The Atlas Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £409,044 (charitable activities expenditure, 2024)
• Total Income: £966,622 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: International (19-21 countries across Africa, Middle East, and UK)

Contact Details

Website: https://theatlascharity.org/

Email: admin@theatlascharity.org

Phone: 02070432232

Address: Randall & Payne, Chargrove House, Main Road, Shurdington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Overview

The Atlas Foundation was established in 2015 by rugby legend Jason Leonard OBE after he encountered severe poverty while traveling internationally. Registered as charity 1161179, the Foundation harnesses rugby's core values to drive sustainable development initiatives for children living in extreme poverty worldwide. Over the past decade, the Foundation has raised over £4 million and supported more than 219,000 children through partnerships with 43-47 local organizations across 19-21 countries. The charity's distinctive approach uses rugby as a vehicle for delivering health, education, and inclusion support, working alongside communities to identify specific barriers children face. With an annual income of nearly £1 million (2024), the Foundation operates through both grant provision and direct partnership support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Atlas Foundation provides grants and support to organizations that use rugby football as a focus for their charitable purposes. Their funding model emphasizes:

• Partnership Grants: Financial and advisory support to local organizations delivering rugby-based programs
• Private Funds: The Foundation develops Atlas 'Private Funds' with Rugby Clubs, Schools, and Families
• Early Grant History: Initial project grants totaled £180,000 to 10 grassroots projects over three years

Application Method: No public application process; trustee discretion and partnership-based selection

Priority Areas

Geographic Regions:

• South Africa (Gauteng, Ocean View, Masiphumelele, Langa/Cape Town)
• Kenya (Kibera slums, general poverty areas)
• Eswatini
• Israel
• UK (TackleLondon initiative)
• 14-16 additional countries

Thematic Focus:

• Education and training (95% of beneficiaries graduate their school year)
• Poverty relief
• Overseas aid and development
• Amateur sports development
• Community development
• Health and nutrition (88% of partners provide nutritious food and clean water)

Beneficiary Groups:

• Children and young people (ages 5-19)
• Elderly people
• People with disabilities
• HIV/AIDS-affected communities
• Children facing gender inequality
• Communities affected by drug and alcohol problems

What They Don't Fund

Information not publicly available. The Foundation focuses exclusively on organizations using rugby as a delivery mechanism for social impact.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (7 total, including):

• Jason Leonard OBE (Founder & Chair): Former England and British & Irish Lions rugby player; founded the charity after witnessing extreme poverty during international travel
• Dominic Hubbard, 6th Baron Addington: British Peer who speaks in the House of Lords on Sport and Disability
• Neil Blair: J.K. Rowling's agent, Founding Partner of The Blair Partnership and Chairman of Pottermore; joined the Board in January 2018 and chairs the Atlas All Schools group
• Fiona Stockley: NHS General Manager
• Maro Itjoe: Rugby Champion and trustee actively visiting projects in Kenya

Governance Standards:

• No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity
• No employees receive total benefits over £60,000
• The Board is tasked with ensuring all work, partnerships, and fundraising activities align with the Foundation's aims and ethos

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Atlas Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded at the trustees' discretion to organizations identified through the Foundation's rugby network and community partnerships.

The charity's constitutional objects state support is provided “as the trustees may in their absolute discretion determine, in particular those organisations who use rugby football as a focus in carrying out their charitable purposes through the provision of grants and such other advice, support and assistance as the trustees deem appropriate.”

Organizations are typically identified through:

• The Foundation's global network of rugby champions
• Community needs assessment conducted alongside local communities
• Existing rugby club and school connections
• Board members' sector knowledge and connections

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. The Foundation operates on a partnership model where relationships are developed over time rather than through fixed application cycles.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The Foundation has formed partnerships with 43-47 organizations over 10 years, suggesting selective, relationship-based grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the trustee-discretion model, organizations most likely to receive support demonstrate:

1. Rugby Integration: Programs must use rugby football as a focus or delivery mechanism for charitable work. The Foundation explicitly supports organizations where rugby is central to their charitable purposes.

1. Work with Severely Disadvantaged Children: The Foundation's mission focuses on “children in abject poverty and danger” and "the world's poorest kids." Partner organizations work in contexts of extreme poverty, HIV/AIDS, gender inequality, substance abuse, and limited access to education and healthcare.

• Nutritious food and clean water (88% of partners)
• Educational support and materials
• Health check-ups and medical services
• Safe accommodation (particularly for female athletes)
• Skills development and pathways to further education

1. Local Presence and Knowledge: All funded partners are described as “local organisations” with deep community connections and understanding of specific barriers children face in their contexts.

1. Measurable Outcomes: The Foundation tracks specific metrics (95% school graduation rates, 88% providing nutrition and water), suggesting partners must demonstrate and report on tangible outcomes.

1. Sustainable Development Approach: The Foundation emphasizes “sustainable development initiatives,” indicating preference for programs with long-term community impact rather than short-term interventions.

1. Alignment with Rugby Values: Programs should embody rugby's core values and use the sport to “engage and inspire children” in safe, fun environments.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No open application process exists – funding decisions are made at trustees' discretion through the Foundation's rugby network and community partnerships

• Rugby must be central – only organizations using rugby football as a focus for charitable work align with the Foundation's constitutional objects

• Focus on extreme poverty internationally – the Foundation targets "the world's poorest kids“ and ”children in abject poverty and danger," primarily in developing countries

• Local partnerships preferred – all referenced partners are local organizations embedded in the communities they serve

• Comprehensive service delivery valued – successful partners provide education, nutrition, health, and social support alongside rugby programming

• Long-term relationship model – with only 43-47 partners developed over 10 years, the Foundation invests in sustained partnerships rather than one-off grants

• Network connections matter – organizations connected to rugby schools, clubs, or the Foundation's trustees and champions have the clearest pathway to consideration

References

1. UK Charity Commission Register - The Atlas Foundation (1161179). Register of Charities.. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1161179&subId=0

1. The Atlas Foundation official website.. https://theatlascharity.org/

1. “The Atlas Foundation Partnership Structure: Our Work With 43 International Partners.” The Atlas Foundation.. https://theatlascharity.org/the-atlas-foundation-childrens-charity-uk/

1. “Our Story - The Atlas Foundation.” The Atlas Foundation.. https://theatlascharity.org/our-story/

1. “THE ATLAS FOUNDATION - 1161179.” Charity Commission Full Print.. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5052163/full-print

1. “Trustees - The Atlas Foundation.” The Atlas Foundation.. https://theatlascharity.org/our-team/trustees/

1. “360Giving GrantNav - THE ATLAS FOUNDATION.” 360Giving.. https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1161179

1. “Atlas South Africa - The Atlas Foundation.” The Atlas Foundation.. https://theatlascharity.org/atlas-abroad/atlas-south-africa/

1. “Kenya, KRDA - The Atlas Foundation.” The Atlas Foundation.. https://theatlascharity.org/our-work/kenya-krda/