The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation - London Division

Charity Number: 1163896

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Registered Charity: 1163896 (England & Wales)
  • Annual Income: £372,904 (2024)
  • Annual Expenditure: £353,054 (2024)
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £10,000
  • Grant Duration: Up to 3 years
  • Geographic Focus: England, Wales, and Scotland (London, Birmingham, Manchester)
  • Application Method: Invitation only (nomination-based)

Contact Details

Website: www.iicf.org.uk

Email: wwilder@iicf.org.uk

Phone: +1 424 253-1107

Address: 1st Formations Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ

Executive Director: Wendy Wilder

Overview

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) UK, registered as charity 1163896, was established to unite the insurance industry in grant-giving, volunteering, and leadership to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people. Since launching in 2015, IICF UK has changed the lives of over 7,200 children, young people, and adults through grants to 34 charities focusing on education and employment. With annual income of £372,904 (2024), the foundation awards three types of grants: Community Grants (member-nominated grants for specific programs), Campaign Grants (responsive grants for particular causes), and Founders Grants (annual grants chosen by the Associate Board). The foundation's strategy aligns closely with UN Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities), emphasizing social mobility through skills development, education, and employment opportunities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grants: £5,000-£10,000

Member-nominated grants that fund specific programs at grassroots charities. Awards made for up to three years, then paused for minimum one year before potential reapplication.

Campaign Grants: Amount varies

Responsive grants awarded with funds raised for a particular cause or campaign.

Founders Grant: Amount varies

Annual grant set up to recognize founding board members, chosen by the Associate Board of young insurance professionals.

Priority Areas

  • Social Mobility: Primary focus on advancing opportunities for disadvantaged communities
  • Education & Literacy: Supporting reading programs, school engagement, and educational access
  • Youth Employment: Creating pathways to meaningful work for young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds
  • Skills Development: Programs developing confidence, life skills, and employability
  • Youth Rehabilitation: Reducing re-offending and supporting transitions from custody
  • Learning Disabilities: Supporting people aged 16+ with learning disabilities
  • Homelessness Prevention: Helping young people facing housing insecurity

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects outside the UK
  • Religious or political organizations
  • Employee salaries
  • Individual scholarships or bursaries
  • Completed work or retrospective funding
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Mark Trumper - Chair, IICF UK; Managing Director, Axco Insurance Information Services

Kieran Jones - Head of Insurance, Weightmans

Julian Laville - International Chief Financial Officer, SiriusPoint

Chris Lockwood - Global Head of Operations and Digital, AXA XL

Dawn Miller - Commercial Director, Lloyd's of London

Martin Wiggins - CEO, brandformula

Executive Team

Wendy Wilder - Executive Director, IICF UK

With 20 years' experience in business strategy and corporate responsibility, Wendy holds an MBA from Stern School of Business, New York University, and oversees IICF UK's strategic direction and operations.

Organizational Structure

The foundation operates with 5 trustees, 30 volunteers, and 1 employee. No trustees receive remuneration. The organization is governed by an Executive Director and Board of Trustees who set strategy, supported by an Associate Board of young professionals who provide strategic input and nominate charities for the Founders Grant. IICF UK works with 22 corporate partners from across the insurance industry.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

IICF UK does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The foundation operates exclusively through a nomination-based process.

Nomination Process:

  1. Executive, affiliate, and associate board members nominate charitable organizations
  2. Grants Committee reviews nominations against selection criteria
  3. Committee creates a long list of charities meeting criteria
  4. Executive Director invites selected charities to submit formal applications
  5. Committee reviews applications and creates short list
  6. Executive Director conducts due diligence on short-listed charities
  7. Grants Committee recommends charities to the Board
  8. Board of Trustees approves final grant recipients
  9. Executive Members endorse Board decisions

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Registered charity in England, Wales, or Scotland
  • Annual income typically £250,000 to £15 million
  • Established for at least two years
  • Focus and activities align with IICF's social mobility priorities
  • Specific, defined project outcomes
  • One-off grants lasting no more than one year per grant cycle

Getting on Their Radar

Connect with Corporate Partners: IICF UK works with 22 insurance industry corporate partners whose board members and employees nominate charities. Building relationships with insurance companies that are IICF members increases visibility.

Attend IICF Events: The foundation hosts networking events including:

  • IICF Forum (annual, June): Explores insurance industry's social purpose and ESG strategy, held at member company offices. Attended by insurance industry leaders interested in social responsibility.
  • Week of Giving (October): Annual volunteering initiative where hundreds of insurance professionals volunteer with charities. Participating as a volunteer host organization provides visibility.
  • Grants Reception (annual): Event celebrating grant recipients where funded charities meet corporate partners and board members.

Contact the Executive Director: Wendy Wilder (wwilder@iicf.org.uk) can provide information about membership opportunities and how organizations might come to the foundation's attention.

Consider the Associate Board: The Associate Board comprises young insurance professionals who nominate charities for the Founders Grant. Connecting with young professionals in the insurance sector may create pathways to nomination.

Decision Timeline

The grants process involves multiple review stages:

  1. Board members submit nominations
  2. Grants Committee reviews nominations
  3. Invited charities submit applications
  4. Committee conducts due diligence
  5. Board approves final recipients

Specific timeframes for each stage are not publicly disclosed. The foundation operates on an annual grant cycle with announcement events typically held in late autumn/early winter.

Monitoring and Reporting

  • Quarterly reports required from grant recipients
  • Relationship managers assigned to each funded charity
  • Ongoing engagement through volunteering opportunities with corporate partners

Reapplication Policy

For Successful Applicants: IICF awards grants to organizations for up to three years, then pauses funding for a minimum of one year. After the pause, the Grants Committee decides whether to invite the organization to apply for further grants.

For Unsuccessful Applicants: No specific policy is publicly available regarding when or if unsuccessful nominated charities can be re-nominated.

Application Success Factors

What IICF Values

Grassroots Organizations: The foundation explicitly states it is “particularly keen to support grassroots charitable organisations” with the capacity to deliver impact but needing strategic funding.

Measurable Outcomes: Selection criteria emphasize “specific, defined project outcomes” rather than general operating support.

Social Mobility Focus: All funded work must demonstrably advance social mobility through education, skills, or employment pathways.

Target Demographics: Organizations supporting people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, disadvantaged communities, or facing barriers to opportunity.

Financial Scale: Organizations with annual income between £250K-£15M are typical, suggesting preference for established but not large national charities.

Geographic Alignment: Current focus on London, Birmingham, and Manchester, though other UK locations considered.

Examples of Funded Projects

Key4Life (2024): £7,500+ for Through the Gate Scheme supporting young men transitioning from HMP Thameside prison. Over 80 young men have graduated from employability programs since 2017 partnership began, with many securing employment and some becoming certified mentors.

Bookmark Reading Charity (2024): Grant enabled expansion into new deprived communities, providing 57,000 books to 505 primary schools and 43,000 reading sessions to 1,842 children in 146 schools.

Spartans Community Foundation (2021): £7,500 for SpheroSports robotics technology introducing learners to STEM education in fun, collaborative ways.

Envision (2024): Grant supported 120 students aged 13-15 in Birmingham through 12-week active citizenship competition developing essential skills and confidence.

ReachOut (2024): Funded after-school program across 5 Manchester schools, running 12 projects led by trained Project Leaders and volunteer mentors to build academic and social confidence.

Strategic Considerations

Insurance Industry Connection: While not required, projects creating opportunities for insurance industry volunteers or addressing skills gaps relevant to the sector may resonate.

Volunteer Engagement: IICF emphasizes connecting companies with charities they support. Organizations offering meaningful volunteer opportunities for insurance professionals strengthen the partnership value.

ESG Alignment: The foundation helps corporate partners demonstrate social impact and advance DEI strategies. Projects contributing to diverse talent pipelines or social responsibility metrics align with corporate partner interests.

Partnership Duration: With up to 3-year funding cycles, IICF seeks sustainable partnerships rather than one-off grants, valuing long-term relationships.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Nomination is everything: You cannot apply directly. Focus on building relationships with insurance industry professionals, particularly those at IICF's 22 corporate partners, who can nominate your organization.
  • Grassroots with capacity: IICF specifically targets established grassroots organizations (£250K-£15M income) that can deliver measurable impact but need strategic support to scale.
  • Social mobility through employment/education: Every funded project must demonstrably create pathways to education, skills, or employment for disadvantaged communities. Generic “helping people” won't resonate.
  • Volunteer opportunities matter: IICF connects corporate partners with funded charities for volunteering. Organizations offering meaningful engagement opportunities for insurance professionals strengthen their value proposition.
  • Think multi-year: With grants lasting up to three years, demonstrate capacity for sustained partnership and evolution rather than one-off project delivery.
  • Geographic focus: Current concentration in London, Birmingham, and Manchester suggests these locations receive priority, though the foundation supports charities across England, Wales, and Scotland.
  • Attend their events: Participating in Week of Giving as a host organization or attending the IICF Forum provides visibility to the board members who nominate charities.

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