Leslie Smith Foundation

The Leslie Smith Foundation is a UK-based grant-making charity administered by a family-led board of trustees, dedicated to advancing general charitable purposes with a sharp focus on vulnerable children. Its core mission centers on enhancing quality of life for children with life-changing medical conditions, supporting hospices providing palliative and end-of-life care, and enabling access to education for young people with special needs. Rooted in a commitment to lasting impact through targeted interventions, the Foundation prioritizes practical projects and services delivered by effective organizations, reflecting its ethos of positive change for those in significant social need.

It funds UK-registered charities delivering direct benefits to these groups, including project grants, core costs, and occasional capital support for paediatric healthcare, hospice services, and specialised schools. Geographically, it operates UK-wide with no regional restrictions, showing a preference for small and medium-sized charities—those with limited resources—while welcoming both proven recipients for repeat funding and new applicants with strong alignment.

Eligible applicants must be UK-registered charities (not individuals); there are no religious restrictions, income thresholds, or subnational limits, though alignment with core themes is essential. Applications are unsolicited via a written letter or proposal (outlining objectives, needs, charitable status, accounts, and reports), submitted rolling at any time—contact via Charity Commission details. Typical grants range from £2,500 to £20,000; allow several months for trustee review, with no fixed deadlines or specified meeting frequency.

Distinctively, the Foundation avoids broad or unaligned causes, emphasizing demonstrable effectiveness in child medical support, hospices, and special needs education, setting it apart through sustained, focused generosity to high-impact UK providers.