Bc Partners Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £606,358 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: International (UK, US, France, Germany, Italy)
• Application Type: No public application process - employee/trustee nominated only

Contact Details

Address: 40 Portman Square, London, W1H 6DA

Phone: 020 7009 4800

Website: https://www.bcpartners.com/about/foundation/

Charity Number: 1136956

Overview

BC Partners Foundation was established in 2010 as the philanthropic arm of BC Partners LLP, a leading private equity firm. The Foundation has supported over 120 organizations globally and operates with a sister 501(c)(3) organization in the United States, established in 2012. With an annual giving of approximately £606,000 (based on 2024 expenditure), the Foundation focuses on supporting charities that are important to BC Partners employees and the communities in which they operate. The Foundation is entirely funded by BC Partners LLP, with no trustees receiving remuneration. BC Partners has been a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment since 2009, reflecting a commitment to responsible corporate citizenship.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates through an employee-driven grant-making model with two primary mechanisms:

• Employee Matching Grants: The Foundation matches charitable donations made by BC Partners employees
• Employee and Trustee Nominated Grants: Supports charities proposed by BC Partners employees or Foundation Trustees

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses on three core areas:

• Children and young adults suffering from illness
• Youth experiencing crises or disasters
• Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds accessing support to succeed

• Infrastructure improvements
• Development aid initiatives
• Healthcare enhancements

• Educational programs and scholastic initiatives
• Artistic programs and cultural support

Notable Organizations Supported

The Foundation has supported major international charities including:

• Care International
• Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC)
• Impetus
• SOS Children's Villages
• Spread a Smile
• Educational Volunteers Foundation of Turkey

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the Foundation only supports charities nominated through internal channels (employees or trustees), meaning unsolicited applications from organizations without BC Partners connections are not considered.

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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by 5 Trustees, all of whom serve without remuneration or benefits. The Foundation has no employees receiving benefits over £60,000 and operates with no trading subsidiaries, maintaining a lean operational structure focused on grant distribution.

Financial oversight shows the Foundation maintains active grant-making with recent annual expenditure (£606,358 in 2024) exceeding income (£440,862 in 2024), demonstrating commitment to distributing funds even when supplementing from reserves.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The BC Partners Foundation operates exclusively through an internal nomination system. Grants are made to charities that are:

• Proposed by BC Partners employees
• Nominated by Foundation Trustees
• Selected for employee matching grant programs

External organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications. All grant decisions are made based on employee and trustee recommendations, reflecting the Foundation's role as a corporate giving vehicle for BC Partners staff.

Getting on Their Radar

Since the Foundation operates through employee connections, organizations seeking support would need to:

• Build relationships with BC Partners employees: The Foundation specifically states that charities are supported when they are “important to our people.” Focus on networking within the private equity sector and connecting with BC Partners staff who may have personal connections to your cause.
• Align with BC Partners' portfolio companies: BC Partners invests across various sectors including healthcare, technology, and consumer businesses. Organizations working in communities where BC Partners portfolio companies operate may have better chances of employee nomination.
• Focus on the Foundation's priority areas: Ensure your work clearly aligns with supporting young people, community development, or education/arts - the three areas explicitly mentioned by the Foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Decisions are made internally by Trustees based on employee and trustee nominations.

Success Rates

Not available. The Foundation does not publish statistics on the number of nominations received versus grants awarded.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since grants are entirely dependent on employee and trustee nominations, the key success factors are:

1. Employee Connection: The critical factor is having a BC Partners employee or trustee willing to champion your organization. The Foundation's stated focus is on “charities that are important to our people.”

1. Clear Alignment with Priority Areas: Demonstrate strong impact in one or more of the Foundation's three focus areas: supporting young people (especially those facing illness, crisis, or disadvantage), community development, or arts and education.

1. International Credibility: With operations in the UK, US, France, Germany, and Italy, the Foundation supports both local and international charities. Organizations with presence or impact in these jurisdictions may have advantages.

1. Transparent Operations: As the Foundation is overseen by trustees who undertake mandatory ESG assessments for BC Partners portfolio companies, charities demonstrating strong governance, transparency, and measurable impact may be more attractive to employee nominators.

1. Compelling Mission: The Foundation has supported major international organizations like Care International, DEC, and SOS Children's Villages, suggesting that clear humanitarian missions and proven track records appeal to employee donors.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this Foundation only supports charities through employee and trustee nominations
• Employee connections are essential - building relationships with BC Partners staff is the only pathway to funding
• Focus on the three priority areas: young people (especially those facing adversity), community development, and arts/education
• The Foundation operates internationally across UK, US, France, Germany, and Italy
• With £600,000+ annual giving distributed across 120+ organizations, grants may be modest in size but reach a wide range of causes
• The Foundation is part of a broader ESG commitment by BC Partners, which has been a UN PRI signatory since 2009
• Employee matching grants are a core mechanism, meaning individual BC Partners staff donations can be amplified through Foundation matching

References

1. BC Partners Foundation Official Page, https://www.bcpartners.com/about/foundation/
2. UK Charity Commission Register, BC Partners Foundation (1136956), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1136956&subid=0
3. BC Partners Sustainability Page, https://www.bcpartners.com/about/sustainability/
4. Companies House UK, BC Partners Foundation (Company 07260058)
5. UK Charity Commission Financial Data for year ending December 31, 2024 (Total Income: £440,862; Total Expenditure: £606,358)