Steve Morgan: From Liverpool Roots to £300m Philanthropy Changing Lives Across the UK

If you’re a fan of the Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., or are great at keeping up with stock market updates, it’s likely that you’ve heard of Steve Morgan.

Born and raised in Liverpool, Morgan went on to become one of the key players in the British construction industry - and was even awarded an OBE for his work - but is recognised today primarily for his philanthropy.

After earning a fortune thanks to his ownership of Redrow plc, which became a FTSE 250 company under his management, Morgan went on to set up the Steve Morgan Foundation - dedicated to changing lives for the better.

Now approaching its 25th anniversary, having been founded in 2001, the Steve Morgan Foundation has funneled millions to charities and organisations throughout the United Kingdom, and beyond. Morgan himself has donated an incredible £300 million to the Foundation.

But let’s turn back the clock for a moment. Like many others, Steve Morgan’s upbringing was not a charmed one - Morgan himself even describes his upbringing as ‘tough’, coming from a poor background and moving homes, and schools, nine times during his childhood alone.

Morgan attended Liverpool John Moores University - then known as Liverpool Polytechnic, entering the business world at age 21, in 1974, when the UK was going through an incredibly difficult period of recession.

Despite this, Morgan used his business-savvy - something that would become useful within philanthropy, too - to rise up within his employer’s business. Eventually, this would become Redrow plc, and mark the beginning of Morgan’s financial success.

Perhaps because of his upbringing, Morgan has remained acutely aware of how life’s uncontrollable difficulties can impact you; how, through no fault of your own, life can be harder, just by chance. 

Social disadvantage remains one of the primary targets of the Steve Morgan Foundation - and the foundation has pledged £100 million in donations over the next five years, to break this vicious cycle. The Steve Morgan Foundation believes that everyone deserves a positive upbringing, and should not be limited, nor negatively impacted, by the hand life dealt them. 

The main tenet of the Steve Morgan Foundation is Changing Lives For Good - tackling inequality, disadvantage, and even health issues to improve the lives of people all around the UK. One of the charity’s most impactful moves is donating £50 million to Diabetes UK, in an effort to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes - a cause that is close to the Morgan family’s hearts.

Thanks to his knowledge of business and finance, Morgan, through his charity, has been able to embark on a number of partnerships to improve lives - not just in the UK but around the world. In 2022, the Steve Morgan Foundation partnered with Wizz Air, as well as three other not-for-profit organisations: Choose Love, The Shapiro Foundation and the Universal Sponsorship Pathway UK (USPUK). It was this partnership that allowed Ukrainian refugees to take 10,000 free flights from Ukraine to the UK, helping those whose lives were uprooted by war to find sanctuary in the UK.

Steve Morgan is a prime example of how you can turn success into philanthropy - so much so, that he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for philanthropic services, in 2016. 

Regional charities are welcomed to apply to the Steve Morgan Foundation for funding. The charity is most interested in supporting initiatives that tackle the root causes of issues impacting young people, with the ambition of creating long lasting, sustainable change that will support generations to come.

A talented businessman, Morgan’s knowledge of business and the finances he raised through his hard work, didn’t leave him a Scrooge-like miser, counting and pinching every penny. Instead, he learned the value of money when it is put back into the economy - and what it means to someone who doesn’t have much. 

It’s this mindset that has turned the Steve Morgan Foundation into one of the largest funding charities in the UK. With the help of philanthropists like Steve Morgan, we are on our way to a world where children will no longer experience ‘tough’ upbringings the way Morgan did - and their path to a better life will be paved with help and care.

Over the next five years, the Foundation plans to channel funds into improving education and employment access, not only helping to grow the economy, but giving young people the tools they need to change their lives.

It is always encouraging to see those who are channeling difficult experiences into making improvements for others, to create a ripple of positive change in the world. Thanks to Steve Morgan, thousands of other people in the UK will have access to help and support which he did not, leaving behind a lasting legacy of hope for change.

Charity check-in

At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article. 

Diabetes UK. This charity funds research to find a cure for diabetes while supporting people living with the condition through education, advocacy and improved healthcare. Its work tackles health inequality and improves outcomes for individuals and families across the UK. Learn more here.

Steve Morgan Foundation. This foundation works to change lives by addressing the root causes of social disadvantage, inequality and poor life chances. It funds long-term initiatives that improve education, health and employment opportunities for young people and communities. Discover their work here.

Choose Love. This humanitarian charity supports refugees and displaced people by providing emergency aid, essential supplies and access to safe routes to sanctuary. It works globally to protect dignity, safety and opportunity for those forced to flee their homes. Find out more here.

This positive news article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health and Wellbeing, Reduced Inequalities, Partnerships For The Goals.