The Openwork Foundation

Charity Number: 1184592

Annual Expenditure: £0.8M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £800,000+
  • Total Distributed (44 years): £23 million
  • Grants Awarded (recent year): 47 project grants + strategic partnerships
  • Grant Range: £100 - £15,000 (plus strategic partnerships of £150,000 over 3 years)
  • Decision Cycle: Quarterly
  • Geographic Focus: UK and overseas (supporting UK registered charities)
  • People Impacted: 70,000+ annually; 700,000+ since inception

Contact Details

Website: www.theopenworkpartnership.com/the-foundation/

Email: foundation@theopenworkpartnership.com

Phone: 03706 082550

Address: The Openwork Foundation, Auckland House, Lydiard Fields, Swindon, SN5 8UB

Overview

The Openwork Foundation (Charity No. 1184592) has been supporting vulnerable people for over 44 years, bringing together partners, advisers, and staff from The Openwork Partnership to fund charitable projects across the UK and overseas. Since its inception in 1981, the Foundation has raised and donated £23 million to charities, impacting over 700,000 lives. In their most recent year, the Foundation awarded £800,000 to 84 charities, benefiting over 70,000 people facing difficult circumstances. The Foundation operates with remarkable efficiency - all administrative costs and overheads are covered 100% by Openwork Holdings Limited, and all donations are uplifted by 50% by the parent company, meaning every pound raised delivers maximum charitable impact. The Foundation is supported by 10 trustees (who receive no remuneration) and 190 volunteers across the Openwork Partnership network.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Openwork Foundation operates multiple grant streams:

Strategic Partnerships (£50,000 annually per partner for 3 years = £150,000 total)

  • Current partners: Young Enterprise and Dementia UK (2024-2026)
  • These partnerships provide sustained, significant funding to national charities
  • Young Enterprise partnership specifically supports their “Inspiring Futures” programme for young people facing barriers to social mobility

Project Grants (£5,000 - £15,000)

  • Multiple grants made each quarter
  • 27 project grants awarded in recent year
  • Applications assessed quarterly by Grant Committee
  • Nominations accepted throughout the year

Unrestricted Grants (£500)

  • 20 unrestricted grants awarded in recent year
  • Provides flexible funding for smaller charities

Small Grants (£100 - £500)

  • For charities with special meaning to Openwork Partnership members
  • Processed by Foundation Team throughout the year
  • Can support causes beyond vulnerable people, including environmental, conservation, and animal welfare

Priority Areas

The Foundation primarily focuses on supporting vulnerable people who are facing difficult circumstances, including:

  • Children and adults with physical and mental disabilities
  • People with specific health conditions
  • Hospices and palliative care services
  • Air ambulances and emergency medical services
  • Services supporting people experiencing homelessness
  • Services supporting survivors of abuse
  • Young people facing barriers to social mobility

Small grants may also support environmental, conservation, and animal welfare causes where they have special meaning to the nominating member.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Foundation requires charities to be:

  • UK registered charities
  • Supporting vulnerable people (for larger project grants)
  • Nominated by someone within The Openwork Partnership network
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Governance and Leadership

Board Structure

The Openwork Foundation is managed by a Board of 10 Trustees, supported by a Fundraising Committee and Grant Committee made up of members from The Openwork Partnership. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Key Personnel

Paul Mitchener - Chairman of the Trustees (former Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at The Openwork Partnership)

Erica Mandryko - Trustee (also serves as Chief of Staff and General Counsel at The Openwork Partnership)

The Grant Committee, which assesses applications quarterly, comprises advisers and colleagues from across The Openwork Partnership.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The Openwork Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Charities cannot apply directly for funding.

To be considered for a grant, your charity must be nominated by:

  • An adviser working with Openwork Ltd
  • A staff member from The Openwork Partnership
  • A colleague from associated firms (including Owl Financial, Omnis, or 2plan)

The Nomination Process

  1. Identify a nominator: Your charity must have a connection to someone working within The Openwork Partnership network
  2. Nominator submits nomination: Advisers and colleagues throughout the network can nominate eligible UK registered charities
  3. Foundation Team support: Once nominated, the Foundation Team works with the charity to prepare the application pack for the Committee
  4. Committee review: Applications are assessed each quarter by the Grant Committee
  5. Updates provided: The Foundation keeps the nominating adviser or colleague updated on progress and final decisions

Getting on Their Radar

Since The Openwork Foundation only accepts nominations from within their network, charities seeking funding should:

Build connections with Openwork Partnership members: The Openwork Partnership is a national network of financial advisers operating across the UK. If your charity works with financial advisers or has supporters in the financial services sector, they may have connections to Openwork advisers who could nominate you.

Engage with local Openwork practices: Openwork has advisers and practices throughout the UK. Building relationships with local practices through community events, networking, or shared interests in local causes may lead to nomination opportunities.

Make your impact visible: Since advisers and colleagues can nominate charities that have “special meaning” to them, ensuring your charity's work is visible in your community and demonstrating clear impact may lead to organic nominations from network members who encounter your work.

Consider Swindon connections: The Foundation is based in Swindon and may have stronger local connections in that area.

Decision Timeline

Quarterly cycle: Applications are assessed each quarter by the Grant Committee

Timeline for nominated charities:

  1. Nomination submitted to Foundation Team
  2. Foundation Team works with charity to prepare application pack
  3. Quarterly Grant Committee review
  4. Decision communicated to nominating adviser/colleague and charity

The exact timeframe from nomination to decision is not publicly specified, but with quarterly reviews, charities should expect decisions within a 3-month cycle.

Success Rates

In their most recent year:

  • 47 grants were awarded (27 project grants of £5,000-£15,000, plus 20 unrestricted grants of £500)
  • 84 charities received funding in total (including strategic partners and all grant types)
  • Total of £800,000 distributed

The Foundation has been operating since 1981 with consistent quarterly grant-making, suggesting a well-established and reliable programme for nominated charities.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Clear impact on vulnerable people: The Foundation's mission focuses on “support[ing] vulnerable people to improve their quality of life.” Successful applications clearly demonstrate how the grant will make a tangible difference to people facing difficult circumstances.

Examples of Funded Projects: Understanding what they fund helps charities position their work:

  • Thamesdown Hydrotherapy Pool: £15,000 towards a new hoist to ensure safe pool access for users for years to come
  • Youth Adventure Trust: Funding for young people from Swindon to attend the three-year Youth Adventure Programme
  • Mencap: £150,000 to create an education centre for people with learning difficulties at Dilston Hall
  • Action for Kids: Partnership supporting their mobility advocacy programme to help families access specialist mobility equipment
  • International school building: Constructing a school from recycled shipping containers in the Philippines

Project sustainability and equipment: Several funded projects involve equipment purchases (hoists, mobility equipment) and programme support that will have long-term impact.

Connection to the nominator: Since grants can include “charities with special meaning to Openwork Partnership members,” the strength of connection between the nominating adviser/colleague and the charity likely influences success.

Preparing a Strong Application

While the Foundation Team assists with preparing the application pack, charities should be ready to provide:

  • Clear evidence of charitable registration (UK registered charity requirement)
  • Specific project details and costings
  • Demonstration of impact on vulnerable people
  • Information about beneficiaries and reach
  • Project sustainability and long-term benefits

Strategic Considerations

Network engagement: Since all grants require nomination, charities should focus on relationship-building with potential nominators rather than traditional application preparation. Engaging with Openwork advisers through sector events, local community work, or shared interests may open nomination opportunities.

Local and national scope: The Foundation supports both local projects (like Swindon-based initiatives) and national/international work, so both local and larger charities can be successful.

Range of grant sizes: With grants from £100 to £15,000 (and strategic partnerships beyond that), the Foundation can support projects of various scales. Smaller projects shouldn't be discouraged from seeking nomination.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: You cannot apply directly - your charity must be nominated by someone within The Openwork Partnership network (advisers or staff from Openwork Ltd, Owl Financial, Omnis, or 2plan)
  • Build the right relationships: Focus on networking with financial advisers and Openwork Partnership members who might nominate your charity rather than preparing speculative applications
  • Quarterly opportunities: With grants awarded every quarter since 1981, there are regular opportunities for nominated charities throughout the year
  • Significant funding available: £800,000+ distributed annually across 47 project grants plus strategic partnerships means substantial funding is available for the right projects
  • Vulnerable people focus: Project grants must support vulnerable children or adults facing difficult circumstances (small grants have more flexibility including environmental/conservation causes)
  • 100% of donations reach charities: All administrative costs covered by parent company and 50% donation uplift means exceptional efficiency
  • Foundation Team provides support: Once nominated, the Foundation Team works with charities to prepare strong application packs for Committee review
  • Proven track record: 44 years of grant-making and £23 million distributed demonstrates a stable, committed funder that honors its partnerships

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