The Simmons And Simmons Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,357,069 (FY 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation/nomination based)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: UK offices (London, Bristol, Cambridge) and international offices
• Application Method: No public application process - staff nomination and Charity of the Year voting

Contact Details

Foundation Contact:

• Registered Charity Number: 1129643
• Associated with: Simmons & Simmons LLP
• Main Firm Phone: +44 20 7628 2020
• Main Firm Email: [email protected]
• Website: Information available at www.simmons-simmons.com (under Responsible Business section)

Note: The foundation does not have a public application process. Contact details are for the associated law firm.

Overview

The Simmons and Simmons Charitable Foundation was registered as a trust on 15 May 2009 and operates as the charitable giving arm of Simmons & Simmons, an international law firm. With annual charitable expenditure of £1.36 million (2024), the foundation supports smaller charitable organizations that are local to the firm's offices and where staff can have active involvement. The foundation focuses on addressing social exclusion and helping the less privileged to access opportunity. The firm commits to substantial charitable giving each year, distributed through their Charity of the Year program and targeted grants aligned with UN Sustainability Goals. Recent beneficiaries include Justice & Care (2025 Charity of the Year), ISPCC, Voice Ireland, Save the Children, and UNICEF. The foundation operates internationally across multiple countries including the UK, Belgium, China, France, and Germany, with 7 trustees and 4 volunteers overseeing its grant-making activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate traditional grant programs with public applications. Instead, funding is distributed through:

• Charity of the Year Program: Annual selection of charity partners chosen through staff voting/nomination
• Strategic Grants: Discretionary grants to charities aligned with firm priorities and UN Sustainability Goals
• Crisis Response: Ad-hoc grants to major humanitarian efforts (e.g., earthquake response in Turkey/Syria, Ukraine appeal)

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

• Social exclusion and access to opportunity
• Organizations local to Simmons & Simmons offices
• Charities where firm staff can have active involvement

Recent Funding Themes:

• Modern slavery and human trafficking (Justice & Care)
• Children's welfare and protection (ISPCC, Save the Children)
• Environmental causes (Voice Ireland)
• International humanitarian crises (UNICEF Ukraine appeal, earthquake response)

Geographic Scope:

• UK offices: London, Bristol, Cambridge
• International offices across Europe, Asia, and other regions
• Priority given to organizations local to office locations

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's structure suggests they do not fund:

• Organizations without connection to Simmons & Simmons office locations
• Charities where staff cannot have active involvement
• Unsolicited applications from organizations unknown to the firm
• Large, well-established charities (focus is on “smaller charitable organisations”)

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Governance and Leadership

Structure:

• 7 Trustees (no trustees receive remuneration or benefits)
• 4 Volunteers
• Registered as a Trust
• Recognized by HMRC for gift aid

Policies in Place:

• Financial controls and risk management
• Conflict of interest procedures
• Grant-making strategy aligned with firm's CSR objectives

Key Operational Features:

• Primary income from donations and legacies: £1.01 million (2024)
• Total income: £1,032,229 (2024)
• Grant-making is the main charitable activity
• Operates on a staff-engagement model

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Simmons and Simmons Charitable Foundation operates through:

1. Internal Selection: Charities are selected through staff nominations and voting for the annual Charity of the Year program
2. Trustee Discretion: The board of trustees makes discretionary grant decisions
3. Pre-existing Relationships: Funding typically goes to organizations already known to the firm or its staff

The foundation explicitly seeks to support charities where "the firm's staff have or can have an active involvement," indicating that staff engagement is a prerequisite for funding rather than an outcome of public application.

Getting on Their Radar

Building Awareness Through Staff Connections:

• Office Proximity: Ensure your organization operates in areas local to Simmons & Simmons offices (London, Bristol, Cambridge in the UK, or their international locations)
• Staff Volunteering Opportunities: Create accessible, meaningful volunteering opportunities that would appeal to legal professionals
• Sector Events: Participate in events and networks related to modern slavery, children's welfare, social exclusion, or environmental issues - areas where the firm has demonstrated interest

Charity of the Year Program:

• The firm runs an annual Charity of the Year selection process
• Justice & Care was selected for 2025 after impressing the firm with their “innovative responses” to modern slavery
• Selection appears to involve staff voting/nomination
• Organizations need to be brought to the attention of Simmons & Simmons staff members who can then nominate them

Alignment Factors:

• Address social exclusion and opportunity access
• Demonstrate innovative approaches to social problems
• Show how legal professionals can contribute meaningfully
• Align with UN Sustainability Goals
• Have a local presence near firm offices

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Decisions are made at the discretion of trustees and through the annual Charity of the Year selection process.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation operates on an invitation/nomination basis rather than competitive public applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's staff-engagement model, organizations that have succeeded in securing funding share these characteristics:

1. Local Presence with National/International Impact

• Justice & Care operates globally but can demonstrate local work relevant to the firm's locations
• ISPCC and Voice Ireland both have clear geographic connections to Simmons & Simmons' Dublin office

2. Innovative Approaches to Social Problems

The firm stated they were "deeply impressed by [Justice & Care's] innovative responses" to modern slavery, specifically mentioning:

• The Victim Navigator Scheme
• Policy work on trafficking

3. Clear Role for Professional Engagement

• Justice & Care partnership includes “pro bono support and practical casework assistance”
• Organizations need to articulate how legal professionals can meaningfully contribute

4. Alignment with Social Exclusion Themes

All funded organizations address the foundation's core mission of helping “the less privileged to access opportunity”

5. Strong Communication of Impact

Justice & Care's selection was influenced by their clear articulation of the problem scale (50 million people impacted by modern slavery) and their specific solutions

6. Staff Champion

Given the nomination-based system, having a staff member who believes in your cause and can advocate internally appears critical

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Applications: Do not attempt to submit a traditional grant application - this foundation does not accept them
• Build Staff Relationships: Focus on connecting with Simmons & Simmons employees through volunteering, sector events, and networking in areas local to their offices (London, Bristol, Cambridge, or international locations)
• Geographic Proximity Matters: Being local to a Simmons & Simmons office is effectively a requirement
• Demonstrate Staff Engagement Opportunities: Show how legal professionals can meaningfully contribute to your work, particularly through pro bono legal support
• Focus on Innovation: The firm values “innovative responses” to social problems - emphasize what makes your approach distinctive
• Address Social Exclusion: Ensure your work clearly addresses the foundation's core mission of helping the less privileged access opportunity
• Think Long-Term: Relationship building with this funder requires patience and strategic networking rather than application writing
• Consider Charity of the Year: The annual Charity of the Year program appears to be a key pathway to funding - research how to position your organization for staff nomination

References

• The Charity Commission Register of Charities, “The Simmons and Simmons Charitable Foundation - 1129643,” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1129643
• The Charity Commission, “Full Print - The Simmons and Simmons Charitable Foundation,” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/4043817/full-print
• Justice & Care, "Justice & Care voted one of Simmons & Simmons' Charities of Year," https://justiceandcare.org/news/justice-care-voted-one-of-simmons-simmons-charities-of-year/
• Irish Legal News, "Simmons & Simmons to support two Irish charities," https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/simmons-simmons-to-support-two-irish-charities
• Chambers and Partners, "Simmons & Simmons LLP, UK 2026," https://chambers.com/law-firm/simmons-simmons-llp-uk-1:383
• Legal Cheek, "Simmons & Simmons," https://www.legalcheek.com/firm/simmons-simmons/