The Clarkson Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1.75m (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable - no public application process
• Decision Time: Not applicable - trustee-led selection
• Grant Range: £50,000 - £1,250,000
• Geographic Focus: UK and international (22 countries including Kenya, Kurdistan, and others)

Contact Details

Address: Commodity Quay, St Katharine Docks, London E1W 1BF

Email: foundation@clarksons.com

Phone: 020 7334 0000

Website: https://www.theclarksonfoundation.com

Overview

The Clarkson Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered in England and Wales (charity number 1191357) on 18 September 2020. The foundation is the charitable arm of Clarksons PLC, the global maritime and shipping services company. With total income of £2.04m and expenditure of £1.75m in 2024, the foundation has raised over £1.6m in its first decade. The foundation's purpose is “to advance such charitable purposes (according to the law of England and Wales) as the trustees see fit from time to time by providing grants to organisations, charities and communities exclusively for the public benefit.” Operating with zero running costs, the foundation ensures 100% of funds raised go directly to charitable causes. The foundation is driven by a desire to amplify charitable giving and create meaningful, lasting change around the world, with a focus predominantly on Poverty, Children's Health and Wellbeing, Mental Health, and Maritime-related causes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with fixed application cycles. Instead, grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on causes that align with the foundation's priorities and where trustees see opportunities for meaningful impact.

Recent Major Grants (2024):

• Centrepoint partnership: £1,250,000 matched funding donation supporting the Independent Living Programme for homeless youth aged 18-24, resulting in “Clarksons House” in Lambeth
• Annual Charity Giving Day grants: £50,000 each to five charities (total £250,000):
• Spread a Smile (entertainment for seriously ill children in hospitals)
• School of Hard Knocks (sport-based youth development programs)
• Dig Deep (clean water projects in Bomet County, Kenya)
• Renaissance Foundation (life skills and career competencies for young people)
• The Lotus Flower (supporting women and girls displaced by war and conflict)

Additional Recent Support:

• Westminster City School: Funding for delivery staff for boys' programme supporting 50+ young people
• Movember: Support for men's health focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health
• The Wave Project: Surf therapy for young children in Belfast
• StreetChild: Education in remote communities in Liberia
• Greyhope Bay: Marine heritage preservation in Aberdeen

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on causes that demonstrate:

• Poverty alleviation: Addressing homelessness, youth disadvantage, and economic inequality
• Children's Health and Wellbeing: Supporting ill children, youth development programs, and educational opportunities
• Mental Health: Funding initiatives for young people and men's mental health
• Maritime: Marine heritage and ocean conservation projects
• International Development: Clean water access, education in developing countries, and support for displaced communities
• Local Community Impact: Projects with measurable, tangible outcomes for beneficiaries

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published explicit exclusions, but based on their funding patterns, they focus on:

• Organizations with clear, measurable impact
• Causes aligned with their four priority areas (Poverty, Children's Health, Mental Health, Maritime)
• Projects where grants can create meaningful, lasting change
• Initiatives that resonate with Clarksons employees and trustees

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a board of nine trustees who are employees of Clarksons PLC, representing a cross-section of the company's global operations. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Board of Trustees:

Jeff Woyda, Chair - Also serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Clarksons PLC. As Chair, Woyda leads the collaborative approach to charity selection: “Everyone brings ideas... collectively we decide how to focus.” On the Centrepoint partnership: “Youth homelessness in the UK simply should not be allowed to exist.”

Leo Askaroff - Brings broking desk experience to the board. Notes that through collaboration, “we can achieve great things for the charities.”

Dharani Sridharan - Inspired by charity interactions, stating: "It's been rewarding to learn so much about the charities that we support."

Kate Thompson - Involved in annual fundraising objectives: "We're still a young charity but we've managed to help masses of people."

Lily-Rose Bagshaw - Finds the trustee role fulfilling: "Being a trustee has been amazing... we're fortunate to be in a position where we can help."

Richard Haines - Motivated by elevating corporate social responsibility: “We needed a vehicle that would take us to the next level.”

Robert Knight - Focused on supporting struggling charities: “We can provide financial support to worthy causes.”

Ingeborg Almås - Emphasizes global impact: “Excited to be a part of the Foundation helping to create change.”

Kim-Eirik Ovesen - Believes in collective responsibility: “We all have a responsibility to help make a difference.”

The trustees collectively select causes based on emerging social needs, employee passions, and opportunities for transformative impact.

How to Apply to The Clarkson Foundation

How to Apply

The Clarkson Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and strategic partnerships identified by the foundation.

The foundation's website states: “If you think the foundation can help with charitable causes you are involved with, or you have an idea of ways the foundation can help – get in touch” via foundation@clarksons.com.

However, grants are typically awarded through:

• Trustee identification: Board members identify causes aligned with foundation priorities
• Strategic partnerships: Multi-year commitments to major causes (e.g., Centrepoint)
• Employee engagement: Annual Charity Giving Day where employees raise funds for trustee-selected charities
• Existing relationships: Building on previous connections with charities

The foundation is actively seeking new projects to support that amplify the Group's charitable giving and create change in areas employees are passionate about.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation makes decisions on an ongoing basis as trustees identify suitable causes rather than operating on fixed grant cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since The Clarkson Foundation does not accept formal applications, organizations cannot apply in the traditional sense. However, based on their funding patterns and trustee statements, the following factors appear important for causes that catch the foundation's attention:

What the Foundation Values:

1. Measurable, Tangible Impact: All funded projects demonstrate clear outcomes. Dig Deep's spring protection provides clean water to 4,000+ people; Spread a Smile reports specific numbers of hospital visits and children reached; Westminster City School programs support a defined number of young people.

1. Alignment with Core Priorities: Funded causes consistently fall within Poverty, Children's Health and Wellbeing, Mental Health, or Maritime themes. The Centrepoint partnership exemplifies this - trustees “observed a concerning rise in homelessness in London and felt compelled to act” (2021).

1. Zero Overhead Model: The foundation operates with zero running costs, ensuring 100% of donations reach beneficiaries. They likely value charities with similar efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

1. Multi-Year Relationships: The foundation builds sustained partnerships rather than one-off grants. The Centrepoint partnership demonstrates a multi-year commitment; the Renaissance Foundation receives funding for a 3-year “Future Ready” Project.

1. Employee Connection: Chair Jeff Woyda notes that trustees “collectively decide how to focus” based on ideas brought by board members who represent different areas of Clarksons' global business. Causes that resonate with employees appear more likely to receive support.

1. Global Reach with Local Impact: The foundation operates in 22 countries but focuses on specific communities. Projects in Kenya (Dig Deep), Kurdistan (The Lotus Flower), and Belfast (The Wave Project) demonstrate international scope with localized delivery.

1. Innovation and Scale: The £1.25m Centrepoint grant supported a major capital development (Clarksons House) breaking the cycle of youth homelessness through affordable independent living accommodation - a systemic solution rather than short-term relief.

Trustee Perspectives:

Rich Haines emphasizes the foundation serves as “a vehicle that would take us to the next level” in corporate social responsibility, suggesting they seek partnerships that enable transformative rather than incremental change.

Bob Knight focuses on “worthy causes” needing financial support, implying the foundation looks for organizations doing valuable work but facing funding constraints.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Do not submit unsolicited applications - The Clarkson Foundation does not operate a public grant program. Traditional grant applications will not be successful.

• Build relationships with Clarksons employees and trustees - The nine trustees are Clarksons PLC employees across different departments and global offices. Causes that connect with their professional networks or personal passions are most likely to be considered.

• Focus on the four priority areas - Poverty, Children's Health and Wellbeing, Mental Health, and Maritime causes receive funding. Organizations outside these themes are unlikely to be considered.

• Demonstrate measurable impact - Every funded project shows clear, quantifiable outcomes. Be prepared to articulate specific numbers of beneficiaries, concrete deliverables, and tangible change.

• Think multi-year partnerships - The foundation makes sustained commitments (3-year Renaissance Foundation project, ongoing Centrepoint partnership) rather than one-off grants. Organizations seeking long-term funding relationships may be more attractive.

• Consider the maritime connection - As the charitable arm of a global maritime company, causes related to shipping, ocean conservation, port communities, or seafarer welfare may have natural alignment.

• Contact the foundation if you believe there's strong alignment - While they don't accept formal applications, the website invites organizations to “get in touch” at foundation@clarksons.com if they believe the foundation can help. A well-crafted initial inquiry highlighting clear alignment with priorities and measurable impact may lead to further conversation.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Belron Ronnie Lubner Charitable Foundation
• The Lancashire Foundation
• Squarepoint Foundation
• The Eranda Rothschild Foundation
• The Simmons And Simmons Charitable Foundation
• The Carmela & Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation
• Anglo American Foundation
• The Vardy Foundation
• The Neon Foundation
• Uggla Family Foundation

References

1. Charity Commission Register - The Clarkson Foundation (1191357). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5162616/full-print

1. The Clarkson Foundation Official Website, “Making an Impact” section. https://www.theclarksonfoundation.com/the-clarkson-foundation/making-an-impact

1. The Clarkson Foundation Official Website, “Meet the Trustees” section. https://www.theclarksonfoundation.com/the-clarkson-foundation/meet-the-trustees

1. Clarksons PLC, “The Clarkson Foundation announces significant progress in its partnership with Centrepoint,” 2025. https://www.clarksons.com/home/news-and-insights/2025/the-clarkson-foundation-announces-significant-progress-in-its-partnership-with-centrepoint/

1. Clarksons PLC, “Clarksons Annual Charity Giving Day raises £250k for five incredible causes,” 2024. https://www.clarksons.com/home/news-and-insights/2024/clarksons-annual-charity-giving-day-raises-250k-for-five-incredible-causes/

1. Clarksons PLC, “Introducing the Clarkson Foundation,” 2021. https://www.clarksons.com/home/news-and-insights/2021/introducing-the-clarkson-foundation/

1. Clarksons PLC, “About Us - The Clarkson Foundation.” https://www.clarksons.com/home/about-us/the-clarkson-foundation/

1. Find that Charity, “The Clarkson Foundation (GB-CHC-1191357),”. https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1191357