Portal Trust

The Portal Trust, formerly Sir John Cass's Foundation and established in 1748 by English merchant philanthropist Sir John Cass, is a London-centric grant-maker committed to breaking cycles of educational disadvantage and boosting social mobility for children and young people under 25 facing financial barriers. Rooted in its founding ethos of providing access to quality education for the underserved—originally in the parish of St Botolph without Aldgate, now across Greater London—it funds scholarships, bursaries, targeted interventions like literacy catch-up and aspiration-raising programs, capacity-building for schools and charities, and innovations in STEM, arts, life skills, teaching, and mentorship. Priorities emphasize inclusion for Black and ethnic minority youth, care-experienced individuals, those with disabilities or special needs, and systemic efforts in primary, secondary, and post-16 education to level the playing field.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities, academic institutions (e.g., maintained schools and colleges), and community groups based in or serving Greater London residents, with no fixed income thresholds but a preference for organizations demonstrating local impact across small grassroots to large entities. Funding supports direct individual aid via institutions, projects, occasional core or capital costs for education infrastructure.

Grants typically range from £10,000 to £150,000 annually (often £20,000–£100,000, with multi-year options), decided at quarterly trustee meetings; however, it operates invite-only with no unsolicited applications, public deadlines, or open calls—organizations are approached via networks, and invited applicants submit detailed proposals with evidence of need and outcomes. Exclusions include non-educational activities, emergency relief, or projects outside London; its distinctives lie in its historic endowment enabling stable, strategic multi-year partnerships, dual focus on individuals and institutions, and rigorous emphasis on scalable, measurable impact for London's divided communities.