Why We Started the Sterling Street Foundation
When you work in financial services, you see how systems work well for some people and fail others completely. You learn that behind every financial barrier, there's usually a family trying to build something better for themselves.
That understanding led us to create the Sterling Street Foundation.
The gap we noticed
Real change happens through small organisations that understand their communities. The local youth centre providing meals during school holidays. The community group running after-school programmes. The small charity providing mobility equipment that transforms one child’s ability to participate in school.
These organisations know what works because they see the results every day. They don’t waste time on complicated processes or expensive overhead. They just get on with helping people who need support most.
But they often struggle to get funding. Big funders want big projects. Small local charities need small amounts of money to solve specific problems. There’s a gap between what communities need and what traditional funding provides.
Our approach: backing what works
We created the Sterling Street Foundation to support local organisations helping vulnerable children and adults. Not because we think we know better than existing charities, but because we’ve seen what happens when people get practical support from organisations that understand their circumstances.
Our approach is straightforward:
- Fund projects with proven track records: We look for organisations already helping people effectively, not experimental programmes
- Support local knowledge: Community organisations understand their areas better than we ever will
- Keep processes simple: No lengthy application forms or committee meetings
- Focus on specific, practical help: Equipment, support services, and opportunities that make a real difference to real families
Why small grants work
The grants we provide are small but targeted. [Add typical grant range]. That might not sound like much, but it’s often exactly what local organisations need.
A grant for playground equipment benefits dozens of children every day. Funding for specialist equipment helps one child participate fully in school for the first time. Support for emergency food supplies helps families through difficult periods without creating dependency.
These focused amounts, given to the right organisations at the right time, create immediate and specific impact.
Our funding principles
We don’t fund awareness-raising campaigns, capacity-building exercises, or projects that exist mainly to apply for more funding. We back practical work that helps real people.
We look for organisations that:
Already help people effectively
Proven track records of making real differences in people's lives
Understand their communities
Local knowledge matters more than outside expertise
Need specific amounts for specific purposes
Clear plans for how funding will be used
Can show real impact
Evidence of lives being improved, not abstract outcomes
What we support
Each project we fund addresses specific needs identified by people who understand their communities firsthand.
Our focus areas include:
Vulnerable children and families
Supporting those who need help most with practical assistance
Educational access
Removing barriers that prevent children from participating fully in learning
Community resilience
Backing local initiatives that strengthen neighbourhoods
Environmental stewardship
Supporting projects that protect the spaces where communities live and learn
Beyond funding
Money isn’t the only way to support community organisations. We also provide:
Professional expertise
Business planning, financial advice, fundraising support
Volunteering time
Direct involvement with the organisations we support
Network connections
Linking community groups with other sources of support
Fundraising activities
Community events and challenges that bring people together
How we make decisions
Our process is deliberately straightforward. We research organisations that are already making a difference. We look at what they’ve actually achieved for the people they serve, not what they promise to achieve.
We fund specific projects, events, and initiatives that address real problems with proven approaches. No committees, no lengthy approval processes. Applications that meet our criteria get funded.
Getting involved
If you’re interested in supporting local communities, there are several ways to get involved:
- Nominate local organisations that could benefit from grants
- Join fundraising activities like community events and challenges throughout the year
- Volunteer skills to help organisations operate more effectively
- Spread the word about effective community work in your area
If you’re interested in donating or lending a helping hand, please visit the Get Involved page to learn more.
What comes next
We’re focused on finding more organisations doing effective work with vulnerable children and adults, supporting them appropriately, and learning from what works.
Our plan is simple: back local organisations that understand their communities, provide the specific support they need, and help more people get practical help when they need it most.
We believe communities are strongest when local people have the resources to support their neighbours. The Sterling Street Foundation exists to make that happen, one targeted grant at a time.
Ready to help?
If you know a local organisation that’s already helping vulnerable children or adults effectively, we’d like to hear about it.
Apply for funding – Visit our Application Page to nominate a project that needs support.
Get in touch – Have questions about what we fund or want to get involved? [Contact us] or visit the Get Involved page, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.