving poverty and distress among young people

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are detailed in the Grant Making Guidelines (available on request from the Foundation). Geographic restrictions apply to the Gunners Fund, which only supports projects in Islington, Camden, and Hackney.

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Governance and Leadership

Director

Mairead King - Arsenal Foundation Director, responsible for strategic leadership and programme delivery. King received a Save the Children award for the Coaching for Life programme.

Board of Trustees

The Foundation is governed by a board of trustees who oversee policy and direction:

  • Svenja Geissmar
  • Freddie Hudson
  • Richard Garlick
  • Andrew Jolly
  • Michael Maloney
  • Katie Simpson Lloyd

The trustees receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. They reviewed and updated the Grant Making Guidelines in 2021 to reflect current best practice. A fan representative also sits on the Arsenal Foundation trustee board, demonstrating commitment to supporter engagement.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Gunners Fund Applications:

  1. Complete the application template (available from the Foundation)
  2. Submit via email to: ssingh@arsenal.co.uk
  3. Or post to: Samir Singh, The Gunners Fund, The Arsenal Foundation, Highbury House, 75 Drayton Park, London, N5 1BU
  4. Review the Grant Making and Application Guidelines before applying

Strategic Partnership Applications:

Contact the Foundation directly to discuss potential partnership opportunities.

Decision Timeline

  • Maximum response time: 2 months
  • Important note: “Due to the volume of applications received, The Arsenal Foundation is unable to respond to all applications, and if you have not received a response within 2 months, unfortunately your application has been unsuccessful.”
  • Only successful applicants receive confirmation

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation receives high volumes of applications for the Gunners Fund.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Contact the Foundation directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Post-Award Requirements

If successful, recipients will be asked to:

  • Provide photography documenting the grant's impact
  • Submit feedback on outcomes and impact
  • Potentially support a visit from The Arsenal Foundation

Recent Grant Recipients

  • Spread a Smile: Received grant to support children during long hospital stays and recovery
  • Islington Giving: Ongoing partnership supporting local community initiatives
  • Save the Children (Coaching for Life): Major funding including £484,000 raised in 2023/24 season

Focus on Impact and Evidence

The Foundation emphasises demonstrable impact on young people's lives. Successful projects show clear outcomes in areas such as:

  • Enhanced self-worth, self-esteem, and confidence
  • Improved problem-solving and emotional regulation
  • Better communication skills and social interaction
  • Skills development for employment

Programme Examples

Coaching for Life (International Flagship)

  • Launched in 2018 at Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan
  • Serves nearly 80,000 displaced Syrians, almost half are children
  • Built five football pitches and trained 14 Syrian coaches
  • Over 5,000 children have graduated from 20-week cycles
  • Now has 50/50 gender split
  • Addresses gender empowerment, emotional management, communication, decision making, and self-esteem

Local Youth Programmes

Success stories include young people from Islington, Camden, and Hackney benefiting from:

  • Employability programmes (gaining skills and confidence)
  • Premier League Kicks programme
  • Advantage Mentoring Programme (emotional management and friendship building)
  • Positive Futures scheme (social inclusion)

Language and Values

The Foundation uses language emphasising:

  • “Helping young people fulfil their potential”
  • “Making a meaningful difference”
  • “Supporting with grants, expertise and the power of the Arsenal name”
  • Impact, outcomes, and transformation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic specificity matters: For Gunners Fund applications, projects must clearly serve Islington, Camden, or Hackney residents
  • Focus on young people: The Foundation's core mission is youth development—applications should clearly articulate impact on young people
  • Demonstrate measurable impact: Be prepared to provide photography, data, and feedback on outcomes if successful
  • Small grants, big impact: The £2,500 Gunners Fund is designed for projects where a modest amount makes a significant difference
  • No response means unsuccessful: Don't wait beyond 2 months—if you haven't heard, the application was unsuccessful
  • Partnership approach: The Foundation values ongoing relationships and may request site visits
  • Arsenal connection helps but isn't essential: While football/sport projects align with their expertise, they fund broader youth initiatives
  • Application quality over lobbying: No pre-application advice service is mentioned—put effort into a strong written application following the guidelines

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References