> About the foundation

About the Foundation

Vision: a society in which all people have access to opportunities to achieve their potential.
Mission: to improve lives by supporting opportunities that enable people who face physical, mental social or economic barriers to achieve their potential.
Objectives: to support inspiring and entrepreneurial organisations and projects that contribute to our mission, creating a lasting impact and legacy.

On this page

Our values

We seek to support organisations that share and reflect our values

Excellence

Supporting and implementing best practice

Entrepreneurship

Operating with ambition, inspiration and determination.

Integrity

Acting responsibly, respectfully, reflectively and transparently

Sustainability

Empowering stakeholders to deliver a legacy

How we work

The Peter Harrison Foundation operates a proactive, invitation-only approach to grantmaking. We do not accept unsolicited applications, expressions of interest or funding requests. We identify partners ourselves based on strategic alignment with our mission and make a small number of large multiyear awards.

Our funding model

Our approach emphasises building capacity within the charitable sector through a dual-layered funding model:
• Capacity-building organisations will receive awards to deliver training, resources and development support to grass roots organisations at regional or national level.
• Grassroots organisations will benefit from both capacity-building support and direct funding to create life-changing opportunities within their communities.

We make a small number of multiyear awards to organisations. Each award is spread over 3 years, with at least 50% re-granted to grassroots clubs and organisations. The Trustees have committed to continue giving around £1.5 million in total each year.

Programme Areas

Using this model PHF provides funding two in programme areas:

Active Lives – Opportunities through sport and physical activity
Positive Futures – Opportunities for children and young people

How we operate

PHF staff proactively identify potential awardees whose aims align with our mission and who demonstrate the ability to deliver sector strengthening impact. Many awardees are organisations previously funded by PHF. We monitor progress, gather feedback and refine our approach over time. PHF is committed to listening, learning and supporting the sector responsively to maximise impact.

How we do not operate

To ensure clarity:

We do not accept unsolicited applications or proposals
We do not run open funding rounds
We do not provide one off small grants
We do not offer emergency or rapid response funding
We do not fund organisations outside the scope of our mission or programme areas

Grantmaking spend by programme

Below is a summary of how the Foundation has spent its grant funds over the last 4 years. You can find more information about our grant making in our annual report and accounts.

2024/25

* Please note that the number of Trustees’ Discretionary grants is higher than usual this year. To celebrate PHF’s 25th anniversary we made 24 small grants of £2,000 each to previous grant awardees from the past 25 years.

2023/24

2022/23

* Please note that the restricted fund grants in this period include a number of grants which were made in memory of our late Founder Peter Harrison, in accordance with his known interests.