The DHL UK Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Expenditure: £2,390,139 (2023)
• Foundation Type: Corporate foundation
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide, with emphasis on areas of socio-economic disadvantage
• Age Focus: Young people aged 11-25 (particularly those with barriers to employment)
• Partnership Model: Strategic multi-year partnerships (no public application process)
• Employee Engagement: 336 DHL volunteers, 7,000+ young people reached annually

Contact Details

Address: 2 Pine Trees, Chertsey Lane, Staines upon Thames, TW18 3HR

Email: GoTeachUK@dhl.com

Website: https://www.dhlukfoundation.org/

Charity Registration: 327880

Company Number: 02223373

Overview

The DHL UK Foundation was established in 1988 as an independent UK charity that works in partnership with DHL businesses and employees to support disadvantaged young people. With annual expenditure of £2,390,139 (2023), the Foundation focuses on addressing inequalities that affect young people's access to employment by building aspirations and developing essential workplace skills for those aged 11-25.

The Foundation operates through three strategic mechanisms: multi-year unrestricted grants to selected charity partners, the GoTeach employee volunteering programme that delivers employability sessions in schools, and investment in impact evaluation and research. In 2013, the Foundation won the Prime Minister's Big Society Award for outstanding contribution to community and innovation in partnerships. The Foundation underwent a strategic review in 2020, refining its vision and mission to focus specifically on helping underserved young people access decent employment and thrive in their careers.

Recent impact includes 336 DHL employee volunteers delivering 225 activities across 50 school partners, directly reaching 7,000 young people, with 74% of participating students reporting increased excitement about their future career prospects.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Strategic Partnership Funding

• Multi-year unrestricted grants to selected charity partners
• Amounts vary significantly by partner and programme
• Examples: £1.23 million to Teach First (2015-2023), £2+ million to Street League (since 2017)
• Partnerships typically run for multiple years with deep integration of DHL resources

Helping Hands Support (Employee-Focused)

• Benevolent fund for DHL colleagues and pensioners in need
• Support for essential costs, rent or utilities debts, funeral costs
• Only available to DHL employees and pensioners
• Contact: helpinghands@dhl.com

Match It! Programme (Employee-Led)

• Matches DHL employee fundraising efforts (minimum £50 individual, £100 group)
• Also recognises volunteering time with donation matches
• Over £250,000 matched to date
• Supports various causes beyond core mission when employee-led

Priority Areas

The Foundation addresses four primary barriers to youth employment:

1. Socioeconomic Circumstances: Supporting young people whose family background affects educational and life outcomes
2. Limited Careers Guidance: Providing access to quality careers advice and mentoring
3. Insufficient Job Readiness: Building work experience and employability skills
4. SEND Support: Particularly focused on young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Thematic Focus:

• Employability skills development
• Career aspirations building
• Education quality improvement
• Work experience and mentoring
• Youth unemployment reduction

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations without clear focus on youth employability (ages 11-25)
• General charitable causes unrelated to education or employment
• Organisations without evidence of impact measurement
• Projects in areas without proximity to DHL UK sites (for partnership programmes)
• Capital projects (except through employee-nominated programmes)

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Susie Robinson (Chair) - CEO of Transform2Outperform Ltd, formerly Executive Vice President HR at DHL Supply Chain for 16 years. Brings extensive corporate and HR expertise.

Kate Butchart - Director of Philanthropy at CVC, former Head of Corporate Citizenship EMEA at Credit Suisse. Joined January 2020.

Neha Mahendru - Over 17 years in charitable and private sectors, former Director at Impetus for 9 years, previously management consultant with McKinsey.

Christoph Selig - Vice President Sustainability Communications and Programmes at Deutsche Post DHL Group. Joined November 2020. Developed the international GoTeach programme.

Helen Copinger-Symes - 30+ years in Asset Management and Investment Banking. Joined August 2022.

Barbara Storch - Director of Bridges Impact Foundation, former Portfolio Director at Impetus for 6+ years. Joined 2017.

Duncan Butler - Vice President Commercial, DHL Supply Chain UKI and CFO DigiHaul. Long-standing Foundation supporter since 2010, appointed trustee 2025.

Paul Lyon - Managing Director, DHL Global Forwarding UK. 32+ years logistics industry experience.

Foundation Staff

Caroline Courtois - CEO

Harry Wade - Deputy CEO

Emma Stratford - Senior Programme Manager

Nicky Donovan - Programme Manager

Jen Simkin - Finance Manager

Louise Brinklow - Foundation Manager

Tara Dattani - Programme Coordinator

Aishwarya Swaminathan - Foundation Coordinator

How to Apply to The Dhl Uk Foundation

How to Apply

This Foundation does not have a public application process. The DHL UK Foundation selects charity partners through a strategic, proactive process rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Partnership decisions are made by the Board of Trustees, which meets quarterly to lead the strategic direction of the Foundation. The Foundation has worked with New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) to identify potential partners through a rigorous research process.

For Helping Hands and Match It! programmes: These are exclusively available to DHL employees and pensioners. External organisations cannot apply directly but may be nominated by a DHL employee through Match It!.

Getting on Their Radar

The Foundation conducts periodic strategic reviews to identify new charity partners. Their most recent partner selection (Street League) was identified through New Philanthropy Capital using specific criteria:

Selection Criteria Used:

• Sites/operations close to DHL UK locations
• Strong evidence of impact and outcome measurement
• Ability to offer engaging volunteering opportunities for DHL staff
• “Best in class” delivery in the youth employability sector
• Capacity to integrate with DHL's business resources and employee base

Specific Strategies:

1. Connect with New Philanthropy Capital: The Foundation has used NPC for partner identification. NPC conducted a two-stage process identifying 20 charities, shortlisting six for due diligence before final selection.

1. Demonstrate Geographic Alignment: Show presence in areas where DHL has significant operations, particularly logistics hubs in major UK cities. Past partners have been selected in Birmingham, Liverpool, London, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands.

1. Build Track Record with Corporate Partners: NPC's research included analysing charities' track records with other corporate partners. Demonstrating successful corporate partnerships signals readiness for DHL collaboration.

1. Engage DHL Employees: If your organisation already works in communities where DHL employees live/work, encourage those employees to engage with your cause through Match It!, which could raise your profile with the Foundation.

1. Sector Visibility: The Foundation seeks charities recognised as sector leaders. External recognition, sector awards, and thought leadership in youth employability increases visibility.

Decision Timeline

Partnership decisions are made quarterly at Board of Trustees meetings. New partnerships typically involve substantial due diligence and are multi-year commitments. Based on the Street League example, the selection process can take several months from initial identification to final partnership announcement.

Application Success Factors

Given the strategic partnership model, organisations should focus on:

1. Evidence of Impact: The Foundation's strategy emphasises “investment in evaluation and evidence-building.” The 2023 GoTeach evaluation demonstrates their commitment to measuring outcomes. Strong M&E frameworks and proven impact data are essential.

2. Geographic Proximity to DHL Operations: NPC's research explicitly prioritised “sites close to DHL UK sites.” Demonstrate presence in areas with significant DHL employee concentrations.

3. Employee Engagement Potential: The Foundation values “engaging volunteering opportunities for DHL staff.” Show how your programmes can meaningfully involve corporate volunteers with diverse skill sets, from frontline staff to senior leaders.

4. Employability Focus Alignment: The 2020 strategic review sharpened focus specifically on youth employability. Projects must directly address barriers to employment for young people aged 11-25, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds or with SEND.

5. Best-in-Class Delivery: The Foundation seeks charities that are “best in class” in their field. Demonstrate sector leadership, innovation, and proven track record in youth employability work.

6. Corporate Partnership Experience: Analysis of “track record with other corporate partners” was part of NPC's due diligence. Experience working with corporate foundations, especially integrating business resources beyond funding, strengthens applications.

7. Multi-Year Sustainability: Partnerships are substantial, multi-year commitments (e.g., Teach First since 2015, City Year since 2016, Street League since 2017). Demonstrate organisational stability and capacity for long-term partnership.

Key Quote: The Foundation describes seeking charities with “capability to deliver employability programmes” and “willingness to measure and demonstrate impact” as core selection criteria.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - partnership selection is proactive and strategic, typically with consultant support
• Multi-year, substantial partnerships are the model - this is not a grants programme for multiple small projects but deep engagement with selected partners (£1m+ over multiple years)
• Geographic alignment with DHL operations is critical - demonstrate presence in major logistics hub cities
• Employee engagement capacity is as important as programme delivery - show how you can involve hundreds of DHL volunteers meaningfully
• Evidence of impact is non-negotiable - 74% of young people felt more excited about careers after GoTeach, reflecting the Foundation's commitment to measurable outcomes
• “Best in class” positioning matters - sector recognition, awards, and thought leadership increase visibility when strategic reviews occur
• If you can't be a strategic partner, engagement through Match It! via DHL employee connections can raise your organisational profile

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Card Factory Foundation
• Matchroom Charitable Foundation
• The Nagle Family Foundation
• Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation
• The T.k. Maxx And Homesense Foundation
• The Royal Pinner School Foundation
• The Reta Lila Howard Foundation
• The Cadbury Foundation
• Vinci Uk Foundation
• The Orr Mackintosh Foundation Limited

References

• DHL UK Foundation Official Website: https://www.dhlukfoundation.org/
• Charity Commission Register, Charity No. 327880: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/327880
• “DHL UK Foundation wins Big Society Award” - GOV.UK, June 2013: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dhl-uk-foundation-wins-big-society-award
• “DHL UK Foundation - Working With NPC” - New Philanthropy Capital: https://www.thinknpc.org/organisations-weve-worked-with/dhl-uk-foundation/
• DHL UK Foundation Strategy 2021-2024 document: https://www.dhlukfoundation.org/our-strategy/
• “GoTeach Evaluation” - Chad Research, October 2023
• “Street League and DHL Partnership” - Street League: https://www.streetleague.co.uk/partners/dhl
• “DHL UK Foundation Partnership” - City Year UK: https://www.cityyear.org.uk/partnership/dhl-uk-foundation/
• DHL UK Foundation and Teach First - Business Charity Awards: https://www.businesscharityawards.com/finalists/dhl-uk-foundation-and-teach-first-tackling-educational-inequality
• Charity Commission Accounts for year ending March 2023