The Kpmg Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £5,922,575 (total grants awarded through 360Giving data)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (proactive funder with no open application process)
• Decision Time: 4-8 months (3 trustee meetings per year)
• Grant Range: £25,000 - £450,000
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, and Scotland
• Portfolio Size: Typically 15 partners at any time

Contact Details

Address: 15 Canada Square, London E14 5GL

Website: https://kpmgfoundation.org.uk

Email: kpmgfoundation@kpmg.co.uk

Phone: 020 7311 4217

Note: The Foundation operates a proactive funding model. Organisations confident they align with the Foundation's priorities may get in touch, but there is no open application process.

Overview

THE KPMG FOUNDATION is an independent grant-making charity, supported by KPMG in the UK since 2000, registered as charity number 1194474. Led by CEO Judith McNeill (who joined in 2019 from Comic Relief), the Foundation focuses on improving the lives of the UK's most vulnerable children and young people. The Foundation makes larger, multi-year grants to around 15 partner organisations at any time, developing long-term and significant relationships through proactive research and trustee networks. Their flexible grant-making approach has evolved to focus on two key priorities: care experienced children and young people, and children under 5 in families facing the toughest challenges. The Foundation emphasizes adding value beyond financial grants through catalyzing ideas, amplifying partner achievements, and connecting organisations for greater impact. To mark their 25th anniversary in 2025, they created a special programme awarding 25 additional grants of £25,000 each, totaling £625,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core Multi-Year Partnerships: £25,000 - £450,000

1. Early Stage Innovations: Supporting organisations with strong track records of leadership or lived experience, with vision and ideas about creating and tracking change; potential to influence and/or scale
2. Evidence-Based Projects: Projects or programmes supported by independent evidence, building transferable, sustainable and cost-effective approaches with high potential or capacity to influence policy and practice
3. Systems Change: Work that can influence policy, practice, and the wider system

25@25 Anniversary Programme (2025 Special Programme): £25,000 each

• One-year core funding grants
• 25 grants totaling £625,000
• Supporting babies, children, young people and families in localities that can be overlooked

Priority Areas

Current Priorities:

• Care experienced children and young people, including those in the care system or on the edge of care
• Children under 5 (including the first 1001 days) in families and communities facing the toughest challenges
• Those who can help make the most positive difference in these children's lives

Cross-Cutting Themes:

• Poverty and disadvantage
• Authentic involvement of children, young people and families in creating change
• Work in England, Wales, and/or Scotland
• Understanding of context and 'place' with attention to data on multiple deprivation
• Outcomes focused on children being: SAFE, HEALTHY, HAPPY, LEARNING and ENGAGED
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Scholarships or bursaries
• Work outside the UK
• Capital appeals
• Promotion of religion
• Organisations without ambitious leadership and sound judgement
• Single-year projects (preference for multi-year partnerships)

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Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

CEO:

• Judith McNeill - Joined 2019, previously Grants Director at Comic Relief for 12 years and Director of Philanthropy at the Mercers' Company. Originally a research biochemist, she has worked in the voluntary sector for most of her career.

Chair of Trustees:

• Bina Mehta - Chair of KPMG UK with 30+ years experience in M&A, worked in UK, India, US, Canada. Board member at Big Sisters BC and Finance and Risk Committee of British Asian Trust.

Incoming CEO (from July 2025):

• Kevin Munday - Previously CEO of City Year UK and founding CEO of ThinkForward.

Other Trustees:

• Christopher Murray - CEO of Young People's Foundation Trust
• Corrine Harms - KPMG Senior Corporate Responsibility Manager, Education lead
• David Bartram OBE - Founder of Prescient Education, SEND policy adviser
• David Yim - Head of Risk at Wellcome Trust, former KPMG Partner
• Jennifer Lee - KPMG Partner, Office Senior Partner for Liverpool
• John McCalla-Leacy - Global and UK Head of ESG at KPMG
• Lisa Holmes - Professor of Applied Social Science at University of Sussex, research in children's social care
• Rohati Chapman - Executive Director at Carers Trust

Board Diversity: The Foundation emphasizes diversity with current board composition: 67% female, 67% from other ethnic identities, and 80% from lower socio-economic backgrounds. The board consists of 12 people, with trustees generally serving two terms of three years.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Proactive Funding Model: The Foundation does NOT have an open grant application process. They identify potential partners through:

• Active research by trustees and the team
• Networking and collaboration
• Professional networks and recommendations

Initial Contact: Organisations confident they align with the Foundation's priorities and approach may get in touch via email at kpmgfoundation@kpmg.co.uk. The Foundation advises reading their website information carefully before making contact.

Two-Stage Process:

1. Initial Conversations: The Foundation opens conversations with leaders of potential partner organisations
2. Concept Note: If appropriate, an initial short concept note is developed
3. Trustee Review: Trustees consider concept notes at one of their 3 meetings per year
4. Full Proposal: If interested, trustees may invite a full proposal at a later meeting

Decision Timeline

• Trustee Meetings: 3 times per year (approximately every 4 months)
• Overall Timeline: Process is not quick, typically taking 4-8 months from initial conversation to final decision
• Transparency: Timescales are clear and feedback is offered throughout
• Notification: Direct communication with applicant organisations

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation:

• Maintains a small portfolio of approximately 15 partners at any time
• Takes a highly selective, proactive approach
• Most organisations are identified through research and networks rather than applications
• Published 34 grants through 360Giving data (2017-2024)

Reapplication Policy

Given the proactive funding model, traditional reapplication policies do not apply. However:

• The Foundation values ongoing relationships with partners
• Multi-year funding is the norm
• Organisations can stay in touch even if not selected initially
• Feedback is offered during the decision process
• Organisations may be reconsidered as priorities or capacity evolves

Application Success Factors

What The Foundation Looks For

Organisational Characteristics:

• Ambitious organisations with inspiring leadership and sound judgement
• Fresh ideas and/or a strong track record
• Lived experience (particularly care experience)
• Passion and commitment
• Strong networks and systems thinking
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

Project Characteristics:

• Authentic involvement of children, young people and families in creating change
• Understanding of local context and 'place'
• Attention to data on multiple deprivation
• Evidence base or potential to build evidence
• Transferable, sustainable and cost-effective approaches
• High potential or capacity to influence policy and practice
• Capacity to work across England, Wales, and/or Scotland

Current and Recent Partners

The Foundation's portfolio includes organisations such as:

• Anna Freud
• Buttle UK (Chances for Children)
• Family Rights Group
• Kinship
• The Fostering Network
• Lucy Faithfull Foundation
• Skills Builder Partnership
• Thrive at Five
• Happy Baby Community
• The Difference
• Childhood Trust
• Birth Companions
• Safe Families

Strategic Advice

1. Build relationships first: The Foundation values networking and collaboration. Attend sector events where trustees or the CEO might be present.

1. Demonstrate systems thinking: Show how your work contributes to wider system change, not just individual outcomes.

1. Evidence lived experience: Highlight authentic involvement of care experienced people or those with lived experience of the challenges you're addressing.

1. Focus on influence and scale: Articulate how your work has potential to influence policy, practice, or be scaled.

1. Show multi-year vision: The Foundation prefers long-term partnerships. Demonstrate sustainability and long-term impact.

1. Emphasize diversity: Reflect the Foundation's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in your leadership and approach.

1. Be patient: The process takes time. The Foundation values thorough assessment and relationship-building.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Proactive funding only: Don't expect to succeed through cold applications. Focus on building sector relationships and ensuring your work is visible to the Foundation's network.

• Portfolio approach: With only 15 partners at any time and multi-year commitments, new funding opportunities are rare. Competition is extremely high.

• Strategic alignment is critical: Your work must directly address care experienced children/young people OR early years (under 5s) in the context of poverty and disadvantage.

• Leadership matters: The Foundation invests in people as much as projects. Ensure your leadership team exemplifies the ambition, judgement, and values the Foundation seeks.

• Systems change focus: Demonstrate how your work will influence wider policy, practice, or systems - not just deliver services to beneficiaries.

• Long-term relationship: If you make initial contact, be prepared for a 4-8 month decision process and think multi-year from the start.

• Beyond the grant: The Foundation offers value beyond money through networks, amplification, and connections. Highlight how you could benefit from and contribute to this.

References

1. KPMG Foundation Official Website - https://kpmgfoundation.org.uk
2. KPMG Foundation “Our Approach” - https://kpmgfoundation.org.uk/our-approach.html
3. KPMG Foundation “Our People” - https://kpmgfoundation.org.uk/our-people.html
4. KPMG Foundation “Our Grants” - https://kpmgfoundation.org.uk/our-grants.html
5. KPMG Foundation “25@25 Anniversary Programme” - https://kpmgfoundation.org.uk/25-at-25.html
6. Charity Commission Register - THE KPMG FOUNDATION (1194474) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1194474
7. 360Giving GrantNav - KPMG Foundation - https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1194474
8. Companies House - THE KPMG FOUNDATION (13083579) - https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13083579