Wembley Stadium Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £978,289 (2024)
• Annual Giving: £197,721 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: Varies by program (examples include £15,000 anchor grants)
• Geographic Focus: London Borough of Brent (local), Greater London (regional), England (national)

Contact Details

Website: www.wembleystadiumfoundation.org

Email: info@wembleystadiumfoundation.org

Phone: 07944 518065

The Foundation welcomes grant support workshop attendance for organizations seeking application guidance and capacity building support.

Overview

Established in 2012 as Wembley National Stadium Trust (charity number 1072392), the foundation rebranded to Wembley Stadium Foundation in 2024. Funded through event day income from Wembley Stadium (receiving approximately 1% of Wembley National Stadium Ltd's annual turnover, around £1 million annually under a legal agreement dating back to 2002), the foundation has awarded over £5 million in grants since inception, supporting more than 300 organizations through over 500 grants. The foundation's mission is to “inspire, connect and transform communities through the power of Wembley Stadium” by funding sport, movement, and performing arts initiatives, with particular focus on young people facing barriers to access including disability, gender, race, or socio-economic disadvantage. Led by CEO Paul Findlay MBE since the 2024 rebrand, the foundation emphasizes partnership-oriented funding and capacity building rather than one-time grants.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

BRENT - Local Community Grants

• Focus: Grassroots clubs and creative community spaces building local pride and belonging
• Geographic scope: London Borough of Brent only
• Delivered in partnership with Brent Council through the “Love Where You Live Fund”
• Application method: Online applications currently accepted
• Recent example: Two-year unrestricted grants for seven Brent-based organisations

TARGETED Fund

• Focus: Organizations tackling the biggest inequalities in access to sport, movement, and performing arts
• Priority groups: Children and young people facing barriers including disability, gender, race, or socio-economic disadvantage
• Purpose: Testing new ideas or strengthening existing projects
• Application method: Invitation-only (not open to unsolicited applications)

EURO 2028 HOST CITIES Fund

• Focus: Multi-year partnerships across Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and London
• Goal: Using sport and culture to drive participation and civic pride
• Launch: 2026
• Application method: To be confirmed

Priority Areas

• Community sport participation and physical activity
• Movement and wellbeing initiatives (physical, emotional, and mental health)
• Performing arts programs
• Kit, equipment, and participation costs for grassroots organizations
• Facilities, coaching, and training to enable young people to participate in football and other sports
• Programs supporting deprived young people and disabled individuals
• Stadium access experiences connecting local and national communities to Wembley Stadium
• Initiatives demonstrating catalytic potential to leverage additional funding

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented on the foundation's website. Applicants should contact the foundation directly for detailed eligibility criteria and restrictions.

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Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Paul Findlay MBE - Chief Executive Officer

Former military officer with background in the charitable sector; awarded MBE in 2020 for charity services; represented Great Britain at Amputee Football World Cup (2010); advisor to Cabinet Office and NHS England on veteran affairs and social mobility; board member of Essex County Football Association.

“Anyone can be inspired, anyone can achieve, and anyone should have the chance to experience the magic of Wembley Stadium.” - Paul Findlay MBE, CEO

Khilna Shah - Chair of Trustees

Chartered Accountant with 10+ years corporate experience; LSE economics graduate (First-Class degree); former KPMG consultant and Senior Management Team member of one of the UK's largest private companies; Wembley resident; Vice-Chair and Governor of a local secondary school; Trustee of the National Football Trust; passionate about sport inclusivity.

Trustees

• Ann-Marie Willison - 20+ years experience in legal, criminal justice, and community sectors
• Alexa Thiel - Project manager with Sky background; netball club captain
• Freddie Carter - 10+ years in sports industry; 7 years with The FA
• David Rainford - Elite sport experience; Premier League Football Development leadership; former professional footballer

None of the trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Staff Team

• Matilda Thaddeus-Johns - Head of Strategic Partnerships & Programmes
• Zainab Zahra - Foundation Assistant

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications for the Brent Local Community Grants can be made online through the foundation's website at www.wembleystadiumfoundation.org. The foundation operates an online application process with a comprehensive FAQ section about the Trust and application procedures available at www.wnst.org.uk.

The TARGETED Fund operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.

For Euro 2028 HOST CITIES Fund, application details will be released closer to the 2026 launch.

The foundation offers grant support workshops to help applicants learn how to apply for funding, providing tools and advice whether new to grant applications or looking to strengthen submissions.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. Applicants should expect to be notified through the application portal or direct contact.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available. Since 2012, the foundation has made over 500 grants to more than 300 organizations, suggesting some organizations have received multiple grants.

Reapplication Policy

No public information is available regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants. Contact the foundation directly for guidance on resubmitting applications.

Application Success Factors

Based on funded projects and foundation communications, successful applications demonstrate:

Catalytic Potential: The £15,000 anchor grant to Connect Stars in Harlesden exemplifies what the foundation values - this initial investment helped create a vibrant youth hub serving over 150 young people and engaging more than 30 girls, which then secured £400,000 annual funding from the Violent Reduction Unit. The foundation describes this as “a shining example of what can be achieved when organisations like the Wembley Stadium Foundation and communities come together to invest in their young people.”

Measurable Community Impact: Successful projects provide specific participation numbers and demonstrate tangible reach within their communities. Connect Stars' ability to report precise figures (150+ youth served, 30+ girls engaged, community tournament attendance) shows the kind of outcome tracking the foundation appreciates.

Holistic Programming: The foundation supports initiatives that go beyond simple recreational space to provide learning, growth, and safe environments for young people. Projects creating spaces where young people can develop skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging align well with foundation priorities.

Partnership and Collaboration: The foundation's 2025-28 strategy emphasizes strategic partnerships and capacity building. Projects demonstrating collaboration with local authorities (as in the Brent “Love Where You Live Fund”), other community organizations, or schools strengthen applications.

Focus on Under-represented Groups: Particular attention should be paid to demonstrating how projects support young people facing barriers including disability, gender, race, or socio-economic disadvantage.

Stadium Connection: While not essential for all programs, projects that can connect beneficiaries to Wembley Stadium experiences or use the stadium's inspirational power align with the foundation's core principle that “anyone can have a Wembley story.”

Sustainability and Capacity Building: The foundation's strategic approach emphasizes supporting grantees through capacity building rather than one-time grants, suggesting preference for projects with sustainability plans or organizational development components.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Know which fund to target: Brent organizations should apply to local community grants; invitation-only TARGETED Fund is not open to unsolicited applications, so focus on building relationships if you work with under-represented groups nationally
• Demonstrate catalytic potential: Show how foundation funding could leverage additional resources or create lasting community infrastructure beyond the initial grant
• Quantify your impact: Provide specific, measurable outcomes in your application - numbers of participants, demographic reach, and community benefit
• Emphasize partnerships: Applications delivered in collaboration with local authorities, schools, or other community organizations appear particularly strong
• Attend their workshops: The foundation offers grant support workshops - attending demonstrates commitment and provides insights into their priorities
• Focus on the three core principles: Frame your application around how you help anyone move (physical activity/wellbeing), create Wembley stories (stadium connection/inspiration), or demonstrate that together, anyone can (collaboration/partnership)
• Think beyond sport: While historically sport-focused, the foundation now explicitly includes movement and performing arts - don't limit yourself if you work in these areas with young people

References

• Wembley Stadium Foundation - Official Website
• Wembley Stadium Foundation - About Page
• Wembley Stadium Foundation - Our Funding
• Wembley Stadium Foundation - Strategy 2025-28
• Charity Commission - WEMBLEY NATIONAL STADIUM TRUST (1072392)
• Connect Stars Grant Case Study
• The FA - Wembley Stadium Foundation
• Wembley Stadium - Local Community
• Accessed: December 2025