The Ds Smith Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 1142817

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

Stay updated on changes from The Ds Smith Charitable Foundation and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £209,241 (2023/24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000 (historically for biodiversity grants); larger strategic grants to £540,000
  • Geographic Focus: Europe and North America (across DS Smith's operational footprint)

Contact Details

Email: charitablefoundation@dssmith.com

Phone: 020 7756 1823

Website: https://www.dssmith.com/sustainability/building-strong-foundations/responsible-neighbour/charitable-foundation

Registered Address: Level 3, 1 Paddington Square, London, W2 1DL

Charity Number: 1142817

Company Number: 07654039

Overview

The DS Smith Charitable Foundation was established in 2011 as the philanthropic arm of DS Smith PLC, a leading supplier of sustainable packaging solutions. Registered as both a charity (1142817) and a company limited by guarantee, the Foundation receives its income from DS Smith PLC. For the year ending 30 April 2024, the Foundation had total income of £47,854 and total expenditure of £209,241, demonstrating active grant-making beyond annual income through use of reserves.

The Foundation is committed to driving positive change by supporting projects that protect the environment and encourage sustainability-related education. Its charitable objects are to advance environmental protection, advance education, and alleviate poverty. The Foundation operates throughout England and Wales but also supports projects across DS Smith's global footprint in Europe and North America. Recently, the Foundation has shifted to a more strategic approach, focusing resources on fewer, larger impact projects rather than numerous small grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Strategic Environmental Grants (Current Focus)

The Foundation is currently focused on funding four specific impactful projects rather than accepting open applications. A recent example is the $1 million grant to The Nature Conservancy, split across three projects:

  • Norfolk Water Fund (UK): $390,000 to support chalk streams and wetlands including the River Cam, Wensum and Norfolk Broads
  • Mrežnica River Restoration (Croatia): $540,000 to protect and restore the Mrežnica, Tounjčica and Rječina Rivers
  • Prater's Mill Dam Project (Georgia, USA): $160,000 for channel realignment

Biodiversity Grants (Historical Program - 2020-2025)

From 2020, the Foundation offered grants ranging from £1,000 to £10,000 for biodiversity projects within local communities across DS Smith's global footprint. Eligible projects included wildflower meadows, community gardens, and tree planting projects. The Foundation aimed to support 100 biodiversity projects by 2025.

Education Grants

The Foundation supports sustainability-related education and skills training initiatives, including:

  • Royal Institution Masterclasses
  • Arkwright Scholarships for students
  • Eco-classrooms (e.g., at Váci Mihály Catholic Primary School in Nagykáta, Hungary for 6-13 year olds)

Priority Areas

Environmental Protection and Biodiversity

  • Enhancing species diversity
  • Improving environments for plants and animals
  • Protecting natural habitats
  • Water conservation and freshwater ecosystem restoration
  • Climate-resilient forests and tree planting
  • Conservation projects for threatened species (e.g., butterfly conservation, Eurasian curlew)

Sustainability Education

  • Inspiring and educating communities about the circular economy
  • Skills training for young people
  • Environmental education programs
  • Practical learning experiences about environmental protection

Community Support

  • Projects that benefit local communities near DS Smith operations
  • Initiatives that combine environmental benefits with community economic benefits

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation's policy states that:

  • Donations must not be made to meet contractual or legal obligations
  • All charitable contributions must comply with applicable laws and be publicly disclosable
  • The Foundation appears focused on environmental and educational causes rather than poverty relief, despite this being a stated charitable object
Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for The Ds Smith Charitable Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The DS Smith Charitable Foundation is governed by seven trustees, all of whom are employees of DS Smith PLC. Trustees are selected based on their charitable experience, geographic representation, and valuable skills and knowledge that help the Foundation fulfill its aims. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

The Foundation operates as a private limited company by guarantee without share capital, incorporated on 1 June 2011. While specific trustee names are not widely publicized, the governance structure ensures direct alignment with DS Smith PLC's broader sustainability strategy.

The Foundation's work aligns with DS Smith's “Now and Next Sustainability Strategy” and commitment to being a “Responsible Neighbour” in communities where the company operates.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Currently Not Accepting Open Applications

The DS Smith Charitable Foundation does not currently have a public application process. The Foundation has stated: “The DS Smith Charitable Foundation is currently not accepting new funding applications. The Foundation is focused on funding four impactful projects that align with our mission across our operational footprint.”

When the Foundation previously accepted applications (2020-2025 biodiversity program), applications were submitted through an online form on the DS Smith website. However, this application route is currently closed.

Grants are now awarded through trustee discretion and strategic partnerships with major environmental organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and One Tree Planted, rather than through open application processes.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the Foundation's current focus on strategic partnerships rather than open applications, decision timelines are likely negotiated on a case-by-case basis with partner organizations.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. During the open application period for biodiversity grants (2020-2025), the Foundation aimed to fund 100 projects, but total application numbers were not disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable while the Foundation is not accepting open applications. Historical reapplication policies were not documented in available sources.

Application Success Factors

Since the Foundation is not currently accepting open applications, the following factors appear important for organizations seeking to align with the Foundation's strategic direction:

Alignment with Strategic Goals

The Foundation has moved toward larger, strategic grants that deliver significant environmental impact. Recent funding demonstrates preference for:

  • Projects with measurable environmental outcomes (e.g., specific river systems protected, acres of forest restored)
  • Initiatives that combine environmental protection with community economic benefits
  • Multi-year partnerships with established environmental organizations

Geographic Relevance

Projects should be located within DS Smith's operational footprint across Europe and North America, particularly in areas where the company has significant operations. Recent grants have supported projects in the UK, Croatia, Netherlands, Hungary, Austria, and USA.

Partnership Approach

The Foundation's recent shift suggests they prefer working with:

  • Established environmental NGOs with proven track records (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, One Tree Planted)
  • Local community groups and councils for localized projects (e.g., Pennygillam Community Woodland partnership with Launceston councils)
  • Organizations that can deliver scale and measurable impact

Dual Benefits

Projects that deliver both environmental protection and community benefits appear particularly attractive, such as:

  • Educational components that teach circular economy principles
  • Habitat restoration that also ensures healthy freshwater for communities
  • Tree planting that addresses both biodiversity and climate resilience

Connection to DS Smith Operations

The Foundation's Community Engagement & Charitable Donations Policy indicates that individual DS Smith sites receive allocated funds for local engagement. If a site requires additional funding for a significant project, they can apply internally to the Charitable Foundation. This suggests organizations near DS Smith facilities may have routes to funding through local DS Smith site management.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Open Applications Currently: The Foundation is focused on strategic partnerships rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Do not submit speculative applications at this time.
  • Strategic Partnership Model: Recent grant-making suggests the Foundation prefers fewer, larger, high-impact grants to established environmental organizations rather than numerous small grants.
  • Geographic Focus Matters: Projects should be located in Europe or North America, ideally near DS Smith operational sites to align with their “Responsible Neighbour” approach.
  • Biodiversity and Education Priority: While poverty relief is a stated object, actual funding focuses heavily on environmental protection (especially biodiversity and water conservation) and sustainability education.
  • Scale and Impact: Recent grants ($160,000-$540,000) are significantly larger than historical biodiversity grants (£1,000-£10,000), indicating a shift toward projects with substantial measurable outcomes.
  • DS Smith Connection: Organizations located near DS Smith facilities may have opportunities through local site management's community engagement budgets, which can escalate larger requests to the Foundation.
  • Monitor for Changes: The Foundation's application status may change in future years. Monitor their website and consider joining their mailing list if one becomes available.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get Beta Access NowLearn More

References