"A great example of what can be achieved using a different model. It made me think 'why don't more companies do it this way?"
The Berkeley Foundation was crowned the winner in the Best Corporate Foundation category at the Third Sector Business Charity Awards 2017.
The Corporate Foundation Award is given to a corporate, philanthropic foundation that has provided outstanding support to the charity sector. The award acknowledges the remarkable impact the Berkeley Foundation has had on the hardest-to-reach and most vulnerable people across London and the South East of England.
The Berkeley Foundation team have had an extremely busy year. During 2016, the Foundation renewed three long-term partnerships and launched major new initiatives around care leavers, mental health and STEM.
Furthermore, 2016 saw the Berkeley Foundation review and revise its strategy, leading to new commitments to support innovative new approaches to social issues, expand its capacity building work and invest for the long term.
As a result of the Foundation's investment, charity partners were able to support more than 4,300 people in 2015/16, a number that is forecast to grow by 40% to more than 6,000 this year.
Since 2011, the Foundation has made more than £10m of grants to over 100 charities and more than 1,300 Berkeley Group staff have got involved with the Foundation's work. Staff have raised £3.3m through GAYE and fundraising for their Designated Charities, all matched by Berkeley Group.
Alix Wooding, Assistant Director of Engagement at Anthony Nolan and a judge at the Third Sector Business Awards commented on the extensive achievements and innovative approach of the Foundation. He said: "A great example of what can be achieved using a different model. It made me think 'why don't more companies do it this way?"
Find out more about the Corporate Foundations award here.