As our foundation has grown and we have partnered successfully with a number of university institutions, we have received a growing and significant number of funding requests.

In order to keep a level playing field, we are shifting our approach to applications. Rather than always being open to support and reviewing applicants throughout the year as and when we receive them. We would like to open ourselves up to funding requests from now until the end of March 2026. At which point we will review all those that applied for support in the month of April and decide our partners for the year.

All requests from university partners after this date will be refused and asked to reapply for the following year.   

Please note that this will not change any commitments that we have already agreed to or have started already for 2026.

It is our hope and intention that this support should be aimed at students starting in September 2026 and into 2027.

Our plan is to operate this model moving forward to ensure we allow ourselves to review each application equally and fairly according to our Grant Making Policy.  

For those who have not worked with us already, below is our criteria…

Students receiving support must fit this tight criteria:

• Aged 16-24 (Have finished their studies by the time they are 24)
• Support can not be for hardship alone
• Students must be studying and focusing on business related courses (Business, Finance, Marketing etc.)
• Students must have ambition to get into business

·       The funding can be used for various reasons. Such as

o   Work placements

o   Placement relocations

o   Further training and development

o   Wider vocational courses and skills training

o   Much needed equipment

·       We are looking for students who reflect Jim’s story. Students who probably don’t know how talented their skill sets are, or they may be entirely unpolished. Internally we call these students “rough diamonds”. These will be students who have faced a disadvantage, such as caring for family members, interrupted schooling, ill health, death in the family, severe hardship and have shown courage and determination to overcome this disadvantaged and our support would be much needed.  

Each proposal should outline the following and be no longer than 5 pages. Please design a proposal for up to a £20,000 grant from the Foundation.

• Justification for the need of support. 
• An overview of the academic institution and its point of difference
• The proposal:

o   How much

o   How will it be allocated

o   How will the students be identified and our criteria met

o   How will it make a difference

The marketing support given to the collaboration

What Follow up reporting will be given

It would also be expected that each partner would collaborate with our marketing team to communicate the partnership and give much needed press attention to the partnership.

If you are interested in this grant, please send all applications to info@jimjacksonfoundation.org.uk