The Burberry Foundation

Charity Number: 1154468

Annual Expenditure: £2.9M

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Quick Stats

  • Charity Number: 1154468
  • Annual Expenditure: £2.88 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: £12,000 - £3,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Global (UK, USA, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Poland)
  • Application Process: Strategic partnerships (no public application process)
  • Age Focus: Young people aged 10-24

Contact Details

Email: enquiries@burberryfoundation.com

Phone: 020 7806 1328

Website: www.burberryfoundation.org

Address: Burberry Ltd, Horseferry House, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AW

Overview

The Burberry Foundation is an independent charity established in 2008 by Burberry Group plc. Registered as charity number 1154468, the Foundation operates with an annual expenditure of £2.88 million (2024), up from £1.28 million in 2023. The Foundation's mission is to use the power of creativity to drive positive change in communities and build a sustainable future through innovation, focusing on young people aged 10-24. Governed by a Board of 4 Trustees chaired by Lord Chris Holmes MBE, the Foundation operates independently from Burberry's commercial interests, with trustees meeting quarterly to validate grant-making decisions. The Foundation is funded by Burberry Group plc and works through strategic partnerships with established youth organizations rather than accepting open applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Burberry Inspire (Global flagship program)

  • Partnership with International Youth Foundation
  • Operates through 13 youth-serving organizations across 5 regions
  • Provides creative skill development opportunities in safe spaces outside schools
  • Grant distribution managed by IYF from selection to oversight and reporting

London Youth Partnership

  • Initial unrestricted grants: £12,000
  • Annual programme grants: £12,000-£15,000 per year for two years
  • 15 youth centres selected jointly by Burberry and London Youth
  • Focus on London's most deprived communities

Major Strategic Grants

  • Royal College of Art: £3 million for Material Futures Research Group (2017)
  • £750,000 allocated to expand Burberry Design Scholarship
  • First explicit STEAM research centre at a traditional art and design university

Priority Areas

  • Fostering creativity through arts, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths) programming
  • Developing life skills and leadership capabilities
  • Building career aspirations for young people
  • Youth empowerment in local communities
  • Creative Youth Development (CYD) principles
  • Educational inequality particularly in economically disadvantaged areas

Key Partnerships

  • International Youth Foundation (IYF) - Global program delivery
  • OnSide - British youth charity operating Youth Zones
  • Save the Children - Supporting young Ukrainians in Poland
  • Royal College of Art - Material futures and sustainability research
  • London Youth - Grassroots youth work in London
  • Marcus Rashford MBE partnership - Supporting young people living in poverty
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Lord Chris Holmes MBE (Chair) - Appointed 21 March 2017. British life peer in House of Lords, former Paralympic swimmer, and advocate for blockchain and technology
  • Fiona Campbell (Trustee) - Appointed 1 October 2023
  • Dr Gerard Martin Murphy (Trustee) - Appointed 16 September 2021
  • Edward Charles Rash (Trustee) - Appointed 29 March 2019

Trustees meet quarterly to validate grant-making decisions and ensure the Foundation operates independently from Burberry's commercial interests.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Burberry Foundation does not have a public application process. The Foundation operates through strategic, invitation-only partnerships with select organizations. All partnerships referenced in official sources describe the Foundation “selecting” or “welcoming” partners, not organizations applying for funding.

The Foundation proactively identifies and partners with established charities to deliver its youth empowerment programs. Partner organizations are selected based on:

  • Alignment with Creative Youth Development (CYD) principles
  • Established track records in youth services
  • Deep community connections and local expertise
  • Focus on creative arts, STEM, life skills, and leadership development
  • Geographic alignment with Foundation priorities

Getting on Their Radar

Joint Selection Processes: The Foundation has used joint selection processes with intermediary organizations. For example, 15 youth centres were jointly selected by Burberry and London Youth to receive grants. Organizations working with established intermediaries like London Youth or operating within networks that the Foundation partners with may have increased visibility.

International Youth Foundation Network: IYF manages the Burberry Inspire fund including “selection of recipients to fund disbursements to oversight and reporting.” Organizations with existing relationships with IYF or operating in sectors aligned with Burberry Inspire's global network may be considered for partnership.

Contact the Foundation: While there is no public application process, the Foundation maintains a dedicated email (enquiries@burberryfoundation.com) for enquiries. Organizations with strong track records in youth development, particularly those working in communities housing Burberry stores or aligned with STEAM and creative youth development, may consider making initial contact to introduce their work.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application deadlines. Partnerships appear to be established on an ongoing basis aligned with strategic priorities.

Success Rates

Not applicable - partnerships are invitation-based rather than competitive application processes.

Application Success Factors

Since the Burberry Foundation operates through strategic partnerships rather than open applications, organizations should understand what characterizes their successful partnerships:

Established Track Record: All documented partners are established organizations with decades of expertise. Examples include International Youth Foundation (global reach), Save the Children (international charity), OnSide (British youth charity with established Youth Zones), and Royal College of Art (prestigious institution).

Local Expertise and Community Connections: Partner organizations demonstrate “deep understanding of local contexts” and are “deeply embedded in their local communities,” according to Foundation communications. The 15 London Youth centres selected were already making "positive impact in some of London's most deprived communities."

Alignment with Creative Youth Development: Partners focus on “creative arts; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); life and leadership skill building.” The Foundation emphasizes creativity as a driver of positive change.

Geographic Relevance: Communities housing Burberry stores may have increased visibility. Current partnerships span the UK, USA, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Poland - regions with Burberry presence.

STEAM Focus: The Foundation “partners with leading organisations to promote the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) agenda and address educational inequality.” The £3 million grant to RCA established “the first explicit STEAM research centre at a traditional art and design university.”

Youth Age Range: The Foundation focuses specifically on young people aged 10-24.

Scalability and Innovation: Partnerships like Burberry Inspire aim to “reach 500,000 young people with creative youth development programming,” indicating the Foundation values partnerships with potential for significant reach and transformative impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - The Burberry Foundation operates exclusively through invitation-only strategic partnerships with select organizations
  • Focus on established organizations - All documented partners are well-established charities with proven track records rather than emerging organizations
  • STEAM and creativity are central - Every partnership aligns with science, technology, engineering, arts, and maths programming combined with creative youth development
  • Geographic strategy matters - Communities housing Burberry stores and regions with Burberry commercial presence appear to receive priority
  • Intermediary partnerships provide access - Organizations within networks like London Youth or connected to International Youth Foundation may gain visibility through these intermediary partnerships
  • Significant funding available - Grants range from £12,000 to £3 million, with the Foundation significantly increasing expenditure from £1.28m (2023) to £2.88m (2024)
  • Long-term partnerships preferred - The Foundation emphasizes “long-term partnerships” rather than one-off grants, with multi-year commitments to strategic partners

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