About the Foundation
Honouring a legacy of generosity and community spirit
The David Laing Foundation was created in 1979 through a deed from Sir Kirby Laing and his trustees. Built on the Laing family’s long tradition of faith, service and community responsibility, the Foundation grew under the leadership of David Laing CBE—a philanthropist, businessman and committed advocate for culture, heritage, and community life. From the outset, its purpose has been clear: to use its good fortune to support those with fewer opportunities and to help communities thrive.
Today, the Foundation is a registered charity (No. 278462), under robust governance and compliance that ensure transparency and accountability. David’s approach—grounded in humanity, hope and deep respect for local organisations—inspired the Foundation’s enduring focus on smaller and midsized charities whose work often goes unseen but has powerful impact. This commitment continues to guide trustee decisionmaking.
Our guiding principles
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Impact: Funding projects that create meaningful benefits for communities (with rare scholarshiptype exceptions), rather than for single individuals.
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Local focus: Prioritising work in areas with personal, historic or longstanding connections to the Foundation, delivered by UKregistered organisations within the trustees’ agreed interests.
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Stewardship: Assessing applications carefully and collectively, ensuring responsible stewardship of charitable funds.
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Respect for applicants: Valuing the time and effort behind each application and offering clear, supportive guidance at each stage.
Over the years, these principles have shaped the Foundation’s support for causes close to the Laing family’s heart—youth, education, disability inclusion, heritage, the arts, wellbeing, sport, and projects where faith and community life come together to improve lives.
To deepen its reach, the Foundation partners with Community Foundations in Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and the Heart of Bucks. These relationships enable investment in a wide range of grassroots organisations, ensuring that funding reaches the people and places where it can create lasting positive change.
David’s legacy is one of warmth, curiosity and a deep belief in the potential of people. The Foundation seeks to honour that legacy in every grant awarded.
Today, the trustees continue this mission with care and integrity, ensuring that every grant honours David’s enduring belief in the power of community — and continues to shine the light where it is most needed.