Smiths, the global industrial engineering company, has announced the third round of grants from its charitable foundation, awarding £1.3 million to 13 charities worldwide in 2026. Since its inception three years ago, the foundation has distributed nearly £3 million across 16 countries, supporting causes aligned with its values in STEM education, environmental sustainability, and community safety.
A distinctive feature of the foundation is its employee-led nomination process, overseen by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). Staff are encouraged to put forward charities that matter to them, with priority given to those aligning closely with the foundation’s impact framework. This approach ensures that grants combine financial support with employee engagement, creating lasting community impact.
Among past beneficiaries is Flint Global, which received support in 2024 to provide bio-gas systems to Maasai communities in Kenya. The project’s success attracted further funding and strengthened ties with Smiths employees, demonstrating how engineering-driven solutions can break cycles of poverty. Flint’s founder praised Smiths for helping communities build sustainable futures.
This year’s grantees include organizations such as Drive Forward Foundation, REMAP 2010, Ripple Suicide Prevention, SolarAid, Stiftung Kinder Forschen, Hope Ignites, Czechitas, In2ScienceUK, Fundación Robótica para la Educación, and Makkala Jagriti. Their work spans equitable STEM pathways for marginalized youth, assistive technology for people with disabilities, AI-driven suicide prevention, solar repair ecosystems in Africa, and robotics education for rural and indigenous students.
Smiths also continues its corporate partnership with the World Land Trust, supporting conservation of 250 acres in Kenya’s Dakatcha Woodland, one of the world’s most threatened forest ecosystems. This commitment builds on the foundation’s footprint in Kenya through earlier support for Just a Drop and Flint Global.
Ben MacDonald, Chair of the Foundation, highlighted the inspiration drawn from backing charities that make tangible differences in people’s lives. He emphasized the importance of biodiversity protection as part of building resilient communities and a healthier planet, reinforcing Smiths’ broader sustainability and ESG commitments.
