Aurum Kaleidoscope Foundation

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity: 1198581
• Founded: April 2022
• Annual Income: £8,129,277 (2024)
• Annual Giving: Over $43 million since inception (total through Aurum's Embedded Impact model)
• Grant Range: £25,000 - Multi-year core funding arrangements
• Geographic Focus: International (UK, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Bermuda, Ukraine)
• Application Process: No public application process - invitation/relationship-based

Contact Details

Primary Contact: Via Aurum Fund Management Ltd (parent organization)

• Website: https://www.aurum.com/environmental-and-social/
• Charity Commission: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk (Charity No. 1198581)
• Location: Connected to Aurum Fund Management Ltd, Bermuda

Note: The foundation does not employ staff or maintain independent office space, operating instead with administrative support from the Aurum Group.

Overview

The Aurum Kaleidoscope Foundation was established in April 2022 as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The foundation receives substantial donation income from Aurum Fund Management Ltd, a Bermuda-based hedge fund-of-funds manager, as part of Aurum's innovative “Embedded Impact” model where management fees are donated to charitable causes.

With an annual income of over £8 million and total charitable giving exceeding $43 million since the inception of the Embedded Impact model in 2002, the foundation promotes environmental conservation, social welfare, and education through strategic grant-making. The foundation emphasizes rigorous research and analysis to identify opportunities where funding can achieve proportionately greater impact. Trustees are predominantly Aurum Group colleagues, supplemented by an independent trustee for additional oversight.

Aurum Fund Management was recognized as “Hedge fund manager of the year” at Environmental Finance's Sustainable Investment Awards 2023, reflecting the company's commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through two principal funding streams, originating from Aurum's Embedded Impact Funds:

Environmental Conservation: Core funding and programmatic grants supporting biodiversity conservation, ecosystem protection, and species preservation. Funding scales proportionally with Aurum's Assets Under Management.

Social Welfare: Grants supporting vulnerable populations including people with disabilities, children, displaced persons, and educational initiatives.

The foundation has minimized operational expenses to concentrate resources on “identifying and verifying the beneficiaries of its grant-making process.”

Priority Areas

Environmental Conservation:

• Biodiversity conservation in critically threatened ecosystems
• Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC)-led conservation
• Wildlife protection (particularly endangered species)
• Ecosystem restoration and climate resilience
• Conservation work in Southeast Asia, Amazon Basin, Atlantic Forest, and Borneo

Social Welfare:

• Support for people with disabilities
• Early intervention programs for children with disabilities
• Humanitarian relief in conflict zones
• Educational advancement
• Community-based development programs

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not appear to fund:

• Individual research projects unconnected to partner organizations
• Capital building projects as standalone grants
• General operating costs for large, well-funded organizations
• Projects without clear impact measurement potential
• Activities that fall outside environmental conservation, social welfare, and education

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by four trustees, with no trustees receiving remuneration or benefits. The board comprises predominantly Aurum Group colleagues, ensuring alignment with the Embedded Impact model, plus one independent trustee providing external oversight and sector insight.

The foundation operates without employed staff, relying on resource support from Aurum and the Aurum Group. This structure allows the foundation to dedicate maximum resources to grant-making rather than administration.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Aurum Kaleidoscope Foundation identifies and selects beneficiaries through internal due diligence and strategic analysis rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Grants are awarded through:

• Strategic partnerships: Long-term relationships with carefully selected organizations (e.g., Synchronicity Earth receiving core funding since 2022)
• Trustee discretion: The board identifies projects aligned with the foundation's mission where rigorous research indicates potential for proportionately greater impact
• Proactive identification: The foundation conducts its own research to identify effective organizations and initiatives

Key Funding Recipients

Principal Partners:

• Synchronicity Earth: Core operational funding since 2022, plus support for programmatic work including the Amazon to Atlantic initiative
• The Seneca Trust: Humanitarian-focused charity supporting disability, health, displacement, and education initiatives

Other Confirmed Recipients:

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Support for conservation programs and Species Survival Commission initiatives
• HUTAN: Direct support for locally-based conservation in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo (orangutan and elephant conservation)
• WindReach (Bermuda): $25,000 grant for educational and therapeutic programs supporting individuals with diverse needs
• WildAct: Two-year grant for wildlife conservation in Southeast Asia
• Bermuda Zoological Society: Support for the Micro Forest Project at Hungry Bay
• Ukraine disability charities: Early intervention programs for children aged 6 months to 4 years with disabilities

Getting on Their Radar

Based on the foundation's documented approach, organizations seeking funding should note that the foundation:

1. Conducts proactive due diligence: The foundation actively researches and identifies potential beneficiaries rather than waiting for applications. They emphasize “rigorous research and analysis” in selecting partners.

1. Works through established networks: Many grants flow through or alongside their principal partners (Synchronicity Earth and The Seneca Trust). Organizations already working with these networks may have stronger visibility.

1. Values measurable impact: The foundation specifically seeks projects “where rigorous research and analysis can be utilised to achieve proportionately greater impact.” Organizations with strong monitoring and evaluation frameworks may be more attractive.

1. Focuses on gap-filling: The Seneca Trust (a key partner) describes their work as identifying "the 'gaps between the gaps' - identifying and supporting life-enhancing projects that are overlooked by mainstream philanthropy." The foundation appears to value projects addressing under-funded needs.

1. Prioritizes grassroots conservation: Recent grants support locally-based organizations (HUTAN, WildAct) and Indigenous-led initiatives (Amazon to Atlantic), suggesting preference for community-rooted work.

Note: Given the foundation's structure (no staff, administrative support from Aurum Group, trustee-led decision-making), unsolicited contact is unlikely to result in funding. The foundation appears to operate through a highly curated, research-driven selection process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Aurum Kaleidoscope Foundation does not accept applications, traditional “success factors” do not apply. However, examining their documented grant-making patterns reveals what the foundation values:

What Characterizes Their Funded Projects

1. Evidence-based impact potential: The foundation's stated mission emphasizes projects “where rigorous research and analysis can be utilised to achieve proportionately greater impact.” Organizations with strong impact measurement and clear theories of change align with this approach.

1. Strategic significance: Funded projects address critical conservation gaps (IUCN species survival, Borneo orangutans) or support highly vulnerable populations (Ukrainian children with disabilities during conflict).

1. Long-term partnerships over one-off grants: Synchronicity Earth receives ongoing core funding since 2022, suggesting preference for sustained relationships with proven organizations.

1. Grassroots and Indigenous-led approaches: Support for the Amazon to Atlantic initiative explicitly highlights “an Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC)-led approach to conservation, grounded in the understanding that long-term ecosystem protection and resilience stem from empowering those most intimately connected to the land.”

1. Multi-dimensional impact: The foundation supports projects combining conservation with community welfare (e.g., HUTAN's work integrating orangutan conservation with local community development).

1. Innovation in under-funded areas: Partnership with The Seneca Trust, which focuses on “projects overlooked by mainstream philanthropy,” suggests appreciation for innovative approaches to neglected issues.

Alignment Indicators

Organizations sharing these characteristics may align with the foundation's interests, though this does not guarantee funding given the invitation-only model:

• Working in biodiversity hotspots with critically threatened species
• Combining conservation with Indigenous rights and community development
• Operating at grassroots level with local knowledge and relationships
• Demonstrating strong impact measurement and adaptive management
• Addressing humanitarian needs for highly vulnerable populations (disabilities, displacement, children in crisis)
• Filling genuine funding gaps not addressed by larger funders

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No public application route exists: The Aurum Kaleidoscope Foundation operates through trustee discretion and proactive identification of beneficiaries. Organizations should not attempt to submit unsolicited proposals.

1. Core partners are the primary pathway: With Synchronicity Earth and The Seneca Trust serving as principal partners receiving substantial funding, organizations seeking support in environmental conservation or humanitarian work may benefit from exploring partnerships with these intermediary organizations rather than approaching Aurum Kaleidoscope directly.

1. Evidence of impact is paramount: The foundation's repeated emphasis on “rigorous research and analysis” and achieving “proportionately greater impact” signals that demonstrable effectiveness and strong evaluation frameworks are critical to their funding decisions.

1. Indigenous and community-led work is valued: Recent funding (Amazon to Atlantic initiative, HUTAN support) demonstrates clear commitment to grassroots, locally-rooted, and Indigenous-led conservation approaches.

1. Think long-term partnerships, not project grants: The core funding relationship with Synchronicity Earth since 2022 suggests the foundation prefers sustained engagement with proven partners over multiple small grants to numerous organizations.

1. Humanitarian funding addresses acute vulnerability: Social welfare grants focus on people with disabilities, children, and populations affected by conflict—the foundation appears drawn to supporting those most marginalized and underserved.

1. The foundation operates efficiently to maximize grant-making: With no staff, no office space, and minimal operating costs, the foundation channels maximum resources to charitable activities. This lean structure is intentional and reflects their values, but also means there is no grants team to field inquiries or manage a public application process.

References

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales - Aurum Kaleidoscope Foundation (Charity No. 1198581).. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5182229

1. Aurum Fund Management - Environmental and Social webpage.. https://www.aurum.com/environmental-and-social/

1. Synchronicity Earth - How we are funded.. https://www.synchronicityearth.org/how-we-are-funded/

1. Bernews - “WindReach Receives $25,000 From Aurum”.. https://bernews.com/2024/07/windreach-receives-25k-from-aurum-foundation/

1. Environmental Finance - “Hedge fund manager of the year: Aurum Fund Management” (2023).. https://www.environmental-finance.com/content/awards/sustainable-investment-awards-2023/winners/hedge-fund-manager-of-the-year-aurum-fund-management.html

1. Hedgeweek - "Aurum's innovative use of management fees helping to fight ecological risks".. https://www.hedgeweek.com/2020/01/28/282399/aurums-innovative-use-management-fees-helping-fight-ecological-risks

1. Aurum Fund Management - 2023 Embedded Impact Report.. https://www.aurum.com/wp-content/uploads/Aurums-2023-Embedded-Impact-Report.pdf

1. Fundraiso - Aurum Kaleidoscope Foundation profile.. https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/aurum-kaleidoscope-foundation