The Guardian Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Guardian Foundation's stated themes are news and media literacy, independent media and diverse voices in journalism, so a project that clearly fits one of these is the strongest match.
- The annual report shows about 8 in 10 of its 10 grants to organisations fall between £3,250 and £22,500, with a median of about £10,500, so a request in that range is typical, although its largest grant was about £64,000.
- No application process is published in the annual report, its register entry or its website, which show only a contact for getting in touch, so a short approach to that contact before a full proposal is the sensible route; neither source says how competitive its giving is or when it considers applications.
- No exclusions or eligibility limits are stated and no geographic focus is set, so the grants shown in Sheffield, London, Manchester and Birmingham describe where it has given, not who may apply.
Overview
The Guardian Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1153865).
The Guardian Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1153865) that exists to promote global press freedom and access to quality liberal journalism. Its programmes include NewsWise, Behind the Headlines, Emerging Voices Awards, Scott Trust Bursary, Media Makers, Incubator for Independent Media, Podcasting and the GNM Archive. According to the annual report, its annual giving was £162,103.
What they fund
Priority Areas
The Guardian Foundation promotes global press freedom and access to quality liberal journalism. It builds a news- and media-literate generation by working with young people in schools and communities, and supports journalists and independent media to develop sustainable models and practical solutions. Its work champions diverse voices and perspectives in journalism and seeks to remove barriers to entry. It uses training, mentorship, bursaries and career guidance to create opportunities for people from underrepresented backgrounds, and works with local partners to provide sustained support for media organisations, including skills development, networks and mini-grants. Its programmes reach children, young people, educators and journalists, while partnerships may include sub-granting agreements.
Themes
- News and media literacy
- Independent media
- Diverse voices in journalism
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the annual report shows grants mainly in Sheffield, London, Manchester and Birmingham.
How to apply
No application process is published in the charity's annual report, its register entry or its website. The contact shown is for getting in touch.
Where they fund
Where its grants have gone
- Birmingham
- London
- Manchester
- Sheffield
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to The Guardian Foundation.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 10 grants in year to 31 March 2025 by size
Median £10,665 (year to 31 March 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- DMRA · Media Viability£64,040year to 31 March 2025
- Dataninja · News & Media literacy£22,302year to 31 March 2025
- Goldsmiths College · Voice & Agency£12,731year to 31 March 2025
- University of Sheffield · Voice & Agency£12,020year to 31 March 2025
- City University of London · Voice & Agency£10,746year to 31 March 2025
- Manchester Metropolitan · Voice & Agency£10,583year to 31 March 2025
- Regio Children · News & Media literacy£10,000year to 31 March 2025
- Birmingham University · Voice & Agency£8,748year to 31 March 2025
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 March 2021 | £976,724 | £995,608 | £182,873 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2021 |
| year to 31 March 2022 | £1,118,049 | £1,160,288 | £352,094 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2022 |
| year to 31 March 2023 | £1,420,716 | £1,305,029 | £246,730 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2023 |
| year to 31 March 2024 | £1,917,226 | £1,824,253 | £314,079 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2024 |
| year to 31 March 2025 | £1,450,100 | £1,671,912 | £162,103 | Accounts for year to 31 March 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2021; year to 31 March 2022; year to 31 March 2023; year to 31 March 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 March 2025: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- theguardianfoundation.org
- theguardianfoundation.org/about · read on 30 October 2026
- theguardianfoundation.org/support-us/media-viability · read on 30 October 2026
- theguardianfoundation.org/programmes · read on 30 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 March 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to The Guardian Foundation?
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Applying to The Guardian Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required