Compass Group Foundation

Compass Group Foundation's logo mark in horizontal format and coloured in all white

Our mission is to improve the lives of people through education and innovation, empowering them to play a key role in the future of food for their communities. 

Our 2023 Impact Report

The Foundation has helped to improve 2,800+ lives, as well as incubating 62 small to medium sized enterprise supplier businesses. We invite you to read our Impact Report for further details of the projects, people and impact we have supported throughout 2023.

Download here

The Compass Group Foundation leverages the networks and relationships of the world’s largest food services group to make the biggest difference for the most disadvantaged groups.

Our priorities

01.

Creating inclusive job opportunities

We provide access to job opportunities for disadvantaged groups by funding effective and innovative approaches to training and career advancement in the foodservice & hospitality sector.

02.

Empowering local & SME suppliers

We advance a sustainable food supply chain by investing in initiatives that support equitable market access and economic opportunity to small holder farmers and entrepreneurs.

How the Foundation works

Independent charity

We are an independent charity registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales

Principal funder

Compass Group PLC is our principal funder and we leverage its expertise to amplify impact

Board of Trustees

We are goverened by a Board of Trustees who are accountable for the delivery of our purpose and strategy

Grant maker

We provide grants to non-profit organisations in countries where Compass Group operates

Beneficiaries

Our main beneficiaries are low income, disadvantaged groups in society

By aligning to the overall Compass Group strategy, we can make the biggest difference to our local communities.

People

To create lifetime
opportunities

Performance

To deliver long-term valued
relationships

Purpose

To make a positive social and
environmental impact

Our Trustees

The Board of Trustees’ goal is to deliver impact through our funding and activities. They are responsible for our governance and strategic direction. The Board is accountable for everything we do. 

Get in touch

If you are a not-for-profit organisation doing great work to create inclusive job opportunities or support small suppliers in the food industry, we’d love to hear from you. When contacting us, please provide a concise outline of your organisation’s mission, including your track record, project idea, location(s) and beneficiaries served.

All fields marked * are mandatory

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What type of funding do you provide?

The Foundation usually make grants of between £10,000 and £50,000. We will provide project, general/core, overheads, matched funding or other types of grants, depending on the needs of the organisation. If a grant covers part of the cost of a proposal, the Foundation may require the applicant to provide details of the other funder(s) and the funding that they have secured or applied for.

What do you fund?

The Foundation is keen to support activities that advance its funding priorities and charitable objectives in an effective way. Organisations considered must align with our funding priorities: 

1. Creating inclusive job opportunities: to provide access to job opportunities for disadvantaged groups by funding effective and innovative approaches to training and career advancement in the food service & hospitality sector.

2. Empowering local suppliers: to advance a sustainable food supply chain by investing in initiatives that support equitable market access and economic opportunity to small holder farmers and entrepreneurs.

3. Emergency response: to provide urgent support in the case of global emergencies.

How do I apply for a grant?

The Foundation does not currently accept unsolicited applications for grants, instead it proactively identifies and develops relationships with social impact organisations. However, organisations are welcome to introduce themselves using our contact form. The Foundation acknowledges each message submitted, but might not be able to reply individually to all messages. If an organisation and/or proposal is of interest, we will contact you and may invite you to apply for a grant. 

Where do you operate?

Geographically, grants are awarded to initiatives in countries where Compass Group PLC and its group companies (Compass Group) has a presence and can leverage expertise and engagement from employees to amplify the Charity’s impact. 

How does the Foundation decide who is awarded a grant?

We make decisions based on the quality of proposals, partnership opportunities, social need, and funding availability. Organisations considered for funding should be registered as a non-for-profit organisation and will be subject to due diligence checks. All grant proposals must be made in writing using a standard form that will be shared when invited to apply for a grant.

Proposals must explain in detail how the grant will be used and put forward a strong case for support. In particular, a proposal must:

a) demonstrate how the activities funded by the grant will benefit the intended beneficiaries and advance one or more of our funding priorities.

b) demonstrate clarity of purpose, grassroots engagement and empowerment of communities, tangible positive outcomes, cost-effectiveness, accountability and a sustainable approach to delivering social impact.

c) provide a budget for the proposed activities.

d) give details of any other funding that has been awarded or that is being sought for the activities to be funded by the grant.

Can organisations request food or product donations?

No. Only financial grants are available through the Foundation. Requests for in-kind donations (e.g. food donations) are managed independently by Compass Group and is businesses.

What is the relationship between Compass Group & the Foundation?

Compass Group PLC is our principal funder. The Compass Group Foundation aims to partner with Compass Group businesses to amplify impact via volunteering or co-funding opportunities in areas where the business has expertise and can make a difference.

The Foundation is an independent entity and makes funding decisions independently from Compass Group and its businesses.