Support us
Fund research that answers only to the evidence
Philanthropic gifts pay for bursaries, training, events and publication — never for influence. Here is exactly how your support is used and protected.
Why give
Research with no strings
Independent, non-partisan policy research is a public good, and students produce a great deal of it — if they have the time, training and means to publish. Your gift funds that work directly, while our model keeps it genuinely independent of the people who pay for it.
Bursaries
Time for students to do rigorous research, shared equally across a think tank.
Training
Workshops in writing, methodology and data analysis that raise the quality of the work.
Events & publication
Speaker programmes, networking and the cost of publishing research to the public.
Ways to support
As an institution or an individual
Whether you represent an organisation looking to fund cross-society research or an individual who wants to support student researchers, there is a way to give that fits.
Institutional donors
Organisations that want to fund research across multiple student think tanks. Strategic Institutional Grants and Targeted Research Bursaries scale the Trust's ability to support rigorous, non-partisan policy research at universities across the UK.
Institutional partners gain access to our national talent pipeline of student researchers, providing early engagement with the next generation of policy leaders. All institutional funding is subject to strict ethical screening to ensure research remains entirely independent and untainted by commercial interests.
View BrochureIndividual donors
Individuals who want to fund student researchers at a specific think tank or contribute to the broader mission via our Fellowship Network (£250+ per year). The Fellowship is an involved track where members are part of a database that student think tanks can access for speakers, mentorship, and support.
If you wish to make an individual charitable donation of any amount without joining the Fellowship or receiving these perks, please contact our team. Every gift is screened under our Ethical Funding Policy and never buys influence over research.
View BrochureWhat your support unlocks
Benefit comparison by tier
A summary of the recognition, access and impact associated with each way of giving. All benefits are subject to the Trust's non-influence rules.
| Benefit category |
Strategic Institutional Grant
(Institutions & Individuals) |
Targeted Research Bursary
(Institutions & Individuals) |
Fellowship Network
(Individuals only — £250+/year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Engagement | Institutional Reach: Opportunities to network with over 100 student members and researchers across supported think tanks. | Researcher Connection: Direct networking opportunities with the student researchers at your supported think tank. | Fellowship Access: Part of a dedicated network of policy-minded professionals. |
| Social Impact | Scaling the Trust's ability to influence national policy for the better across multiple universities. | Removing financial barriers to entry for talented student researchers at a specific think tank. | Strengthening the long-term legacy of student policy research across the UK. |
| Engagement | Funds high-profile public speaker events, workshops, and policy training across supported think tanks. | Invitation to the yearly networking dinner for alumni and partners. | Invitation to the yearly networking dinner for alumni and partners. |
| Mentorship | Institutional Mentorship: Broad engagement and mentorship opportunities with the researcher pool across supported think tanks. | Mentor-Student Link: Opportunity to advise and mentor current research teams at your supported think tank. | Speaker & Mentor Database: Inclusion in a directory that student think tanks access for speakers and support. |
| Talent Pipeline | Access to the Trust's CV database of consenting student researchers across all supported think tanks. | Access to the CV database for the specific think tank supported. | N/A |
Ethical funding
Money we will not take
Our Ethical Funding Policy names the sources we decline outright, to protect the Trust's reputation, independence and public confidence.
-
Fossil fuels
extraction, production or primary distribution of oil, gas and coal
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Gambling
betting companies, casinos and online gambling platforms
-
Tobacco
manufacture or primary distribution, including vaping products
-
Alcohol manufacture
producers and registered wholesalers (not licensed pubs, bars or venues)
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Weapons & defence
manufacture, development or direct supply of military hardware
-
Political parties
registered parties or bodies set up to promote a party or candidate
-
Sanctioned entities
subject to active UK, UN or EU sanctions
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Foreign state-linked
foreign governments or state-linked entities where a gift would compromise our independence
Know Your Donor — proportionate checks
Under £1,000
Verify the donor and their legal status, confirm the gift falls outside excluded categories, and record the source and amount.
£1,000 or more
Verify identity against two independent sources, run a reputational check, and assess whether the gift could create undue influence.
£10,000+, anonymous or overseas
Establish a legitimate, traceable source of funds, seek Charity Commission guidance where needed, and consider independent legal advice.
Anonymous donations over £500 are accepted only with explicit board approval and a clear, legitimate reason for the anonymity.
Your gift, their independence
You can choose the cause, never the conclusion
You may restrict a gift to a specific think tank — for example, “restrict this to bursaries at a particular university's policy society.” The funds are legally ring-fenced for that purpose. What a donor can never do is direct, preview or influence the research itself. Our non-influence rules and CC9 obligations apply equally to restricted and unrestricted gifts.
Every donor agrees to:
- Never attempt to influence the content, methodology or conclusions of funded research.
- Never request access to research before its formal public release.
- Never use donor status to press the Trust or a think tank toward particular positions.
- Treat every student and Trust representative with courtesy and respect.
Transparency
We show our working
The Trust publishes an Annual Transparency Report setting out the total funds received during the year and the general categories of funding. To respect the privacy of our supporters, individual and institutional donor names are strictly confidential and are not published.
No payment is processed on this site. To make or discuss a gift — including restricting it to a specific think tank — please get in touch and we will take you through the checks and the Funding Agreement.
Ready to support independent student research?
Start a conversation about giving — one-off, ongoing, or restricted to a think tank you care about.