The Lorana Sullivan Uk Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £273,877 (2024/25)
• Annual Income: £48,679 (2024/25)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: UK-based, supporting UK and international journalism education
• Charity Number: 1078955
• Company Number: 3821824

Contact Details

Correspondence Address:

6 Carlisle Street

London, W1D 3BN

Registered Office:

Victoria House

26 Tilehouse Street

Hitchin, Hertfordshire

SG5 2DY

Telephone: 020 7434 0977

Note: The foundation does not appear to have a public website or email address listed.

Overview

The Lorana Sullivan UK Foundation was established in 2000 as a charitable company in England & Wales, funded from the estate of pioneering female business journalist Lorana Sullivan (1937-1999). The foundation honors Sullivan's legacy as the first woman journalist to be taken on by The Wall Street Journal and her groundbreaking investigative work that helped inspire the Financial Services Act 1986. With current expenditure of £273,877 annually, the foundation focuses on education and training of students and other defined groups to improve standards of investigative, business, and financial journalism through scholarships and financial support to charitable and educational organizations. The foundation operates as a sister charity to the US-based Lorana Sullivan Foundation, together advancing women's participation in business and economic investigative reporting.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through strategic partnerships with journalism education and training organizations rather than open grant programs:

Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ)

• Multi-year funding for the Lyra McKee Investigative Journalism Training and Mentoring Bursary Scheme (confirmed for three years)
• Annual support for CIJ's three-day summer conferences and courses in data journalism and investigative techniques
• Nearly 50 people trained during the first four years of the Lyra McKee scheme

Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism

• Scholarships for students, with focus on women studying investigative and business journalism
• Support for the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism

CUNY Newmark Graduate School of Journalism

• Full-tuition and fees scholarships for students with interest in business and economic journalism
• Preference for candidates interested in advancing participation of underrepresented individuals in business and economic investigative reporting
• Includes assistance for living expenses

ProPublica

• Grants supporting the Lorana Sullivan Business Fellowship program
• Focus on business and investigative journalism

Priority Areas

• Investigative journalism training: Data journalism, investigative techniques, business reporting
• Underrepresented groups: Supporting journalists from underprivileged backgrounds and at early career stages
• Women in journalism: Advancing women's participation in business and financial reporting
• Business and economic journalism: Focus on investigative business journalism and financial reporting
• Educational institutions: Supporting journalism schools and training programs

What They Don't Fund

Based on the foundation's specific focus, they do not appear to fund:

• Organizations outside journalism education and training
• Individual journalists (except through established partnership programs)
• Non-journalism educational causes
• General operational costs unrelated to journalism training

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by six trustees who receive no remuneration or payments:

Michael Gillard - Secretary and Director (appointed 2003)

• British investigative journalist with over 30 years experience
• Worked on The Guardian investigation team and The Sunday Times Insight Team
• Writes the “In the City” financial column for Private Eye under the pseudonym “Slicker”
• Named “Journalist of the Year” in 2013 with “Investigation of the Year” award
• Known for exposing financial scandals and corruption

Harry J. Friedberg - Director (appointed 2001)

• American trustee, based in New York
• One of the founding directors

Richard Singer - Director (appointed 2001)

• American trustee
• One of the founding directors

Marilyn Ordover - Director (appointed 2014)

• American trustee

Maura McDermott - Director (appointed 2017)

• American trustee

Vinnee Tong - Director (appointed April 2025)

• American trustee
• Most recent addition to the board

The foundation has no employees with benefits over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Lorana Sullivan UK Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates through established partnerships with select journalism education institutions and organizations. Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion to organizations aligned with the foundation's mission of improving investigative and business journalism education.

The foundation works with a small, trusted group of partner organizations including:

• Centre for Investigative Journalism (UK)
• Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (US)
• CUNY Newmark Graduate School of Journalism (US)
• ProPublica (US)

For individuals seeking support: Applications are made through the foundation's partner institutions' scholarship and fellowship programs, not directly to the foundation.

For organizations seeking funding: There is no indication of an open application process. The foundation appears to select beneficiaries through trustee connections and strategic alignment with Lorana Sullivan's legacy in investigative business journalism.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation appears to make multi-year funding commitments to partner organizations (e.g., three-year commitment to the Lyra McKee Bursary Scheme).

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not accept direct applications, organizations that have successfully received funding share these characteristics:

Strong Alignment with Mission:

• Focus on investigative journalism, particularly business and financial reporting
• Commitment to training and education rather than direct journalism production
• Programs that support underrepresented groups in journalism, especially women
• Connection to Lorana Sullivan's legacy as a pioneering female business journalist

Established Credibility:

• Recognized journalism schools and established training organizations
• Organizations with track records in investigative journalism education
• Programs that have demonstrated impact in journalism training

Educational Focus:

• Structured training programs in investigative techniques
• Data journalism and business reporting courses
• Mentoring and professional development for early-career journalists
• Full scholarships and fellowships that remove financial barriers

Named in Honor of Lorana Sullivan:

Several funded programs explicitly honor Sullivan's legacy, suggesting the foundation values recognition of her pioneering work in the field.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this foundation works through established partnerships with select institutions
• Focus is highly specialized - investigative journalism education, particularly business and financial reporting
• Individuals should apply through partner programs - scholarships at CUNY, Columbia, fellowships at ProPublica, bursaries at CIJ
• Organizations need trustee connections - the foundation appears to identify partners through the trustees' networks in investigative journalism
• Multi-year commitments - the foundation makes sustained investments in partner organizations rather than one-off grants
• Legacy-driven - all funding honors Lorana Sullivan's pioneering role as a female investigative business journalist
• International perspective - while UK-based, the foundation supports journalism education on both sides of the Atlantic

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation
• Justice for Journalists Foundation
• Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation
• The Roddick Foundation
• Richard Reeve's Foundation
• THE JABBS FOUNDATION
• The Rowland Educational Foundation
• UGGLA FAMILY FOUNDATION
• THE CYRIL TAYLOR CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
• Veronica and Lars Bane Foundation CIO

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: The Lorana Sullivan UK Foundation (1078955).. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3966911/charity-overview

• Companies House: THE LORANA SULLIVAN UK FOUNDATION (03821824).. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03821824/officers

• Centre for Investigative Journalism: “CIJ Lyra McKee Bursary Scheme.”. https://tcij.org/initiative/lyra-mckee-investigative-journalism-training-bursary/

• CUNY Newmark Graduate School of Journalism: “Scholarship Opportunities.”. https://www.journalism.cuny.edu/future-students/admissions/scholarships-financial-aid/

• Centre for Investigative Journalism Wikipedia page.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Investigative_Journalism

• Find a Grave Memorial: Lorana Olcott Sullivan (1937-1999).. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105123571/lorana-olcott-sullivan

• Press Gazette: “Journalist of the Year Michael Gillard unable to attend London events after exposing gangster.”. https://pressgazette.co.uk/journalist-year-michael-gillard-unable-attend-london-events-after-exposing-gangster/

• Centre for Investigative Journalism: Michael Gillard profile.. https://tcij.org/person/michael-gillard/