The significant donation, made by the partners of DWF, will allow the Foundation to expand its grant-giving internationally as well as across the UK.
The DWF Foundation, founded by DWF in 2015, has the sole aim of providing funds, resources and support to help communities achieve their full potential, encouraging smaller charities to apply to receive funding for schemes which help with education, employability, health and wellbeing or homelessness.
Since the launch of the DWF Foundation in December 2015, it has awarded 110 grants totalling over £250,000.
The DWF Foundation awarded their 100th grant earlier this year to Liverpool based charity, The Bosco Society, to help its campaign to reduce homelessness in the local communities. The project will deliver pre-tenancy awareness, budgeting, life skills (e.g. cooking on a budget), and other training sessions for residents that will enable them to gain the skills needed to live independently.
Andrew Leaitherland, CEO of DWF Group plc, said: "When we set out on the IPO journey, one of the objectives we identified was to create a legacy for the DWF Foundation – and that's what has been achieved. These shares will be used to establish an endowment for the Foundation, generating income for generations to come. That income will expand the Foundation's grant-giving, both in the UK and internationally, helping more communities achieve their full potential."
Clare Beavan, DWF Foundation Manager, said: "We're thrilled to receive such a generous donation which will enable us to create a legacy for the future of the DWF Foundation as a grant-giver for many years to come. Across the DWF business, CSR activity is embedded into our values and we want to ensure our actions are meaningful when we give our time, skills and business intelligence to make a difference.”
Find out more about the DWF Foundation
