Our three priorities
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.
Our impact
In 2022, our first grants went to support non-profit partners creating inclusive job opportunities, supporting small farmers and suppliers, and responding to global humanitarian emergencies:
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.
Robin Mills
Managing Director, Compass Group UK&I
Robin was appointed Managing Director of Compass Group's UK & Ireland business in November 2019. Robin has previously held a variety of roles at Compass, including the position of Group Chief People Officer across the global business and prior to this role he successfully headed up the UK’s education division. Prior to joining Compass, Robin held various employee relations, organisational development and talent roles in Diageo and Kingfisher. He began his career as a graduate with a brewing organisation which ultimately became part of Heineken.
Jane Kingston
Former Compass Group Chief People Officer
Jane is an independent Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chair at both Spirax Sarco Engineering PLC and Inchcape PLC. She previously served as Non- Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chair at National Express PLC. Jane has also held senior positions at BPB PLC (now Saint Gobain), Blue Circle PLC (now Lafarge SA) and Coats Viyella PLC, and served as Group Human Resources Director for Compass Group PLC from 2006 until her retirement in 2016.
Andrew Martin
Former Compass Group Chief Financial Officer
Andy is currently Chair of Intertek Group PLC and Hays Group PLC where he is Chair of their Nomination Committees. He is also a Non-Executive Director of John Lewis Partnership, and Chair of their Audit and Risk Committees. Previously he was Group Chief Operating Officer for Compass Group PLC from 2011 until 2015, and prior to that served as Group Finance Director for eight years, from 2004 to 2011. Before he joined Compass, he was the Group Finance Director at First Choice Holidays plc (now TUI Group). He previously held senior finance positions with Forte plc and Granada Group plc, and prior to that was a partner at Arthur Andersen. He was a Non-Executive Director of easyjet plc, and Chair of their Finance Committee, until August 2020.
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 its 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.
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