Charity support

Our global charity partnership brings the firm together to support a single charity with fundraising, free legal advice (pro bono) and in-kind support. We aim to raise more than GBP1 million through the program.

Our current global charity partner is Women for Women International.

Some of the money we raise will be invested in Women for Women International’s work in Iraq, where the charity will train 250 women on social and economic empowerment issues.

Women for Women International will also increase women’s participation in their communities by supporting them to become community advocates.

In addition, the partnership will support Women for Women International’s Conflict Respond Fund, which provides urgent support for women in critical conflict situations such as in Ukraine and Sudan.

Alongside these activities, we are providing free legal advice and other professional support to the charity itself.

If your organization is interested in future global charity partnerships, email us to join our mailing list.

The A&O Shearman Foundation

Separate from our fundraising for our global charity partner, the A&O Shearman Foundation funds the work of charities, social enterprises, and community interest companies around the world. It is funded by contributions from A&O Shearman partners.

Its grants cover access to justice, education and employment as well as supporting disaster relief efforts.

There are currently three grants programs for:

London
Belfast
Global

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

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?

We accept applications from charities, social enterprises and community interest companies (CICs).

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).

Grants will be awarded in summer 2025.

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?

Please complete the form by 18.00 GMT on December 20.

What happens after I apply?

We will be in touch to let you know the outcome of your application. If you are successful at this stage, we will ask you fill in a longer form, which will ask more questions about the project, your work, and how we would work with you.

If you have questions, please contact globalfoundation@aoshearman.com and a colleague will get back to you.