The Denise Coates Foundation — the charitable vehicle established by the Betchton entrepreneur who is also the UK’s highest-paid female executive – has reported another year of growth in both its financial resources and its donations.
The latest accounts, covering the year to 30th March 2025, show the foundation committing £16.7 million to charitable causes while receiving a further £130 million in new donations, and seeing its reserves pass £1 billion.
Ms Coates, who built Bet365 from a small chain of betting shops into global online betting giant Bet365, saw total incoming revenue to her foundation of £144 million, including £14 million in interest and investment returns.
After accounting for charitable expenditure, governance costs and investment management fees, the foundation recorded net income of £152.2 million. Its total funds now stand at £1.094 billion — an increase of more than £150 million on the previous year.
Its investment portfolio, managed by Stonehage Fleming, grew to £975 million and delivered a gain of £38.1 million over the period.
Trustees noted that the portfolio continued to outperform inflation and remained diversified across global markets.
The foundation’s grant-making activity continued to span a wide range of sectors, with a strong emphasis on medical research, health and welfare, education, and community development.
The foundation said it identified charities locally, nationally or internationally that it wanted to support, and welcomed applications as well.
Contact is made with charities to discuss any programmes that they are looking to undertake that the foundation may be in a position to support. These charities are then invited to present to the foundation’s trustees with a proposal detailing how a grant would be of use to the charity and the benefits that it would deliver.
“Given that the foundation’s objectives are broad, the trustees will consider most grants that have a charitable purpose but particular consideration is given in areas of health and welfare, community development, medical research and development, education and training, arts and culture and disaster recovery,” said the report.
Medical research and healthcare received some of the largest commitments. University Hospitals of North Midlands Charity received two grants totalling £6.4 million, funding a surgical robot for spinal procedures, equipment for lung and trauma surgery, 185 specialist beds and mattresses, and 77 chemotherapy chairs.
Cancer Research UK and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity each received £600,000 for pioneering cancer research, including vaccine development and robotic microsurgery.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity grant will contribute to the three-year lease of a Symani System, allowing clinical and translational studies in robotic reconstructive microsurgery.
The foundation also continued its support for Alzheimer’s Research UK, the Chronic Disease Research Foundation and the North Staffordshire Medical Institute, funding projects ranging from dementia research to early-stage medical fellowships.
The University of Sheffield is funding, using lab-grown brain cells to understand how diabetes increases dementia risk and simulating protein build-up in frontotemporal dementia using light.
The foundation maintained its commitment to the Chronic Disease Research Foundation, an independent medical research charity. A grant of £100,000 was made to fund pilot projects, offering fellowships to appropriate candidates while supporting PhD students and related project grants.
Locally, the Douglas Macmillan Hospice received £1.3 million to support its integration with the Donna Louise Trust and to fund specialist medical teams. University Hospitals Birmingham Charity received £500,000 towards a new transplant centre designed to consolidate specialist care and improve patient recovery.
Education remained a priority area. Keele University, Staffordshire University and the University of Sheffield each received £200,000 to support bursary schemes for undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds.
A further £3.8 million was awarded to other educational institutions, reflecting the foundation’s commitment to widening access and supporting long-term academic development.
The foundation also continued its multi-year support for Thrive at Five, an early-years initiative working in Stoke-on-Trent. Grants supported language development programmes, nursery training, parent-and-toddler groups, and community-based early-years support.
Edmund Rice Development received £300,000 across two grants to support poverty-reduction projects in Zambia and Kenya. YMCA North Staffordshire received £100,000 for the fit-out of a new community development hub, while Sandbach Foodbank received funding to support families in financial crisis.
The New Vic Theatre received £100,000 for its Borderlines initiative, which uses theatre to support vulnerable individuals, and a further £400,000 for major sound-system upgrades.
Other cultural and community projects included support for Wishing Well in Cheshire and a festive community event in Middleport delivered through New Vic Appetite.
Midlands Air Ambulance Fund received the remaining amount for the purchase of a replacement air ambulance.
The foundation also provided a grant to The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Stoke-on-Trent and Fenton. The grant supported the refurbishment of Stoke Minster, including the installation of a new boiler system.
