Ceniarth Foundation

Ceniarth Foundation, established in 2013 as the philanthropic arm of the Isenberg family by Diane Isenberg, deploys capital from its $749 million asset base—structured as a UK charity and family office—to enhance livelihoods in underserved and marginalized global communities. Rooted in Diane's expertise in public health and rural development, and the family's legacy, it champions an "impact-first" philosophy, prioritizing low-income populations' well-being over market returns, embracing higher risk to reach the most vulnerable, and committing 100% of assets to impact through catalytic, flexible capital that achieves additionality where commercial funds won't.

It focuses on financial inclusion (31% of portfolio), SME finance (14%), agriculture (12%), affordable housing (10%), community development (9%), energy access, climate resilience, and ecosystem building, with lesser emphasis on education and health. Support targets funds, financial intermediaries, and social enterprises (non-profits and for-profits) delivering scalable solutions via private credit, programme-related investments (PRIs), and rare grants for capacity building—exemplified by investments in Social Investment Scotland, Aceli Africa, and US Southern CDFIs—always demanding rigorous impact measurement across beneficiary, enterprise, and capital pillars.

Eligible entities include charities, social enterprises, and funds of any size demonstrating measurable benefits for marginalized groups, with no geographic, income, or religious restrictions—spanning UK, US, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and beyond. Ceniarth does not accept unsolicited applications, selecting partners proactively via research and networks on a rolling basis, without deadlines. Typical commitments range from £25,000–£100,000 for grants to £1–5 million for investments; it avoids core funding, project grants, or low-impact activities, distinguishing itself through field advocacy for genuine impact investing transparency.