Kurt and Magda Stern Foundation

The Kurt and Magda Stern Foundation is a UK-based grantmaker founded to honour family history and personal values forged in frontline public sector work, with trustees offering direct insight into complex social issues. Its mission centers on funding innovative, transformational projects and research that tackle root causes of trauma, disadvantage, and marginalisation, advancing social justice, equality of opportunity, and systemic change. Guided by values of collaboration, compassion, responsibility, early intervention, empowerment, and equity, it proactively identifies partners rather than accepting unsolicited applications, fostering deep strategic relationships and embracing bold, evidence-led, risk-tolerant solutions.

It prioritises human rights, conflict resolution, racial/religious harmony, equality/diversity, education, relief of need, criminal justice, and mental health, with a sharp focus on vulnerable groups: young people at risk of criminal justice involvement or antisocial behaviour, those in care, women/girls facing justice system entry, and communities hit by racism or exclusion. Supported activities include pilot programmes, feasibility studies, core costs, unrestricted funding, research, and policy-shaping collaborations—like mentoring via Chance UK, housing justice action learning with Commonweal Housing, women’s justice coalitions, and studies on racist violence aftermath—aimed at prevention, voice amplification, and long-term systems transformation.

Eligible organisations span small grassroots to national charities tackling entrenched issues in England and Wales, with no strict income thresholds but a preference for proven track records; it supports people/communities directly. Grants typically range £5,000–£50,000 (most £10,000–£30,000), awarded adhoc via trustee invitation without deadlines, forms, or public processes. Distinctively, it avoids short-term relief, capital grants, or emergency aid outside its geography, emphasising flexible, sustainable investments in ambitious, evaluative strategies for justice reform and equity.