The Danson Foundation

Charity Number: 1121928

Annual Expenditure: £0.9M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £886,858 (2020)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Reviews held at least twice yearly
  • Grant Range: Smaller and larger grants available (specific amounts not published)
  • Geographic Focus: UK and international (particularly Uganda, Cambodia)

Contact Details

Address: John Carpenter House, John Carpenter Street, London EC4Y 0AN

Website: www.thedansonfoundation.com

Email: Ben.Goodburn@ns-mediagroup.com

Phone: 44 207 936 6400

Overview

The Danson Foundation was established in 2007 and launched in 2010 with a substantial £10 million donation from the Danson Family, led by Mike Danson, CEO of GlobalData. The foundation is a modern and innovative grant-making organisation that focuses on education, mental health, and environmental initiatives. Through individual grants and long-term partnerships, the foundation provides financing, know-how, and access to networks and resources. The foundation is particularly interested in working with organisations where results are tangible and their support will have a direct impact on beneficiaries. Notable achievements include supporting 270 students through the Danson Bursaries at St Anne's College Oxford, funding three PEAS schools in Uganda educating 1,538 students, and providing five years of sustained support to Grace House Community Centre in Cambodia.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Grants Programme

  • Available for both smaller and larger grants to UK registered charities
  • Focus on measurable impact and concrete results for beneficiaries
  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis via online application form
  • Foundation meets at least twice a year to review applications

Long-term Partnerships

  • Multi-year strategic partnerships with organisations in the education sector
  • Includes financial support plus access to networks and resources
  • Examples include five-year commitment to Grace House and ongoing support for PEAS schools

Priority Areas

Education

  • Supports people in education from early years to adulthood
  • Educational grants designed to support growth and development on practical and personal levels
  • International education projects, particularly in underserved communities
  • Student bursaries and scholarships
  • Internship programmes providing career development opportunities

Mental Health

  • Practical projects supporting people's mental wellbeing
  • Initiatives leading to positive change in lives
  • Improving access to mental health services and support

Environmental Initiatives

  • Environmental and conservation projects
  • UK and international focus

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, but the foundation explicitly focuses on registered charities working within education, mental health, and environmental sectors.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Michael Thomas Danson (Chair) - Appointed 11 May 2011. Founder and CEO of GlobalData, billionaire entrepreneur from Wigan
  • Helen Margaret Danson (Trustee) - Runs the day-to-day operations of the foundation
  • Ella Rose Elizabeth Danson (Trustee) - Appointed 19 November 2020

No trustees receive remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

The foundation benefits from Mike Danson's extensive business network, providing grantees with access to valuable connections and resources beyond financial support.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Applications accepted at any time via online application form
  • Available to UK registered charities working in the UK and/or overseas
  • Foundation seeking organisations using innovative models for philanthropy and funding
  • Must demonstrate ability to measure and show project outcomes

Decision Timeline

  • Foundation meets at least twice a year to review grant applications
  • Specific timelines from submission to decision not publicly disclosed
  • Notification methods not specified in public materials

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific information available regarding unsuccessful applicants reapplying or waiting periods.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values:

  • Tangible Results: “We are interested in working with organisations where the results are tangible and our support will have a direct impact on its beneficiaries”
  • Measurable Impact: The foundation strives "to support organisations where our grants will provide a concrete result for the beneficiaries and we can measure the impact of the project's success"
  • Innovation: Looking for organisations “using innovative models for philanthropy and funding”
  • Sustainability: Seeking organisations that demonstrate sustainable funding methods
  • Long-term Thinking: The foundation aims to “maximize the impact of any investment” and “find ways to match and multiply funding”

Examples of Funded Projects:

  • St Anne's College Oxford: £1.5 million gift in 2012 for undergraduate bursaries, supporting 270 students to date
  • PEAS Schools Uganda: Funded construction of three schools - Samling Kazingo (2012), Samling Kichwamba (2013), and Samling Nama (2016), currently educating 1,538 students (60% girls)
  • Grace House Community Centre, Cambodia: Five years of sustained support for residential home for children with disabilities, disability education programs, and COVID-19 relief including hygiene supplies, PPE, staff salaries, and food packages
  • Danson Foundation Internship Programme: Since 2013, provided paid internships for 235 St Anne's College students in sectors including digital media, retail consultancy, journalism, and the third sector

Standing Out:

  • Demonstrate clear, measurable outcomes
  • Show how the grant will provide concrete results for beneficiaries
  • Present innovative approaches to funding or delivery
  • Emphasize sustainability and long-term impact
  • Highlight educational focus with practical benefits

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Education is Primary: While the foundation supports mental health and environment, education projects form the core of their funding portfolio with multiple large-scale, long-term commitments
  • Think Long-term: The foundation prefers building partnerships rather than one-off grants - demonstrate potential for ongoing relationship
  • Measurement Matters: Ability to measure and demonstrate impact is crucial; include clear evaluation frameworks in applications
  • International Welcome: Strong track record of funding international education projects, particularly in developing countries
  • Innovation Valued: Foundation specifically seeks innovative models for philanthropy and funding - highlight unique approaches
  • Rolling Applications: No fixed deadlines provides flexibility but may mean longer wait times between board meetings
  • Beyond Money: Foundation offers access to networks and resources through Mike Danson's GlobalData connections - consider how this could benefit your project

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