Guardian Foundation

The Guardian Foundation, the charitable arm of The Scott Trust Limited (owner of Guardian Media Group), promotes global press freedom, access to reliable liberal journalism, and news literacy amid rising misinformation and attacks on media. Established to uphold independent journalism's values, it focuses on equipping people—especially children and adults at risk—with skills to navigate complex information landscapes. Core principles emphasize human rights, the right to information, safeguarding, inclusivity, and resilient, representative journalism, distinguishing it through deep ties to The Guardian's newsroom and a theory of change blending education with sector sustainability.

It funds advancements in education, human rights, and information access, prioritizing news literacy programs for youth aged 7-18 (e.g., NewsWise for primary schools with classroom resources, teacher training, workshops, and virtual newsroom experiences), journalism bursaries like the Scott Trust Bursary, awards such as the Hugo Young Award, and international media capacity-building for journalists and news organizations in compromised democracies. Beneficiaries include schools/communities (especially London boroughs and Greater Manchester), aspiring journalists, educators, and press freedom advocates, supporting project delivery, capacity-building, and archive maintenance for improved literacy, representation, and access.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities; there are no income thresholds or geographic restrictions, though programs target UK-wide with international reach. Funding is invite-only—no unsolicited applications—with proactive partnerships for aligned projects; individual bursaries have annual rounds (e.g., January-March). Typical organizational grants range £10,000-£50,000; no unrestricted/core costs or capital funding. Charities should contact for collaboration, demonstrating mission alignment in press freedom, education, and resilient journalism.