Aruna And Ambika Paul Foundation

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 276127
• Annual Giving: £4,839,298 (2023-24)
• Grant Range: £100,000 - £2,378,310+ (varies significantly)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (trustee-directed)
• Geographic Focus: UK, India, and USA
• Application Method: Discretionary grants by Board of Trustees

Contact Details

Address: 103 Baker Street, London, W1U 6LN, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 (0)20 7486 1417

Note: The foundation operates on a trustee-directed grant-making model. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the Board of Trustees rather than through an open application process.

Overview

The Aruna and Ambika Paul Foundation was established in 1978 as the Ambika Paul Foundation by Lord Swraj Paul in memory of his daughter Ambika, who died of leukemia in 1968 at age four. The foundation was renamed in July 2024 following the death of Lady Aruna Paul in 2022, to honor her memory and recognize her tremendous contribution to the causes the foundation supported. Funded by donations from the Paul family and the Caparo businesses, the foundation has grown to have substantial net assets and an impressive program of donations. In the financial year ending April 2024, the foundation had total income of £2,597,120 and total expenditure of £4,839,298. The foundation promotes the well-being of children and young people worldwide through education, culture, health, and humanitarian relief.

Funding Priorities

Grant Focus Areas

The foundation gives grants to further education and to promote the health and wellbeing of young people, mainly in the UK, India and the USA. It also provides humanitarian relief where appropriate, from time to time.

Core Areas:

• Education and further education
• Culture and the arts
• Health and wellbeing of children and young people
• Scholarships and student support
• University infrastructure and facilities
• Research and academic programs

What They Fund

Notable Grant Examples:

• University of Wolverhampton: £1 million donation in 2015 (largest single gift in the university's history), plus £500,000 for the Angad Paul building
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): $5 million (£2,378,310) in 2020 for Kresge Auditorium renovation; previous donations for scholarships and student facilities
• Student entrepreneurship programs: Lord Paul Award for Student Enterprise (£10,000 headline prize, plus £5,000 and £1,000 awards)
• Educational infrastructure: Ambika Paul Student Union Centre at University of Wolverhampton
• Scholarships: Lord Paul Postgraduate Excellence Scholarship (up to £2,000), Swraj Paul Scholarship fund at MIT

Geographic Focus

Primarily supports institutions and initiatives in:

• United Kingdom
• India
• United States of America

Ready to write a winning application for Aruna And Ambika Paul Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is constituted as a charitable unincorporated organization under a trust deed executed on 10 April 1978, registered with the Charity Commission (registration number 276127).

Board Structure:

• 4 Trustees
• 3 Volunteers
• No paid employees earning over £60,000
• No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity

Historical Leadership:

Lord Swraj Paul (1931-2025) served as Chairman of Trustees and was the founder of the foundation. Lady Aruna Paul served as a trustee until her death in 2022. Lord Paul passed away in August 2025.

Paul Family Leadership:

The foundation is managed by the Paul family, including Dr. Akash Paul (son of Lord Paul), who serves as Chairman of Caparo India and Director of the Caparo Group. Lord Paul's three children—Ambar, Akash, and Anjli Paul—now manage Caparo, the primary funding source for the foundation.

Grant-Making Philosophy:

According to charity records, “Grants made by the Foundation are at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. The Board considers making a grant and if approved, notifies the intended recipient.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Aruna and Ambika Paul Foundation operates as a private family foundation with a trustee-directed grant-making model. The foundation does not appear to accept unsolicited applications through a formal application process.

Grant Award Process:

• Grants are made at the discretion of the Board of Trustees
• The Board proactively identifies and considers potential recipients
• Once approved, the foundation notifies the intended recipient

Contact Information:

Organizations interested in potential funding may contact the foundation at:

• Phone: +44 (0)20 7486 1417
• Address: 103 Baker Street, London, W1U 6LN

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation making discretionary grants, the timeline varies depending on the Board's consideration process and priorities.

Grant Volume

Recent financial data shows:

• 2018-19: 4 grants made during the year
• 2023-24: Total charitable expenditure of £4,839,298

The foundation makes a relatively small number of high-value grants to select institutions and programs.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not applicable due to the foundation's trustee-directed model rather than open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. As grants are awarded at the discretion of trustees rather than through an application process, there is no formal reapplication policy.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Approach for Grant Writers

Given the foundation's trustee-directed model, traditional grant application strategies do not apply. However, organizations aligned with the foundation's priorities may consider:

1. Relationship Building

• The foundation has established long-term relationships with specific institutions (e.g., University of Wolverhampton, MIT)
• Lord Paul served as Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, demonstrating the importance of personal connections
• The Paul family's business interests through Caparo may influence funding relationships

2. Alignment with Paul Family Legacy

• Projects honoring the memory of Ambika Paul (focus on children's health, particularly leukemia research)
• Initiatives supporting Aruna Paul's interests (following her death in 2022)
• Programs connected to Angad Paul's legacy in education and entrepreneurship

3. Geographic and Sectoral Focus

• Strong preference for UK, India, and USA initiatives
• Particular interest in institutions with Paul family connections
• Focus on education, especially supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Health and wellbeing programs for young people

4. Scale and Impact

• The foundation makes relatively few but substantial grants (ranging from £100,000 to over £2 million)
• Preference for transformational gifts that create lasting legacies (e.g., named buildings, scholarship programs)
• Support for infrastructure, endowments, and sustainable programs

5. Student-Focused Programs

• Entrepreneurship and innovation programs for students
• Scholarships and financial support for education
• Student facilities and learning environments
• Support for international students

Examples of Funded Projects

• MIT Kresge Auditorium: $5 million for renovation, resulting in the Lord Swraj Paul PC '52 and Angad Paul '92 Theatre
• University of Wolverhampton: Multiple major gifts including £1 million donation, Ambika Paul Student Union Centre, Angad Paul building
• Lord Paul Awards: Annual entrepreneurship awards for University of Wolverhampton students
• MIT Scholarships: Swraj Paul Scholarship fund for undergraduate and graduate students
• Ambika Paul Mezzanine and Study Space: Student facility at MIT

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Trustee-Directed Model: This is a private family foundation that makes grants at the discretion of its trustees, not through an open application process. Traditional grant application strategies do not apply.

1. Relationship-Driven: Successful funding relationships appear to be built on long-term connections with the Paul family, such as Lord Paul's role as Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton or family members' attendance at MIT.

1. Legacy Focus: The foundation's grants honor the memory of Ambika Paul, Aruna Paul, and Angad Paul, suggesting projects that align with their interests and legacies may be more attractive.

1. Substantial Grant Sizes: When the foundation does make grants, they tend to be significant (£100,000 to over £2 million), supporting transformational projects rather than small initiatives.

1. Educational Institutions Preferred: The foundation shows strong preference for supporting educational institutions, particularly universities, with focus on student support, infrastructure, and entrepreneurship.

1. Geographic Specificity: Clear focus on UK, India, and USA, with particular attention to institutions in these countries with Paul family connections.

1. Not Open to Unsolicited Applications: Organizations without existing relationships should not expect to successfully approach this foundation through cold contact or standard grant proposals. Building genuine relationships and demonstrating alignment with the foundation's legacy-focused mission is essential.

References

1. Charity Commission Register of Charities. “Aruna and Ambika Paul Foundation - Charity Number 276127.” Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/276127

1. Caparo. “Proud to support the Aruna and Ambika Paul Foundation.” Available at: https://www.caparo.com/aruna-and-ambika-paul-foundation

1. University of Wolverhampton. “Chancellor Lord Paul gifts £1m to the University.” April 2015. Available at: https://www.wlv.ac.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/2015/april-2015/chancellor-lord-paul-gifts-1m-to-the-university.php

1. Eastern Eye. "Lord Swraj Paul donates $5m to MIT and says the institute 'changed his life'." Available at: https://www.easterneye.biz/lord-swraj-paul-donates-5-million-to-mit-says-the-institute-changed-his-life/

1. Express & Star. “Wolverhampton University receives £1m - the biggest donation in its history.” 12 April 2015. Available at: https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/04/12/wolverhampton-university-receives-1m-the-biggest-donation-in-its-history/

1. University of Wolverhampton. “Competition winners of Lord Paul Fund get revved up for engineering success.” July 2021. Available at: https://www.wlv.ac.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/2021/july-2021/competition-winners-of-lord-paul-fund-get-revved-up-for-engineering-success-.php

1. The Tribune. “Lord Swraj Paul donates USD 5 million to alma mater MIT.” Available at: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/diaspora/lord-swraj-paul-donates-usd-5-million-to-alma-mater-mit-112000

1. Wikipedia. “Swraj Paul, Baron Paul.” Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swraj_Paul,_Baron_Paul

1. Caparo India. "Founder & Family." Available at: https://www.caparo.co.in/about-us/founder

1. Charity Commission Financial Records for Charity 276127, Financial Year Ending 30 April 2024.