Gnanam Foundation

Charity Number: 1160782

Annual Expenditure: £1.1M
Geographic Focus: Sri Lanka, Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,090,844 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Varies by project
  • Geographic Focus: UK-registered charities and Sri Lankan institutions
  • Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Address: Walbrook Building, 195 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SG

Email: PREM@LYCATEL.COM / info@lycagf.org

Phone: 020 7536 6450

Website: www.lycagf.org

Sri Lanka Office: No. 8 Kinross Avenue, Colombo-04, Sri Lanka (Tel: +94 117 637 800-5)

Overview

The Gnanam Foundation was established in December 2010 by Mr. Allirajah Subaskaran (Chairman of Lycamobile) and his wife Mrs. Prema Subaskaran (Chairperson of Lycahealth), named in honour of Mr. Subaskaran's mother, Gnanambikai Allirajah. The foundation is registered as a UK charity (number 1160782) and as a company limited by guarantee. With annual charitable expenditure of approximately £1.1 million, the foundation focuses on empowering marginalized communities through sustainable development projects. The foundation has committed substantial resources to relief programmes across multiple countries including Sri Lanka, India, Sudan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Tanzania, and the Philippines. In 2016, the foundation received the 'Greatest Humanitarian Organisation of the World' award at the Global Officials of Dignity Awards. No trustees receive remuneration from the charity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Gnanam Foundation makes grants to UK-registered charities and institutions carrying out projects aligned with their charitable purposes in Sri Lanka. The foundation identifies and initiates projects based on community needs rather than responding to open applications.

Key Funding Areas:

  • Education: Scholarships, school facilities, university infrastructure
  • Healthcare: Medical facilities, healthcare access for remote communities
  • Housing: Shelter for displaced persons and vulnerable communities
  • Livelihood: Skills development, agricultural equipment, employment opportunities
  • Community Development: Infrastructure, disaster relief, youth programmes

Recent Grant Examples

  • MedAid United Kingdom: Agricultural equipment (ploughs) for food production supporting disadvantaged children in Northern Uganda
  • Save the Children: £59,000 for Ebola response in West Africa
  • Save the Children: Support for Typhoon Haiyan victims in the Philippines
  • Damilola Taylor Trust: Library construction in Nigeria
  • Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL): Youth football initiatives across 25 districts involving 11,000 players (2024)

Geographic Focus

Primary: Sri Lanka (substantial investment including Rs. 4 billion commitment)

  • 585 orphans supported with housing and education
  • 150 houses built for internally displaced persons
  • Rs. 740 million university building at Jaffna University
  • Scholarships at Canagaratnam Madya Maha Vidyalayam School in Jaffna

Secondary: International disaster relief and development in Sudan, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Tanzania, Philippines, and Uganda

Tertiary: UK-registered charities carrying out work aligned with foundation priorities

What They Don't Fund

The foundation focuses specifically on:

  • Projects that address marginalized communities
  • Sustainable development with long-term impact
  • Community-driven initiatives identified through needs assessment

They do not appear to fund projects outside their identified priority areas or geographic focus.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: The charity has 3 trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits.

Key Personnel:

  • Mr. Allirajah Subaskaran: Founder and Chairman of Lycamobile/Lyca Group; established the foundation in 2010
  • Mrs. Prema Subaskaran: Co-founder and trustee; Chairperson of Lycahealth
  • Gnanambikai Allirajah: The foundation's namesake (Mr. Subaskaran's mother), involved in the foundation's establishment

Leadership Philosophy: According to documentation about the foundation's approach: “Gnanam Foundation focuses on sustainable change through community empowerment, addressing not only immediate needs but also prioritizing skill development for long-term stability.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Gnanam Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation identifies projects through its own community needs assessments and consultation processes rather than accepting unsolicited grant applications.

According to their stated approach, “Gnanam Foundation focuses on community-driven projects and initiatives, determined through thorough need analyses to make a meaningful and lasting impact on their well-being and development.”

Grants are made to:

  • UK-registered charities carrying out work consistent with the foundation's purposes
  • Institutions in Sri Lanka conducting projects aligned with the foundation's mission

The foundation evaluates potential projects “based on urgency, need, and feasibility to provide timely and effective assistance.”

Getting on Their Radar

Strategic Partnerships: The foundation has demonstrated a pattern of working with established international charities (Save the Children, MedAid UK, Damilola Taylor Trust, Muslim Aid) on specific projects. Building relationships with these partner organizations may provide insights into the foundation's priorities.

Sector Presence: Mr. Subaskaran serves on the Advisory Council for Sri Lanka within the British Asian Trust (founded by King Charles III), suggesting engagement with development sector networks focused on South Asia.

Direct Contact: Organizations working with marginalized communities in Sri Lanka or UK charities with international development programmes may consider reaching out via info@lycagf.org or the provided phone contact to introduce their work, though there is no guarantee of a response or funding consideration.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. The foundation operates on a discretionary basis with decisions made by trustees.

Success Rates

Not publicly available, as there is no open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since the Gnanam Foundation does not accept open applications, the following factors appear to characterize projects they have funded:

1. Community-Driven with Clear Needs Assessment: The foundation emphasizes “thorough need analyses” and “community-driven projects.” Successful initiatives appear to address specific, documented community needs rather than top-down approaches.

2. Sustainable Impact Focus: The foundation prioritizes “skill development for long-term stability” over merely addressing immediate needs. Projects that build capacity and create lasting change align with their mission.

3. Marginalized Communities: All funded projects demonstrate clear benefits to disadvantaged populations - displaced persons, orphans, remote rural communities, or disaster-affected populations.

4. Geographic Alignment: Strong preference for Sri Lankan institutions and UK-registered charities, particularly those working in South Asia or Africa.

5. Holistic Development Approach: The foundation states it focuses on “shelter, education, healthcare, livelihood, and overall community development to create a holistic impact,” suggesting preference for comprehensive rather than single-issue interventions.

6. Established Charity Partners: Historical grants have gone to well-known international development organizations (Save the Children, MedAid, Muslim Aid) rather than small or unknown charities.

7. Measurable Outcomes: Funded projects have specific deliverables (150 houses, 585 orphans supported, specific infrastructure) rather than vague goals.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation identifies and initiates its own projects; unsolicited applications are unlikely to be successful
  • Relationship-Based Funding: Partnerships with established international development charities suggest a relationship-driven approach to grant-making
  • Geographic Focus: Overwhelming emphasis on Sri Lanka, with secondary focus on other developing nations; UK charities must demonstrate work in these regions
  • Sustainable Development Model: Projects must address both immediate needs and long-term community capacity-building
  • Trustee Discretion: With only 3 trustees and no remuneration, this is a lean operation with highly discretionary grant-making
  • Lycamobile Connection: Funded entirely by the Lycamobile/Lyca Group business empire, suggesting alignment with founder's personal interests and geographic ties
  • Scale Varies Widely: From £59,000 grants to multi-million pound commitments, depending on project scope and impact potential

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