Sanderson Foundation

The foundation funds education-focused initiatives including formal schooling, informal learning, supplementary tuition, after-school clubs, skills training, and employability support for children, young people, and adults facing barriers. Broader priorities encompass social welfare, poverty relief, community development, mental health wellbeing through counselling and peer support, disability inclusion via therapeutic activities and respite care for people with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, or complex health needs, youth work including mentoring and outdoor activities, elderly care tackling social isolation through befriending and day services, family support for carers, homelessness prevention, addiction recovery, and refugee integration training. They support organisations operating throughout England and Wales.

Only registered charities are eligible to apply. The foundation works with organisations across England and Wales, serving diverse groups including care leavers, ethnic minorities, rural communities, and isolated individuals. They are open to both grassroots and national charities. Applicants should be able to demonstrate clear public benefit and alignment with the foundation's broad charitable purposes. There is no religious restriction.

The foundation does not fund non-charitable purposes or activities lacking clear public benefit. They exclude specialised or duplicative efforts that do not demonstrate broad societal impact.

The foundation offers flexible funding including unrestricted support, core funding, project grants, and capacity building. They favour long-term relationships with aligned organisations and welcome unsolicited applications. Their funding style is impact-driven and relationship-focused, with decisions guided by trustee discretion.