The Peter Harrison Foundation was founded by Peter Harrison in 1999. The Foundation specialises in providing funding through three programmes; opportunities through sport; special needs and care for children and young people; and opportunities through education.
In over 20 years the Foundation has awarded over 1,500 grants to more than 900 different charities totalling over £48m. They currently distribute approximately £2 million per annum.
The new Director would lead the Foundation’s work, acting as an ambassador, ensuring strategic grant giving is effective and supporting the Trustees.
We were looking for a collaborative leader with strong analytical skills, financial literacy and general business acumen as well as the ability to work with a range of stakeholders. Our search focussed on targeting leaders with grant making experience, from the philanthropy sector and those leading charitable organisations in the region as well as those providing sporting opportunities.
Sarah Ridley was successfully appointed to the role. Sarah has over 30 years’ experience of charitable grant giving in the UK and US. She previously led The London Marathon Charitable Trust’s substantial grants programme and environmental charity the Tubney Charitable Trust. Sarah has served on numerous boards, including Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Europe, the BBC Wildlife Fund, Charles Dickens Museum and Carers Worldwide. She has been an independent adviser on philanthropy and has also written and presented on the subject for the Association of Charitable Foundations and Bayes Business School amongst others.