Reading Foundation

The Reading Foundation is a registered charity based in Reading, England, dedicated to advancing education and training for children and young people closely tied to Reading School. Its core mission focuses on enriching educational achievement for current pupils, prospective students, and former pupils who attended for at least two years, through grants to individuals and organizations, alongside maintaining school buildings, facilities, and open spaces. Rooted in values of academic excellence, equal opportunity, and measurable pupil development, the Foundation's distinctive approach emphasizes targeted support for Reading School's community, prioritizing initiatives that foster motivation, recognize merit, and enhance learning environments via allowances, prizes, scholarships, and extracurricular resources.

It funds educational enrichment directly benefiting Reading School, including scholarships and financial aid for individuals, as well as project and capital grants for events, activities, facilities improvements, and resources that promote academic success and personal growth. Support extends to school-affiliated organizations or groups whose work yields clear benefits for eligible pupils.

Eligibility is strictly invite-only, with no unsolicited applications accepted; Trustees select beneficiaries via internal nominations linked to Reading School. Eligible entities include academic institutions and community groups in Reading, England, with direct ties to the school—no income thresholds, religious restrictions, or size limits apply, though focus remains on school pupils and alumni.

Grants typically range from several hundred to £1,000–£10,000, awarded at ad hoc Trustee meetings several times a year, without fixed deadlines or public processes. The Foundation excludes broad community or unrestricted funding, core costs beyond school needs, and activities lacking direct educational impact for its defined beneficiaries, setting it apart through its hyper-local, school-centric ethos and commitment to sustained academic outcomes.