We believe we can create the UK's largest and most active group of entrepreneurs, management teams and business leaders committed to working together to drive real and meaningful change for charitable causes.
For sustainable, impactful and effective giving
Launched in 2022, the BGF Foundation is an independent charitable foundation. It is supported by cornerstone funding from BGF, with a minimum of £1.5m in the first three years.
The BGF Foundation provides support and funding to small and mid-sized charities in the UK that are focused on improving the lives of disadvantaged children, young people and adults. The Foundation will help these charities to grow sustainably and deliver a meaningful impact.
The Foundation offers more flexible ‘unrestricted’ financial support which means that charities are not limited to funding particular projects as many donors require. Charities will also receive non-financial support from BGF, its portfolio companies and its network of independent non-executives.
Fiona Lowry
Chair of BGF-backed A Wilderness Way Founding trustee of the BGF Foundation
Going further, together
The BGF Foundation will harness the financial resources, leadership and expertise of BGF, its portfolio companies and talent network – collectively, one of the UK & Ireland’s largest and most active entrepreneurial networks.
The BGF Foundation has ambassadors in every region, who work with us to select local charities, coordinate pro bono support and build long-term partnerships with them. View map
By bringing together the funding and support of BGF, our portfolio companies and Talent Network, the BGF Foundation will deliver:
A powerful combination of skills together with financial and practical resources to support a wide range of charities
The expertise to assess charities' management and operational capabilities, and the resources to monitor the impact of the grants deployed
A nationwide footprint that reaches deep into regional communities, providing a geographical spread of support for charitable causes across the UK
An exponential increase in the collective impact of pooled donations and resources, compared with individual efforts
Opportunities to volunteer time and resources to assist the charities in their endeavours
The Foundation’s charity focus
Local and community based
BGF’s regional teams, located across 14 offices in the UK, work together with the wider BGF network to identify local charities that are addressing the overarching mission of the BGF Foundation, and the BGF Foundation will then decide which charities to support.
Small charities
The BGF Foundation is focused on supporting smaller and mid-sized charities with a yearly income of between £500k and £3 million that typically receive less funding and support than larger charities.
Meaningful impact
The BGF Foundation is focused on creating meaningful impact. The Foundation will measure the impact of its support to its charity partners and the impact on the life outcomes of disadvantaged people living in the UK.
The BGF Foundation will use the operational expertise of BGF, its portfolio and network to make a meaningful contribution to the activity, operations and development of small and mid-sized charities in the UK. We are excited about the potential of the charitable foundation and believe that by working together with BGF’s portfolio and Talent Network, we can create something transformative.
Stephen Welton
Non-Executive Chair, BGF
Board of trustees
The members of the Board of Trustees are:
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Fiona Lowry
Fiona is founder and former CEO of BGF-backed Good Care Group (acquired by Sodexo in 2019), and Chair of BGF-backed Wilderness Way. She chairs other companies in the film and healthcare sectors. She was a trustee of the Winnicott Foundation which supported the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. -
Phil Male
Phil has a portfolio of non-executive directorships including a number of BGF-backed businesses such as Miss Group, Virtual1, Sliide and Chair of ROI Media. Phil served on the Board of Comic Relief for many years. -
Stephen Welton
Stephen is Non-Executive Chair of BGF. Before that, Stephen was the founder chief executive of BGF between 2011 and 2020. Under Stephen’s leadership BGF has deployed more than £3 billion into UK & Irish businesses, becoming the most active investor of growth capital. -
Alistair Brew
Alistair is Head of Investment Operations at BGF. He joined BGF in 2011 to lead on new investments before heading up the London investment team. As Head of Investment Operations, Alistair runs the Investment Process which has involved incorporating ESG into BGF’s investment decision making. He also sits on the board of three portfolio companies and chairs the Impact Investment Advisory Board for the BCVA. -
Neil Inskip
Neil is Head of the Manchester and Birmingham investment teams. In this role, Neil is involved in all aspects of the investment process from origination through to completion, and supports companies throughout the investment hold period. He has led over a dozen investments at BGF, across a range of sectors, and currently sits on the board of 6 investee companies. -
Michelle Hill
Michelle is the Chief Executive of TLC: Talk, Listen, Change; a North West relationships charity. The organisation delivers a range of integrated support, therapies and interventions in pursuit of safe, healthy and happy relationships. Michelle is also a Non Executive Director at MSV Housing where she chairs their Customer and Communities Committee, a trustee of Standing Together against Domestic Violence and trustee and treasurer at Christ Church Stockport.
Fiona is founder and former CEO of BGF-backed Good Care Group (acquired by Sodexo in 2019), and Chair of BGF-backed Wilderness Way. She chairs other companies in the film and healthcare sectors. She was a trustee of the Winnicott Foundation which supported the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
Phil has a portfolio of non-executive directorships including a number of BGF-backed businesses such as Miss Group, Virtual1, Sliide and Chair of ROI Media. Phil served on the Board of Comic Relief for many years.
Stephen is Non-Executive Chair of BGF. Before that, Stephen was the founder chief executive of BGF between 2011 and 2020. Under Stephen’s leadership BGF has deployed more than £3 billion into UK & Irish businesses, becoming the most active investor of growth capital.
Alistair is Head of Investment Operations at BGF. He joined BGF in 2011 to lead on new investments before heading up the London investment team. As Head of Investment Operations, Alistair runs the Investment Process which has involved incorporating ESG into BGF’s investment decision making. He also sits on the board of three portfolio companies and chairs the Impact Investment Advisory Board for the BCVA.
Neil is Head of the Manchester and Birmingham investment teams. In this role, Neil is involved in all aspects of the investment process from origination through to completion, and supports companies throughout the investment hold period. He has led over a dozen investments at BGF, across a range of sectors, and currently sits on the board of 6 investee companies.
Michelle is the Chief Executive of TLC: Talk, Listen, Change; a North West relationships charity. The organisation delivers a range of integrated support, therapies and interventions in pursuit of safe, healthy and happy relationships. Michelle is also a Non Executive Director at MSV Housing where she chairs their Customer and Communities Committee, a trustee of Standing Together against Domestic Violence and trustee and treasurer at Christ Church Stockport.
Get in touch
For companies
BGF’s support provides a firm basis to deliver meaningful change with the charities it works with. The partnership provides the opportunity for those within BGF’s network to share their skills with charities, working with them to become more effective. If you are interested in discussing how you or your company could support, please get in touch with Charlotte using the details below.
For charities
We are currently undertaking a pilot of our model with charities and will be opening funding rounds for charities in later 2023. If you would like to discuss pro bono support for your charity please get in touch with Charlotte using the details below. If you would like to sign up to receive information from the BGF Foundation please email info@bgffoundation.org.uk
