The Progress Foundation

Charity Number: 1123219

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M
Geographic Focus: Throughout London

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £150,000 (approximately)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 3 months from application deadline
  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £25,000
  • Grant Duration: Up to 3 years maximum
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Greater London
  • Age Focus: Young people aged 14-21

Contact Details

Website: www.progressuk.org

Phone: 020 7431 6608

Email: Not publicly listed

Company Number: 6515146

Charity Number: 1123219

Overview

The Progress Foundation was established in 2008/9 as a grant-giving trust focusing on young people aged 14-21. Over their first seven years, they granted or committed nearly £1 million to charities working primarily in Greater London. By 2025, they had awarded approximately £4 million to nearly 100 charities. The foundation is run by three director/trustees who are all qualified accountants with extensive financial services experience. They operate without a secretariat, maintaining low operating costs to maximize grant-giving and respond quickly to projects of interest. Their mission is to help young people become fully involved with society through education, job-finding assistance, and social enterprise participation. The foundation distributed approximately £150,000 in programme grants annually, with about £50,000 being new grants each year. In August 2025, the foundation closed their open application process and are currently reviewing their approach for future funding rounds while completing existing charity relationships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core Grant Programme (Currently Closed)

  • Grant range: £10,000 - £25,000 per annum
  • Maximum duration: 3 years
  • Typical grants: £10,000 - £15,000
  • Annual distribution: Approximately £150,000 total

Application Status: The foundation closed applications on August 31, 2025, and is reviewing their approach. They have sufficient funds to complete existing charity relationships but are not accepting new unsolicited applications at this time.

Priority Areas

The Progress Foundation has supported organizations working in the following areas with young people aged 14-21:

  • Education and Skills Development: Literacy, numeracy, and academic achievement
  • Employment Support: Work readiness, job-finding assistance, and employability skills
  • Social Enterprise: Youth involvement in entrepreneurial activities
  • Mental Health: Supporting young people's psychological wellbeing
  • Youth Violence Prevention: Addressing knife crime and related issues
  • Refugee Support: Helping young refugees integrate into society
  • Self-Esteem and Confidence Building: Mentoring and personal development
  • Extracurricular Activities: Sports, arts, and other developmental activities

What They Don't Fund

  • Grants to individuals
  • Statutory funding replacement
  • Organizations promoting particular religious beliefs (unless work is clearly non-religious and fits funding guidelines)
  • Grants exceeding £25,000 per year
  • Funding beyond 3 years for single projects
  • Applications outside their annual timetable (when applications are open)
  • Postal applications
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The foundation has three director/trustees who manage the charity directly:

  • Roger Pilgrim - Qualified accountant with extensive financial services experience
  • Nadine Majaro - Qualified accountant with extensive financial services experience
  • Nigel Hamway - Qualified accountant with extensive financial services experience

All three trustees have considerable experience working with charitable and voluntary organizations. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Trustee Philosophy

The trustees emphasize several key principles in their approach:

On Evaluation: “We always ask how [charities] will evaluate whether the work they do is worthwhile... Many charities develop excellent systems for collecting data on their impact but it can be a daunting process for smaller or younger charities.”

On Long-term Sustainability: “We always explain to charities that we do not normally fund projects for more than 3 years and that they need to establish ways of measuring their work which will allow them to make a compelling case to other funders in the future.”

On Proxy Measurement: The trustees developed a practical approach to measuring long-term impact by assessing whether projects succeed in getting follow-on funding from other grant-givers, as this indicates that objectives are robust and have been largely achieved.

The trustees value “deeply engaged leadership” and a “willingness to think in different ways” in the organizations they support.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: The Progress Foundation closed their open application process on August 31, 2025. They are not currently accepting unsolicited applications and are reviewing their approach for future funding rounds. The foundation will update their website with information about any future funding opportunities.

Previous Application Process (when applications were open):

  • Applications were accepted through an online system only
  • Fixed annual deadline (previously August 31)
  • Postal applications were not considered
  • Applications outside the published timetable were not reviewed

Application Review Process (Historical)

When applications were being accepted, the foundation followed this process:

  1. Initial Review: Internal review of all applications
  2. Shortlisting: Meeting with top-ranked applicants (typically 4-5 charities) to explore applications in detail and meet management teams
  3. Final Decision: Board meeting to finalize grant recipients, amounts, and assessment criteria
  4. Payment: Aimed to finalize process and make payment within 3 months of application closing date

The foundation generally only met with charities who had been successful in reaching their grant-giving shortlist.

Decision Timeline

  • From deadline to decision: Approximately 3 months
  • Meetings with shortlisted organizations: During review period
  • Payment: Within 3 months of application deadline

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. The foundation typically shortlisted 4-5 charities per funding round for detailed discussions after the initial application review.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available on their website.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's published guidance and trustee statements, successful applications demonstrated:

Clear, Measurable Objectives

The trustees consistently emphasize the importance of “clear, precise objectives” and being “output-focused.” Applicants should be prepared to explain exactly what outcomes mean and how project results can be measured. The foundation values measurement of outcomes rather than just inputs.

Sustainability Planning

Organizations must demonstrate clear thinking about future funding beyond the Progress Foundation's typical 3-year maximum support period. The trustees assess whether objectives are robust enough to attract follow-on funding from other grant-makers.

Efficient Communication

Applications should be clear, accurate, and concise. The trustees note that “poor, inaccurate or unclear applications” are a common pitfall.

Professional Financial Controls

Organizations need to demonstrate strong financial management and controls.

Innovation and Flexibility

The trustees value organizations with “deeply engaged leadership” and a “willingness to think in different ways.” Being prepared to be challenged and think innovatively is important.

Evaluation Readiness

Applicants should have clear plans for how they will assess whether the project is succeeding at the end of each year's cycle. Smaller or younger charities should not be intimidated by evaluation requirements but should show willingness to develop appropriate systems.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Poor, inaccurate, or unclear applications
  • Lacking professional financial controls
  • No clear plan for future funding sustainability
  • Inability to articulate measurable outcomes
  • Vague objectives without clear outputs

COVID-19 Response Insight

During the pandemic, the foundation demonstrated flexibility by providing rapid, unrestricted funding to existing grantees, showing they can adapt their approach when circumstances require it.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Applications Currently Closed: The foundation is not accepting unsolicited applications as of August 31, 2025, and is reviewing their future approach. Monitor their website for updates.
  • Evaluation is Central: Be prepared for robust conversations about how you will measure success and demonstrate impact. Develop clear, measurable objectives before applying.
  • Think Beyond Their Grant: Demonstrate how Progress Foundation funding will help you secure future funding from other sources. Their support is explicitly time-limited (maximum 3 years).
  • Greater London Focus: While not an absolute requirement, the foundation primarily supports work in Greater London with young people aged 14-21.
  • Small, Lean Operation: With three trustees managing everything directly, they value efficient communication and clear, concise applications.
  • Flexibility and Innovation Valued: Show willingness to be challenged and think creatively about your approach. The trustees appreciate organizations that can engage in thoughtful dialogue about their work.
  • Professional Standards Expected: Even small organizations need to demonstrate robust financial controls and clear organizational leadership.

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