Annabel Arbib Foundation

The Annabel Arbib Foundation, a UK-registered charity established in 1987 by Sir Martyn Arbib and now chaired by his daughter Annabel Nicoll, channels family philanthropy to advance access to high-quality education and healthcare, especially for vulnerable and disadvantaged children. With a strategic, endowment-backed approach governed entirely by Arbib/Nicoll family trustees, it emphasizes long-term social impact through institution-building and partnerships, exemplified by sponsoring the Arbib Education Trust—a Berkshire Multi-Academy Trust with primary and secondary schools—and major support for the River & Rowing Museum in Henley-on-Thames. Core values include safeguarding assets for sustainable giving, promoting educational excellence, and addressing evident needs in the Thames Valley and beyond.

The Foundation prioritizes education (access, quality, attainment for at-risk learners), healthcare projects, museum education, and broader UK charitable causes, funding core operations, capacity building, capital projects, and multi-year systemic initiatives rather than one-off efforts. Beneficiaries include schools, trusts, museums, and substantial social impact organizations serving vulnerable communities across England and Wales, with a focus on Thames Valley localities like Berkshire.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, ideally medium-to-large scale with operational heft (no strict income thresholds, but preference for established entities); geographic restrictions are minimal, though partnerships are regionally concentrated. It does not accept unsolicited applications, instead proactively selecting partners via trustee discretion at ad hoc board meetings several times yearly—no public deadlines, forms, or open rounds exist. Typical grants range from £50,000 to £500,000 annually for key partners, with overall expenditure exceeding £800,000 yearly.

Distinctively family-led and partnership-oriented, the Foundation avoids small-scale or public fundraising, focusing on transformative, recurring support to drive best practices in education and health, setting it apart from open-grant funders.