Henry Smith

When grant-making systems work well, funding reaches the organisations that need it, and those organisations can reach the people they help without delay. When they don't, the gaps are felt by real people waiting for real support. We're hiring for two roles in our Grant Operations team to ensure our systems work for the people who depend on them, not just the people who run them. Grants, Database and Processes Coordinator | £36,000 - Support the day-to-day running of our grant-making systems - Maintain data quality and build well designed application and report forms - Work with system users to improve processes and resolve issues Grants Database and Processes Manager | £45,500 - Lead the development and improvement of our grants systems and processes - Plan, participate in and deliver projects that strengthen how our grant-making operates - Support and empower all system users to use our systems effectively Both roles work across teams, working with colleagues across the organisation to troubleshoot issues and keep the grant-making process on track. Do you have experience working with systems and data? Are you organised, practical and solutions-focused? Do you enjoy improving how things work? Come and do work that matters. London based | Hybrid working Full details and job descriptions are available via the links in our bio.

Around one in four young people experiencing homelessness in the UK identifies as LGBT+. Most of them turn to a mainstream homelessness service first. A hostel. A housing team. An outreach worker. Too often, young people tell us those places aren't safe. Proud Homes opens on 6 May. We're funding up to eight homelessness organisations to change how they assess, place, and support LGBT+ young people. Not one-off training. A new intake process. A trained keyworker. A service where a young person can walk through the door and feel safe. Visit our fund page to find out more, check your eligibility, and register for our webinar on Tuesday 5 May, 11am–12pm to find out more. https://henrysmith.foundation/grants/proud-homes/

We are appalled by the antisemitic attack on two men in Golders Green, London. We know this has shaken the Jewish community there and across the country. The Henry Smith Foundation stands with those who are more fearful following this attack. We continue, alongside others, to fund organisations working to reduce polarisation and help charities protect themselves from extremist threats. That work exists precisely for moments like this.

When someone is granted refugee status, the period that follows can involve significant uncertainty and risk. Immediate needs such as housing and income sit alongside longer-term challenges, including access to legal advice, language support, education and employment. The immigration and resettlement system can add further barriers. The Henry Smith Foundation funds organisations that support refugees and people seeking asylum throughout their journey and that work to improve the systems that shape their lives. We are hiring a Grants Manager to focus on this area of our Safer Futures priority. You will: • Back trusted partners with long-term, flexible funding • Build open, constructive relationships with the charities and community organisations we fund • Get out from behind the desk and use what you hear to shape funding decisions • Support work that strengthens the systems around immigration and resettlement At its best, this role contributes to fewer people navigating complex transitions alone. It helps organisations plan and lead with confidence. It supports funding that strengthens systems, not just services. Know the migration sector? Understand the realities facing refugees and people seeking asylum? Believe funding can help shift systems as well as support people? Come and do work that matters. £50,000 | London based | Flexible working Full details in the job description here: /job/194270-grants-manager-safer-futures/ 

Collaboration isn’t automatic. It takes time, trust, and a willingness to work differently. Without it, even well-intended funding stays fragmented. When it comes to care-experienced young people, the challenge isn’t effort or commitment. It’s that too many organisations are working hard but separately on problems that don’t fit neat boundaries. In this @civil_society_media podcast conversation, CEOs Anand Shukla and Emma de Closset talk with Emily Moss about what changes when funders stop working in parallel and start working together, with clear roles and shared responsibility. They explore why collaboration only works when it’s grounded in trust, not performance. Why national funders and community foundations bring different but complementary strengths. And why aligning around outcomes, learning and local decision-making matters more than launching new initiatives. This partnership works because it’s explicit about roles, and patient enough to let trust build. No single organisation holds the full answer. But together, better decisions get made. The point is this – lasting change comes from shared effort, not isolated action. Listen to the episode. Then ask yourself one question: What would change if collaboration was the norm, not the exception? Listen on: Apple – /gb/podcast/interview-anand-shukla-and-emma-de-closset/id1733046943?i=1000746335796 Spotify – /show/1HXJXvhgFJyHhygeWiHEMm?si=dfc58b304f4f44f2

Charities do their best work when boards make good decisions. Strong boards bring different skills, backgrounds, and lived experiences to the table. Right now, that doesn’t happen often enough. Too many people who would make great trustees never see themselves in the role. They don’t have the time, confidence, networks, or support to step forward. At the same time, many trustees are asked to carry serious responsibilities with little training or development. The result is boards that look similar, think similarly, and struggle to reflect the communities their charities exist to serve. We believe that has to change. Today, we’re announcing the first four organisations supported through our Better Boards programme, shaped through targeted partnerships. It starts by backing four organisations that play a critical and complementary role in strengthening charity governance across the UK: @reachvolunteering , Board Racial Diversity UK, the @youngtrusteesmovement , and the Association of Chairs. We chose them deliberately because, together, they cover the full governance journey. From opening up trustee roles to people who might never have considered them, to supporting trustees to grow in confidence and skill, to strengthening board diversity and practice across the sector. Independent analysis showed that these organisations make a high contribution to trustee recruitment, diversity, and development across the charity sector. They also sit in a fragile part of the sector. Despite their national reach and influence, their work doesn’t fit neatly into place or issue-based funding, so they’re often overlooked for long-term support. By backing them with multi-year, core funding, we’re investing in the conditions that allow stronger, more inclusive governance to take root across the sector. Stronger boards don’t just make charities run better. They help charities make better choices. And that’s where impact starts.

We are pleased to award £1.5m in a new funding partnership with The JABBS Foundation for Women and Girls. The grant will be match funded to £3m. → This new funding partnership will enable more women’s centres to join their Effective Women’s Centres Partnership and get critical support to women who need it → New research from @unibirmingham and funded by JABBS demonstrates the effectiveness of the innovative Women’s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA) tool in in identifying health and wellbeing needs among women in the criminal justice system in the UK → This new partnership will help build on this research, increasing evidence to showcase effective measures that divert women away from crime and support them to thrive. We are proud to help JABBS elevate their impact in this critical area of women’s support services. Read more via the link in our bio. #criminaljustice #women #support #funding #partnership #wellbeing #ElevateYourImpact

🤔 Did you know… 💸We made almost £62m in grants in 2024 📈 We helped over 970 organisations 🙌 We reached over 410,000 people 🔗Find out more about our impact via the link in our bio #ElevateYourImpact #socialimpact #funding #grants

Our Chair of Trustees, William Sieghart, shares why and how we’re delivering our 2025-30 strategy, Elevate your impact. 👉 Sign up to learn more about our new grant programmes via our live webinars. 🔗 Links in bio #funding #social impact #grants #funder #socialjustice #domesticabuse #earlyyears #families #youth #youngpeople

“I got kicked out of school before my GCSEs and was in prison at 16. Spark Inside’s programme was life-changing. I’ve never been as happy with my life – or with who I am. It’s amazing.” - Javel Hear from Javel who was supported by our grant holder, @spark_inside . They helped him unlock his true power. 📣Hear his story via the link in our bio. #stories #grantholders #funding #support #ElevateYourImpact

Great to see the new @henrysmithfoundation unveil a bold new identity, more human, more confident, and a true reflection of their impactful work. — Photography @sambush_ Film @afinnity Logo crafting @thefoundrytypes @studioopx Website design @studioopx Build @mallardandclaret

“When my daughter was born, I struggled with anxiety and depression. Thanks to @homestartglasgowsouth I am happy. I am learning. I am moving forward.” - Shazia Hear from Shazia and Tahir, whose family was supported by our grant holder, @homestartglasgowsouth who helped them to find community in the UK. 📣Hear their story via the link in our bio. #stories #grantholders #funding #support #ElevateYourImpact