Cinven Foundation

The Cinven Foundation, the UK charitable arm of Cinven—a leading European private equity firm—serves as its corporate philanthropy vehicle, distinct from investment activities. Established to drive positive social change, it advances education programmes, promotes social inclusion, supports environmental initiatives, and improves health outcomes through strategic grants to aligned institutions. Guided by Cinven’s ethos of responsible partnership, inclusion, and measurable impact, the Foundation funds a limited number of organisations annually while offering global matched giving for staff charitable efforts. Its distinctive approach emphasises long-term partnerships, institutional capacity-building, and systemic change, particularly in diversity within investment and finance sectors across socioeconomic, ethnic, gender, and LGBT+ lines.

It prioritises education and social inclusion for disadvantaged youth and those at risk of sector exclusion; environmental causes like sustainability and climate action; and health advancements addressing inequalities, as seen in 2023 grants to Synlab Foundation for healthcare innovation. Beneficiaries include communities facing environmental challenges, with support for scholarships, outreach, diversity initiatives, targeted programmes, and strategic collaborations rather than one-off projects.

Eligible applicants are exclusively UK-registered charities with a UK base, typically medium-to-large organisations demonstrating robust governance and impact; no strict income thresholds apply, though preference leans toward established entities. Grants range from £25,000 to £150,000 annually, with potential for multi-year commitments, awarded invite-only on a case-by-case basis by investment-savvy trustees—no unsolicited applications, deadlines, or open processes exist.

Exclusions include emergency relief, capital-only funding, and transactional donations outside its three core themes. What sets it apart is its integration of corporate values with philanthropy, staff-driven global reach, and focus on transformative inclusion in high-impact sectors, ideal for charities seeking enduring strategic alliances.