Trusts & Foundations Management | Charis

Trusts & Foundations Management

End to end foundation management that delivers real impact.

We help organisations create, manage and grow charitable foundations, grant programmes and community funds that make a measurable difference.

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A parent and young child sharing a warm moment outdoors

The brief we take on

Whether you are a corporate foundation, charitable trust, social impact funder or philanthropic organisation, we provide the expertise, technology and governance to make sure funding reaches the right people – efficiently, transparently and safely.

Our specialist team manages every stage of the grant-making journey, from programme design and application management through to assessment, award distribution, impact reporting and governance oversight.

Our flexible approach supports both newly established foundations and existing funds looking to improve their efficiency, reach or impact.

Every foundation is different

Some foundations focus on reducing poverty and financial hardship. Others set out to improve community wellbeing, support vulnerable groups, promote sustainability or deliver social value within a specific region. Our role is to turn those ambitions into well-managed, measurable programmes that create lasting change.

Reducing poverty and financial hardship
Improving community wellbeing
Supporting vulnerable groups
Promoting sustainability and social value

What we do

A complete foundation management service.

Everything needed to run a grant programme well, under one trusted partner – from first design to final impact report.

Foundation & programme design

Shaping the objectives, criteria and structure of a programme that fits your goals.

Grant technology & application portals

Accessible online application journeys built around the applicant.

Eligibility & assessment

Fair, consistent processes that get support to the right applicants.

Award administration & distribution

Accurate, timely payments and fund distribution at scale.

Governance & compliance

Robust oversight that keeps your programme accountable and audit-ready.

Due diligence & fraud prevention

Layered checks that protect funds and the people you serve.

Monitoring & evaluation

Tracking delivery against objectives so you can see what is working.

Social value & impact reporting

Clear evidence of the difference your funding makes.

Stakeholder engagement

Communications that keep partners, boards and communities aligned.

Beneficiary support & customer service

A simple, supportive experience for everyone who applies.

The grant-making journey

We manage every stage, end to end.

One partner across the whole programme – so nothing falls between the gaps, and every step is evidenced.

Design

Programme and foundation design built around your objectives.

Apply

Accessible application portals and applicant management.

Assess

Eligibility checks, due diligence and fraud prevention.

Award

Award administration and accurate fund distribution.

Measure

Monitoring, evaluation and social value reporting.

Govern

Governance and compliance oversight throughout.

Track record

Accomplished Scheme Management.

We have been designing and managing funds, trusts, and foundations since Charis was established in 2003, delivering charitable foundations, hardship funds and grant programmes for partners across energy, water, housing, local government and finance – getting support to households across Great Britain.

Foundations we manage

Trusted to deliver, programme after programme.

From industry hardship funds to corporate foundations, organisations choose Charis to turn funding into measurable outcomes.

£100kmaximum grant per project

4 Million+awarded since foundation launched

End to endtechnology, delivery & governance

Case study · Corporate foundation

npower Business Solutions Foundation

Creating stronger, greener and more sustainable communities

Charis manages the npower Business Solutions (nBS) Foundation, which – in little over a year since launch – has already been recognised for its impact across the West Midlands and Yorkshire. The Foundation provides grants of up to £100,000 to charities, social enterprises, schools and universities delivering projects that strengthen communities and create lasting social value.

From technology design and application management to eligibility assessment, award administration, governance oversight and impact reporting, Charis runs the programme end to end. Funded initiatives range from school sensory gardens and boxing gyms offering employability coaching, to renewable energy schemes, retrofit projects for homeless people, biodiversity work and prison education programmes.

“The team is excellent, making what could be a complex process feel seamless. Their quick delivery, professionalism and attention to detail mean the Foundation has already been hugely successful since its launch.”

Anthony Ainsworth
Chief Operating Officer, npower Business Solutions

80%+stay debt-free for 12+ months after support

Thousandsof vulnerable customers helped each year

Year-roundalways-on fund, not a seasonal window

Case study · Energy debt support

E.ON Next Energy Fund

Helping households with financial difficulty and health vulnerabilities

High tariffs and the cost-of-living crisis have pushed consumer energy debt to levels that are stressful for customers – affecting physical and mental health – and costly for suppliers. The year-round E.ON Next Energy Fund supports households facing hardship and health vulnerabilities, offering eligible customers payment plans that, once completed, clear their debt in full.

For most customers this breaks the cycle of debt and builds lasting financial stability and reduced anxiety; for E.ON Next it lowers debt exposure and improves retention. Charis structures schemes with different payment-plan types by circumstance, using API integrations or read-only supplier access to match inbound payments against expectations and trigger automated communications or remedial engagement as needed.

“The delivery of new software and application processes this year has enabled us to increase the provision of support. The Charis team has been amazing throughout the transition, facilitating brilliant training sessions for our colleagues as well as assisting customers with their applications.”

Kelly Davies
Continuous Improvement Support Lead – E.ON Next

80%+remain debt-free for at least 12 months

Thousandsof vulnerable customers supported yearly

More than debtappliances, winter-warmth products & financial help

Case study · Energy debt support

EDF Customer Support Fund

Essential support for the most vulnerable customers

The year-round EDF Customer Support Fund helps households experiencing financial difficulty and health vulnerabilities. Eligible customers with mounting debt are offered payment plans that, once completed, clear the debt in full – breaking the cycle and building sustainable financial stability.

Customers can also access energy-efficient appliances, winter-warmth products and financial assistance through a slick, intuitive application process with built-in eligibility scoring and automated communications. Around 80% of those supported remain debt-free for at least 12 months – reducing EDF’s debt exposure while improving customer retention.

“Our partnership with Charis to administer our EDF Customer Support Fund has successfully provided essential support to our most vulnerable customers – together we have provided over £3m direct support to customers this year (2024). We’re proud to be the first supplier to work with Charis to set up a Matched Funding debt scheme which has helped over 79% of EDF applicants remain debt-free for at least 12 months after an award was given.

The Charis team carefully considers every detail to ensure all our evolving requirements are met for the best customer experience. They take the time to understand our business requirements and goals, and they’re committed to balancing the needs of what is right for our customers too. The proficiency of the team, who are always on hand, is invaluable. It’s a 21-year Partnership that I’m immensely proud of.”

Marie Cox
Vulnerability Customer Executive – EDF

£1mSchool Essentials Grant fund

3,000+families supported every year

£150per child, for up to three children

Case study · Industry hardship fund

GroceryAid School Essentials Grant

Helping grocery industry families when they need it most

GroceryAid has supported people working in the UK grocery industry for more than 165 years. Its School Essentials Grant helps eligible families on Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit meet the costs of children returning to school – from uniforms and shoes to stationery and school trips.

Charis manages end to end delivery: application management, eligibility assessment, fraud prevention checks, payment administration and programme reporting. Successful applicants are selected through a transparent, independently managed random allocation process – combining robust administration with a simple, accessible experience so funding reaches families quickly at one of the most financially challenging times of the year.

“We worked with Charis for the first time in 2024 to deliver our £1m School Essentials Grant.

Previously, we managed the programme in-house, but we wanted to find a partner who could give us greater flexibility with regards to the application and payment processes.”

Mandi Leonard
Welfare Director – GroceryAid

Fuel povertytackled across UK communities

Bespoke Fulfilment Cataloguetailored support

Measurableimpact reporting for the board

Case study · Corporate foundation

Cadent Foundation

Supporting communities and tackling fuel poverty

The Cadent Foundation has been working with charities and partners since 2019 to help households find sustainable solutions to fuel poverty and ensure people stay safe and warm in their homes. Their £1m Warm Fund offers all-year round support to those most in need, to keep them warm and well at home. The support is distributed by their charity partners, and includes bundles for energy efficiency and warm items to use at home.

Since 2023 Charis has configured a bespoke fulfilment platform specifically to enable the Cadent Foundation partners distribute support in an efficient and secure way. Charis worked with the Cadent Foundation to curate a support catalogue in line with their ethos including energy and supermarket vouchers, energy efficient household appliances and home efficiency bundles. The platform was set up to gather demographic and vulnerability information for those supported through the fund with live data transferring directly from the Charis platform to feed the Cadent Foundation impact dashboard.

“Working with Charis to administer the Cadent Foundation support fund has been invaluable.

Through their efficient and accessible online platform, our charity partners have been able to provide energy and food vouchers, as well as essential household appliances, to thousands of vulnerable households.

Charis’s commitment and expertise have made a real difference, ensuring that help reaches those who need it most during the most challenging season.”

Julia Dwyer
Director – Cadent Foundation

Why organisations choose Charis

Specialist expertise, proven technology, robust governance.

The combination that helps foundations maximise their impact – and the reason partners trust us with their funding.

Launch programmes quickly and efficiently

Reduce administration and operational burden

Improve the applicant experience

Maintain strong governance and compliance

Access high-quality impact and performance reporting

Demonstrate measurable social value

Looking to establish or grow a foundation?

Whether you are creating a new charitable foundation, reviewing an existing grant programme or looking for a trusted delivery partner, Charis can help you design, manage and measure a programme that delivers meaningful, lasting impact.

Talk to our team