The Equitix Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £97,000 - £120,000+ (varies by year)
• Total Raised to Date: Approximately £1 million
• Grant Range: Varies (typically supports 3 headline charities per year)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Application Method: No public application process - employee-nominated charities

Contact Details

• Address: 3rd Floor, 200 Aldersgate Street, London EC1A 4HD
• Phone: 020 7250 7333
• Email: equitixfoundation@equitix.co.uk
• Sponsorship Enquiries: charitydrinks@equitix.com
• Website: equitix.com/sustainability/equitix-foundation

Overview

The Equitix Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in June 2021 (Charity No. 1194853). It was established as the charitable arm of Equitix, a leading global investor, developer, and long-term fund manager of core infrastructure assets founded in 2007.

The Foundation's vision is to create a lasting entity that can materially and positively impact charities connected to the assets and communities that Equitix serves. With total income of £258,623 and expenditure of £251,990 in the year ending June 2024, the Foundation has raised approximately £1 million since inception.

The Foundation specifically targets small-sized charities where donations can make a tangible impact. Their unique model allows Equitix employees to take a leading role in determining how funds are allocated, creating a strong sense of ownership and engagement across the organisation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates primarily through an annual headline charity model:

• Headline Charities Programme: Each year, 3 charities are selected as headline beneficiaries, receiving equal shares of the annual fundraising total
• 2024 Event: Raised £97,000 for headline charities
• December 2023 Event: Raised over £120,000 for three nominated charities

2025/26 Headline Charities

1. Mustard Tree - Greater Manchester poverty and homelessness charity
2. Cambridge Children's Hospital - Specialist children's hospital development
3. The Brain Tumour Charity - Research, support, and awareness

Previous Beneficiaries

• Fight 4 Change - Sport for development charity working with marginalised young people
• Caring Minds Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Norfolk Community Foundation
• Zarach - National charity eradicating bed poverty for children
• SNAP Inverness - Supporting young people with additional needs in the Scottish Highlands
• Primrose Bank Community Association - Community services in Oldham
• Railway Children

Priority Areas

• Small charities that will feel the impact of donations
• Organisations connected to infrastructure assets and communities Equitix serves
• Local and community-based charities
• Charities addressing poverty, homelessness, health, and children's welfare
• Organisations supporting education and community development

What They Don't Fund

• No explicit exclusions documented
• However, the Foundation focuses on small charities rather than large national organisations

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (5 total)

| Name | Role | Appointed |

|------|------|-----------|

| Hugh Barnabas Crossley | Chair | 18 June 2021 |

| Geoffrey Allan Jackson | Trustee | 18 June 2021 |

| David Rose | Trustee | 18 June 2021 |

| Greg Wadsworth | Trustee | 16 October 2023 |

| Michael Andrew Bryan | Trustee | 16 October 2023 |

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

About the Chair

Hugh Crossley co-founded Equitix in 2007 and serves as the group's Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Investment Committee, with over 25 years' industry experience. He is a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) and is responsible for much of Equitix's growth and strategic direction.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Equitix Foundation's model is employee-driven rather than application-based. Charities are selected through internal processes where Equitix employees take a leading role in nominating and deciding how funds should be allocated.

The Foundation states: “Our model permits us to maximise our giving capabilities and allows every employee to take a leading role in how the money should be allocated.”

Funding Model

1. Annual Charity Drinks Event: The primary fundraising mechanism is a major annual Christmas event hosted and funded by Equitix, bringing together their network from throughout the infrastructure industry
2. Employee Fundraising: Charitable donations from employee fundraising efforts are matched by the firm
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Co-sponsors contribute to the annual event

Every penny raised through the annual event goes directly to the charities and is split equally between the three headline charities.

Getting on Their Radar

The Equitix Foundation offers opportunities to engage through their sponsorship network:

• Co-sponsorship: Organisations can become co-sponsors of the annual charity drinks event
• Prize Donations: Opportunities to donate prizes for fundraising activities
• Contact: For involvement enquiries, email charitydrinks@equitix.com

The Foundation monitors its charitable donations throughout the year to understand how funds have been spent and how they can help charities going forward, suggesting they build ongoing relationships with beneficiary organisations.

Past event sponsors have included: Alvarez & Marsal, Ashurst, CMS, Deloitte, Grant Thornton-Tax, Lockton, PwC, Reed & Mackay, RBS International, and Smart Currency Business.

Decision Timeline

• Charities are typically selected on an annual cycle
• Headline charities serve for one year
• No formal notification timeline documented

Application Success Factors

What Makes Charities Successful

Based on the Foundation's documented approach and beneficiary patterns:

1. Small Scale: The Foundation explicitly states they “specifically select small size charities which will feel the impact of their donations”

1. Community Connection: Charities connected to infrastructure assets and communities that Equitix serves have a natural advantage

1. Measurable Impact: The Foundation monitors donations throughout the year to understand how funds have been spent, indicating they value clear, demonstrable outcomes

1. Geographic Relevance: Previous beneficiaries span locations where Equitix has operations or infrastructure assets (Greater Manchester, Leeds, Scotland, Birmingham, Norfolk)

1. Employee Engagement: Since employees play a leading role in charity selection, organisations that can engage and inspire Equitix staff may have an advantage

Types of Projects Funded

Recent beneficiaries demonstrate a preference for:

• Direct service provision to vulnerable groups
• Community development initiatives
• Children and young people's welfare
• Mental health services
• Poverty alleviation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process - The Equitix Foundation operates through employee nomination and internal selection, not open applications
• Focus on small charities - They explicitly target organisations where donations can make a noticeable difference
• Community connection matters - Charities linked to infrastructure communities Equitix serves are prioritised
• Consider sponsorship engagement - Organisations can build visibility through co-sponsoring or contributing to the annual charity drinks event
• Employee engagement is key - Since staff drive charity selection, consider how to raise awareness among Equitix employees
• Relationship building - The Foundation monitors beneficiaries throughout the year, suggesting they value ongoing partnerships
• Contact the Foundation - For charities interested in being considered, reach out via equitixfoundation@equitix.co.uk or charitydrinks@equitix.com

References

1. Charity Commission Register - THE EQUITIX FOUNDATION - 1194853 -
2. Charity Commission Trustees Page - Trustees - THE EQUITIX FOUNDATION -
3. Equitix Foundation Official Page - Equitix Foundation -
4. Hugh Crossley Profile - Equitix Team -
5. Charity Choice Profile - The Equitix Foundation -