The Compass Group Foundation

Charity Number: 1187218

Annual Expenditure: £0.9M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??755,707 (income) / ??906,039 (expenditure) (year ending Sept 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only applications)
  • Decision Time: Not specified (proactive identification model)
  • Grant Range: ??10,000 - ??50,000
  • Geographic Focus: International (countries where Compass Group operates)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.compass-group.com/en/compass-group-foundation.html

Email: Compassgroupfoundation@compass-group.com

Phone: 01932 573000

Contact Method: The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications but welcomes organisations to introduce themselves via their website contact form. They acknowledge all messages but may only respond if the organisation aligns with their priorities.

Overview

The Compass Group Foundation is an independent charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1187218), established in 2019 and officially launched in January 2023. The Foundation's core mission is to “improve the lives of people through education and innovation, empowering them to play a key role in the future of food.” In its first year of operation, the Foundation provided over ??500,000 in funding to 14 non-profit organisations across eight countries. By March 2024, the Foundation surpassed ??1 million in total charitable funding, supporting 21 transformative initiatives and benefiting over 3,500 people globally while helping nearly 40 small and medium-sized enterprises. The Foundation operates independently from Compass Group PLC, making funding decisions autonomously while leveraging employee expertise in countries where Compass Group has a presence to amplify community impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Standard Grants: ??10,000 - ??50,000

  • Project funding, general/core support, overhead coverage, matched funding, or other grant types based on organisational needs
  • Application method: Proactive identification by the Foundation (invitation-only); organisations may submit introductions via website contact form
  • No fixed deadlines; rolling consideration of aligned organisations

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses on three main pillars:

  1. Creating Inclusive Job Opportunities - Providing access to employment for disadvantaged groups through effective and innovative approaches to training and career advancement in the food service and hospitality sector
  1. Empowering Local & SME Suppliers - Advancing a sustainable food supply chain by investing in initiatives that support equitable market access and economic opportunity for smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs
  1. Emergency Response - Providing urgent support during global emergencies (e.g., ??250,000 donated to Disaster Emergency Committee for Ukraine humanitarian crisis in 2022; support for Turkey-Syria earthquake recovery in 2023)

Geographic Scope: Grants are awarded to initiatives in countries where Compass Group PLC has a presence, allowing the Foundation to leverage employee engagement and expertise.

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation specifically requires:

  • Organisations must be registered non-profit entities
  • Must operate in countries where Compass Group has presence
  • Must demonstrate clear alignment with one of the three priority areas
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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by 3 trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Foundation operates as an independent charity, making funding decisions separately from Compass Group and its businesses, though it benefits from the parent company's global reach and employee expertise.

The Foundation has no staff with benefits exceeding ??60,000 and maintains no trading subsidiaries, focusing resources directly on grant-making activities.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Foundation does not currently accept unsolicited applications for grants. Instead, it proactively identifies and develops relationships with social impact organisations.

For Interested Organisations:

  • Organisations may introduce themselves using the contact form on the Foundation's website
  • The Foundation acknowledges each submission but may not reply individually to all messages
  • If an organisation or proposal is of interest, the Foundation will contact you and may invite you to apply for a grant

Application Requirements (if invited):

  • Must be a registered non-profit organisation
  • Subject to due diligence checks
  • Written proposals must be submitted using the Foundation's standard form
  • Must demonstrate operations in countries where Compass Group has presence

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines not publicly available. The Foundation operates on a proactive identification model, reaching out to organisations whose work aligns with their priorities.

Notification: Direct contact from the Foundation if your organisation is selected for further consideration.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available, as the Foundation primarily operates through proactive identification rather than open competitive applications.

Performance Metrics (Year ending Sept 2023):

  • 14 organisations funded across 8 countries
  • 2,800+ lives improved (direct and indirect beneficiaries)
  • 62 SME supplier businesses supported

2024 Activity:

  • 21 transformative initiatives supported
  • Nearly 40 SMEs helped
  • Over 3,500 people benefited globally

Reapplication Policy

Not specified. Given the proactive identification model, organisations should maintain contact through the introduction form and demonstrate continued alignment with Foundation priorities.

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Factors

  1. Geographic Presence: Strong preference for organisations operating in countries where Compass Group has business presence, enabling employee engagement and expertise-sharing
  • Job opportunities for disadvantaged groups in food service/hospitality
  • Support for smallholder farmers and local suppliers
  • Emergency humanitarian response
  1. Scalability and Innovation: The Foundation seeks “effective and innovative approaches” suggesting preference for organisations with creative solutions and measurable impact
  1. Partnership Potential: Decisions are based on “partnership opportunities” indicating the Foundation values collaborative relationships where Compass Group employees can contribute expertise

Decision Criteria

The Foundation makes decisions based on:

  • Quality of proposals
  • Partnership opportunities
  • Social need
  • Funding availability

Examples of Funded Work

While specific charity names are not publicly disclosed, the Foundation has supported:

  • Charities supporting people with disabilities
  • Initiatives improving livelihoods of small farmers
  • Emergency response (??250,000 to Disaster Emergency Committee for Ukraine; Turkey-Syria earthquake recovery)
  • Projects providing temporary accommodation during disaster recovery
  • Training and career advancement programs in food service/hospitality

Strategic Considerations

  • The Foundation appears to draw from reserves when needed (spent ??150,000+ more than income in 2024, demonstrating commitment to impact over financial conservatism)
  • First full year of operation saw over ??500,000 awarded, suggesting significant appetite for scaling impact
  • International scope indicates capacity to support cross-border initiatives
  • Focus on food, hospitality, and supply chain reflects parent company's core expertise

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Proactive approach essential: Don't wait for open calls - introduce your organisation via their website contact form if your work aligns with their priorities
  • Emphasize geographic alignment: Clearly state which countries you operate in and highlight any presence in Compass Group markets to demonstrate partnership potential
  • Connect to food systems: Frame your work in relation to food service, hospitality, sustainable food supply chains, or nutrition where possible
  • Highlight innovation: The Foundation seeks “effective and innovative approaches” - showcase unique methodologies or creative solutions
  • Demonstrate SME impact: Given their focus on empowering local suppliers, show how your work supports small and medium-sized enterprises
  • Build relationships: The Foundation values partnership opportunities and employee engagement - consider how Compass Group staff could contribute expertise to your work
  • Be patient with invitation-only model: This approach means longer lead times but potentially stronger partnerships once established

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