Charity support

Our global social impact partner for 2025–2027 is United for Global Mental Health, bringing the firm together to fundraise, provide pro bono and professional advice, and give in-kind support.

Hand writing mathematical equations on a chalkboard with chalk, shown in black and white.

Our colleagues have selected “children and young people” as the priority area of focus for the partnership. As well as working directly with United, we’ll also support four of United for Global Mental Health’s national partners working along this theme.

Our overall goal is to provide USD1 million in fundraising, as well as substantial pro bono support.

If your organization is interested in hearing about future partnerships, join our mailing list.

The A&O Shearman Foundation

Separate from our fundraising for our global social impact partner, the A&O Shearman Foundation funds the work of charities, social enterprises, and community interest companies around the world. It is financed by contributions from A&O Shearman partners and supports our social impact work as well as disaster relief efforts.

The Foundation grants cover access to justice, education and employment as well as supporting disaster relief efforts. For example, we have a partnership with UNHCR where we have given more than GBP520,000 since 2017 to support the agency’s work.

There are currently three grants programs for:

Global
London
Belfast

There is no open application process for disaster relief grants, which are funded through the Global Grants Program. The A&O Shearman Foundation does not give funding directly to individuals.

References to the A&O Shearman Foundation mean The Allen Overy Shearman Sterling Foundation (Charity number: 1153738)

Our grants to charities

The A&O Shearman Foundation’s Global Grants Program

We accept applications from charities, social enterprises and community interest companies (CICs). The project to be funded should be in an area of considerable need, for example a country described as ‘developing’ in UNDP’s Global Multidimensional Poverty Index.

The A&O Shearman Foundation’s Global Grants Program supports:

Charities that promote access to justice, education and employment (our open grants round)
Our Global Charity Partner
Disaster relief efforts

There is no open application process for disaster relief grants.

The Global Grants Program’s open grants round

Who can apply?

If you have previously received a one-year grant from the Global Grants Program, you can apply for more funding from the next grants funding round after your grant has ended.

If you have received a two or three-year grant, you must wait two or three years respectively after the last year of the grant period before applying again.

We do not accept applications from individuals.

What do we offer?

Organizations can apply for a one-year grant of up to GBP50,000, a two-year grant of up to GBP100,000 or a three-year grant of up to GBP150,000.

We do not prioritize one-year grants over two or three-year grants, and grant seekers should apply for the grant size and duration that best suits the work to be funded.

We also offer up to 100 hours of pro bono (legal) and / or professional skills volunteering time (non-legal work) alongside the financial donation, subject to the capacity and agreement of the A&O Shearman team.

Organizations may ring-fence 20% of the grant for core funding (not necessarily related to the project funded).

What are we looking for in an application?

We are open to supporting innovative projects, for example work that will enable organizations to pilot a new approach.

We will also consider funding existing projects.

We will fund projects with other donors.

We would like to move towards developing active partnerships with our grantees and are open to suggestions as to what this might look like.

How can I apply?

We are currently closed for applications for our global grants program. Our application window will reopen late 2025 for our next grants round. If you would like to go onto our mailing list please register your contact details here. If you have questions please contact: globalfoundation@aoshearman.com and a colleague will get back to you.