When Growing Hope received a call from Stewardship about an anonymous donor, it was a clear answer to prayer. For CEO Vicki Smith, the moment is still vivid in her memory.
Growing Hope is a charity that works with churches to provide free therapy clinics for children with additional needs and support for their families. Growing Hope also helps churches become more welcoming spaces for people with additional needs.
“In one sense the call came out of the blue,” Vicki recalls, “but we had been praying as a team for ‘immeasurably more’ – bold, faith-filled prayers about what God could do.”
One team member had even written ‘£100K’ on a post-it note during a prayer session. Then came the news: a Stewardship Donor Advised Board wanted to support Growing Hope anonymously – not just with a one-off grant of £100,000, but that amount every year for three years.
“It was just such a clear picture of God saying, ‘I’m behind what you’re doing’,” Vicki reflects.
For the donor, being able to give anonymously with the support of Stewardship was the key to unlocking this generous act.
“We chose to give anonymously to steward this valuable relationship with dignity. We had a personal connection to Growing Hope through our church so anonymity felt like the right way to keep the focus on the exciting and meaningful work they're doing, rather than on us.”
From bold vision to growing impact
At the time, Growing Hope had three clinics. Today, that number has more than doubled, with plans to reach 11 by the end of 2026 and a long-term vision of 20 clinics by 2030.
The impact is measured not just in locations, but in lives and outcomes. In 2025, the charity supported 430 children through its free therapy services. In 2026, it expects to support 600.
Behind these numbers are stories like Josiah’s. He arrived struggling with confidence, unable to engage in writing at school. Through six sessions with an Occupational Therapist, he began to rebuild focus and self-belief.
“Towards the end of the sessions, Josiah made a completely independent decision to write a speech,” Vicki explains. “No one asked him to do it.” Josiah put himself forward as a cyber ambassador in his class, wrote his speech and was duly elected.
For Vicki, this story demonstrates what the grant made possible. “It illustrates the transformation that can happen in quite a short space of time when a highly skilled therapist taps into the thing that’s stopping a child from flourishing.”
With a view to helping the charity unlock their strategic goal to scale their impact with confidence, the donor was encouraged that the funding could be focused on strengthening their national team, from operations to service delivery and communications.
Anonymous, but deeply personal
The Stewardship supporter remains unknown to them but Growing Hope has worked hard to maintain a sense of connection via the Stewardship grants manager.
“We always want to remember that this is a person,” Vicki says. “Even though we may never know who they are, we thank God for them.” The Growing Hope team records personal video updates alongside formal reports, which has been gratefully received by the donor.
The multi-year funding model has been particularly significant. Rather than facing uncertainty at the start of each year, the team could plan with confidence, knowing that core income was secured. This allowed them to confidently recruit staff, invest in systems and processes, and take strategic decisions that support long-term growth rather than short-term survival.
“It’s transformational,” Vicki explains. “We can forecast income much more accurately, so you can offer roles with longevity and give people job security.”
This model also accommodated the donor’s ambitions to steward their philanthropy well. “The multi-year commitment gives us the space to substantively engage with the charity: learning their story and strategy, understanding the challenges they're facing, advising on key decisions and connecting them with networks and experts, rather than simply writing a cheque. Our desire is to serve as a partner so that together we can make the most of what's been given. That takes time and trust on both sides.”
“Invite God into the conversation”
For those considering supporting charitable causes anonymously, Vicki’s encouragement is simple: “Invite God into the conversation and be obedient to what He is calling you to do. What breaks your heart? That’s often an indication of where God is leading you.”
Partnering with a trusted Philanthropy service like Stewardship can make anonymous support both practical and impactful, enabling generosity and relationship while maintaining discretion.
For charities, Vicki’s advice is both spiritual and practical. “Pray it in,” she says. “Ask for the ‘immeasurably more’.”
At the same time, Vicki says, remember the person behind the grant. “They’re supporting because they believe in what you’re doing. Treat them as a human not just a funding source, even when they choose to support you anonymously.”
Looking ahead, the future for Growing Hope is full of promise. With three more clinics due to open in 2026 and further plans beyond that, the charity is steadily moving towards its vision of a nationwide network.
As Vicki reflects, the story is still being written. What began as a bold prayer has become a growing movement of hope reaching hundreds of children with life-changing therapy today and many more in the years to come.
How this anonymous donation was possible
The donor in this story uses our Donor Advisory Board service. Having been inspired by the work of Growing Hope, the donor asked a Grants Manager on the Donor Advisory Board team to research on their behalf how they could best support the charity. This research shaped a multi-year grant to support the charity’s ambitious growth strategy.
For many donors, anonymity is an important part of giving. It can offer the freedom to be generous at scale without the risk of being overwhelmed by further requests, as well as keeping the focus on the impact rather than the individual.
The donor commented that “Stewardship made this anonymous yet meaningful relationship possible. They're not just managing a grant but nurturing a real partnership on our behalf. We don't always have the time to give these relationships the attention they deserve, so Stewardship brings the wisdom, strategy and encouragement that ensures the charities we support feel genuinely cared for, wherever they are in their journey.”
Read more about Donor Advisory Board service or Philanthropy Fund accounts
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