The Rws Foundation

Charity Number: 1127138

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £266,753 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: International
  • Charity Number: 1127138
  • Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Website: www.rws.com/about/foundation/

Email: connect@rws.com

Phone: 01753 480200

Address: RWS Compass House, Vanwall Business Park, Vanwall Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 4UB

Overview

The RWS Foundation (charity number 1127138) was established in December 2008, originally as the SDL Foundation, and rebranded in 2023 following RWS's acquisition of SDL plc. The Foundation's mission is to unlock global understanding by breaking down language barriers and supporting sustainable development projects worldwide. With an income of £288 and expenditure of £108,308 in the financial year ending September 2024, the Foundation operates as the charitable arm of RWS plc, a global leader in translation and content solutions. The Foundation actively involves RWS employees across multiple countries in charitable initiatives, focusing on structural and sustainable projects that enable disadvantaged communities to improve their lives through education, better living conditions, and income generation. In 2023, the Foundation launched with a renewed purpose and expanded focus areas, receiving recognition when Chairman Andrew Brode was awarded the Medal of Honour from the University of Manchester for outstanding contributions to education through philanthropic activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation does not operate traditional grant programs with published funding tiers. Instead, they make strategic partnerships and donations aligned with their three focus areas. Known beneficiaries include:

  • CLEAR Global (Sapphire Sponsorship): Ongoing multi-year partnership supporting humanitarian translation efforts, including financial support, access to language specialists, and project management resources
  • RWS-Brode Scholarship Programme: University of Manchester partnership supporting 50+ students since 2019, with pledges for 30 additional students through 2024
  • Accessibility for Blind Translators: 9-month project enabling over 1,000 visually impaired translators to work independently through accessible Trados Studio software

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses on three core areas:

  1. Language and Content Transformation: Breaking down language barriers to enable global understanding and access to vital information
  2. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Supporting underrepresented groups and ensuring equal access to opportunities
  3. Quality Education: Enabling access to education, particularly language education and skills training for disadvantaged communities

Historical partnerships under the SDL Foundation name included:

  • Eight-year partnership with MicroLoan Foundation supporting microfinance in Zimbabwe
  • Ten-year partnership with Food for the Hungry supporting community development in Maisa Bora, Kenya
  • Partnership with Santa Maria Education Fund in Paraguay

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation does not publicly disclose specific exclusions. Their focus is clearly on projects related to language access, education, and poverty alleviation through sustainable development.

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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation has 7 trustees who represent a broad spectrum of RWS's global business and act in the Foundation's best interests, making balanced and adequately informed decisions while managing resources responsibly. Specific trustee names are not publicly disclosed on their website.

Key Leadership:

  • Andrew Brode: Chairman of RWS plc, for whom the RWS-Brode Scholarship Programme is named. Awarded the Medal of Honour from the University of Manchester in recognition of outstanding contributions to education through philanthropic activities.

The Foundation emphasizes employee engagement, involving RWS plc staff across multiple countries in their charitable initiatives.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The RWS Foundation does not have a public application process. The Foundation selects beneficiaries through trustee discretion based on alignment with their mission and values. Grants appear to be awarded through:

  • Strategic partnerships identified by the Foundation's leadership
  • Multi-year commitments to selected beneficiary organizations
  • Employee-involved charitable initiatives

CLEAR Global CEO Aimee Ansari noted: “Our partnership with RWS is one of our strongest and broadest – making the collaboration impactful beyond the much-appreciated financial contribution.”

Getting on Their Radar

Direct alignment with RWS's business focus: The Foundation's first beneficiary in 2023, CLEAR Global, was selected because it "closely aligned with the Foundation's purpose of unlocking global understanding by breaking down language barriers." Organizations working at the intersection of language access, translation, and humanitarian work may be of particular interest.

Collaborative partnership model: The Foundation seeks relationships that go beyond financial support. Their partnership with CLEAR Global includes sharing internal resources, language specialists, and project managers. Organizations offering opportunities for RWS employee engagement and skills-based volunteering may be more attractive.

Long-term sustainable projects: Historical partnerships under the SDL Foundation name (MicroLoan Foundation, Food for the Hungry) lasted 8-10 years, indicating preference for sustained, multi-year commitments over one-off grants.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The Foundation operates on a fiscal year ending 30 September.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, success depends on strategic alignment and relationship building:

Strong alignment with core mission: The Foundation explicitly states that they “donate to beneficiaries aligned to their purpose and values.” Organizations must demonstrate clear connections to language and content transformation, diversity/equity/inclusion, or quality education.

Language and translation focus: Given RWS's core business in translation and localization, organizations that help break down language barriers or improve access to information across languages appear most likely to be selected. CLEAR Global's work providing translation for humanitarian crises exemplifies this alignment.

Sustainable, scalable impact: The Foundation describes supporting “structural and sustainable projects” that enable lasting improvements. Projects with clear mechanisms for sustainable income generation, education outcomes, or community development are prioritized over short-term relief.

Employee engagement opportunities: The Foundation explicitly seeks to “involve the employees of RWS plc, in the various countries that RWS operates in, in charitable organisations and causes.” Opportunities for skills-based volunteering or employee participation strengthen proposals.

Geographic diversity: RWS operates internationally, and the Foundation has supported projects in the UK (University of Manchester), Kenya (Food for the Hungry), Zimbabwe (MicroLoan Foundation), and Paraguay (Santa Maria Education Fund), suggesting openness to global partnerships.

Proven track record: Selected partners like CLEAR Global and the University of Manchester are established organizations with demonstrated impact. New or unproven organizations may face barriers to selection.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This is an invitation-only funder. Direct applications are not accepted.
  • Strategic alignment is critical: Focus on language access, translation, diversity/equity/inclusion, and education—preferably at their intersection.
  • Multi-year partnerships preferred: The Foundation commits to sustained relationships (8-10 year partnerships historically) rather than one-off grants.
  • Employee engagement adds value: Opportunities for RWS staff involvement through skills-based volunteering or collaborative projects strengthen the case.
  • Beyond financial support: The Foundation offers access to specialized expertise (language professionals, project managers) and resources beyond funding.
  • Strong existing partnerships: CLEAR Global (Sapphire Sponsor for 2023, 2024, 2025) and University of Manchester represent multi-year commitments with clear outcomes.
  • Corporate foundation model: Decisions appear to be made by trustees with close ties to RWS plc's business strategy and global operations.

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