The Matchroom Charitable Foundation is a UK registered nonprofit organisation (Charity number: 1167276) established to centralise and coordinate the philanthropic activities of Matchroom Sport, a global sports promotion company. The foundation consolidates the charitable efforts of Matchroom Sport and its subsidiaries, including the Professional Darts Corporation, Matchroom Boxing, World Snooker, and Matchroom MultiSport.

History and Background

Founded in 2016, the Matchroom Charitable Foundation emerged from Matchroom Sport’s longstanding tradition of philanthropy spanning over 30 years. Historically, Matchroom Sport has donated millions of pounds to a wide range of causes, focusing notably on sports and community charities as well as hospices for both children and adults. The foundation was created to formalise and centralise these efforts, enhancing the impact and reach of its benevolent contributions.

Funding and Operations

Matchroom Sport promotes over 200 event days annually in the UK, attracting more than 400,000 ticket sales each year. A unique feature of the foundation’s funding model is the allocation of the equivalent of £1 from every ticket sold at Matchroom events towards the foundation’s charitable initiatives. This funding strategy enables the foundation to generate significant and sustainable support for various deserving causes that improve people’s lives.

The foundation administers grants, awards, and donations to various UK charities, with a focus on projects that have meaningful community impact.

Charitable Initiatives

The Matchroom Charitable Foundation supports a broad spectrum of charitable projects, including:

• Empire Fighting Chance: A pioneering boxing charity that received a £300,000 donation to support up to 100 amateur boxing clubs across the UK over three years.
• Brick by Brick Campaign: Supporting the construction of two innovative refuge houses for vulnerable populations.
• Ditch the Label: A youth charity dedicated to supporting young people aged 12 to 25, helping them navigate personal and social challenges.
• Changing Faces: A charity that helps individuals with visible differences such as scars, marks or conditions that affect their appearance, aiming to improve their quality of life.

Governance and Legal Status

The Matchroom Charitable Foundation is registered as a private limited company by guarantee without share capital and operates under the UK Charity Commission’s regulations. It was previously known as Matchroom Sport Charitable Foundation and Matchroom Sport Foundation before adopting its current name. The registered office is located in Essex, England.

The Matchroom Charitable Foundation exemplifies a dedicated sports-related philanthropic organisation leveraging the success and audience of a major sports promotion company to make a positive social impact throughout the UK.

[1] https://matchroomsport.foundation [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1167276&subid=0 [3] https://matchroom.com/about/matchroom-sport-foundation/ [4] https://matchroomsport.foundation/news/ [5] https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/10071079