Penningtons Manches Cooper Foundation

The foundation funds direct interventions for victims of exploitation, educational advancement for marginalised groups and children, poverty relief, homelessness support, and social inclusion programmes. This includes advocacy, accommodation, capacity building, and holistic care. It prioritises high-impact work by smaller, community-embedded charities aligned with annual trustee-set themes. Funding is limited to charities operating in the regions around its seven UK offices: London, Basingstoke, Cambridge, Guildford, Oxford, and Reading. The foundation supports both project and core costs, with a focus on areas such as modern slavery, human trafficking, and poverty relief.

Only UK-registered charities are eligible. The foundation prioritises smaller, community-embedded organisations serving vulnerable populations, particularly those facing hardship from poverty, disability, race, age, war, political persecution, and modern slavery. Charities must operate in the regions around the foundation's seven UK offices. There is no religious restriction. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications; instead, it proactively selects partners via local committees, so charities should not apply directly unless invited.

The foundation does not fund trading activities, benefits for trustees or staff, or any non-charitable purposes. It also does not support organisations outside the geographic areas of its seven UK offices. Unsolicited applications are not accepted, so charities cannot apply on their own initiative.

The foundation makes grants for both project and core costs, combining financial support with active pro bono involvement from the law firm's staff, facilitated by regional committees. It does not accept unsolicited applications; instead, it proactively identifies and selects partners aligned with its annual themes. Grants are offered on a rolling basis, and the foundation favours long-term, values-driven partnerships.