Human Capability Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £29,882,087 (2023 expenditure)
• Annual Income: £36,398,755 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not applicable - invitation only
• Decision Time: Case-by-case basis
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: India (predominantly), with UK registration in London
• Number of Grantees: 30+ organisations across India
• Application Method: Invitation only - no unsolicited applications accepted

Contact Details

Website: www.humancapabilityfoundation.com

Email: info@humancapabilityfoundation.com

Phone: 07531098972

Registered Office: Natco Cash & Carry, Silverdale Industrial Estate, Silverdale Road, Hayes, London, UB3 3BL

Charity Number: 1145084

Company Number: 07715471

Overview

The Human Capability Foundation (HCF) is a UK-registered grant-making charity founded in 2011 that supports organisations working for the rights of marginalised communities in India. The foundation represents a unique philanthropic model: since 2012, all profits from Natco Foods Ltd, a UK-based food manufacturing business established in 1961, are donated to HCF. The foundation is run entirely by three volunteer trustees from the Pagarani family - the third generation to run Natco Foods - who receive no salaries or expense reimbursement from the charity.

With annual expenditure of nearly £30 million and funding over 30 organisations across India, HCF focuses on systemic change through long-term partnerships. The foundation emphasises working at the intersections of different issues to achieve greater impact, inclusivity and scale, recognising that siloed approaches may limit effectiveness. Unlike traditional grant-makers, HCF does not accept unsolicited applications; instead, they proactively identify potential grantees through recommendations from advisors in India and the UK, supplemented by their own fieldwork and research.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

HCF provides both project-specific grants and core funding, believing that unrestricted support enables organisations to focus on their most important work and creates space for strategic self-reflection and innovation. Grant cycles are determined on a case-by-case basis, with partnerships typically beginning with one or two-year grants. The foundation aims to establish long-term funding relationships to provide recipients with planning security.

Funding Characteristics:

• Both project-based and core funding available
• Initial grants typically 1-2 years
• Long-term funding relationships prioritised
• Flexible, case-by-case grant cycles
• Support for organisational self-reflection and creativity

Priority Areas

1. Women's Education and Empowerment

• Literacy and education programmes for girls and women
• Comprehensive health education
• Combating violence against women
• Building collectives of girls and young people
• Women's health rights and access to healthcare

2. Youth Education

• Educational curriculum for out-of-school girls and young women
• Social enterprise training for young people
• Arts and music-based educational approaches
• Youth empowerment and leadership development

3. Mental Health & Disability Rights

• Rights-based mental health programmes
• Policy initiatives and advocacy
• Rehabilitation and training for individuals with multiple disabilities
• Dance Movement Therapy for trauma survivors
• Community-based mental health support

4. Labour Migration

• Support for migrant workers (counselling, legal aid, social security linkages)
• Empowerment of women in informal labour sectors
• Sustainable agriculture and nutrition for women farmers
• Tribal migrant women's rights
• Urban informal working women's participation in governance

5. Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

• Expanding sexual and reproductive choices
• Education and advocacy on sexual health
• Support for lesbian, bisexual, and trans communities
• Medical accountability for women's health

6. Culture and Documentation

• Documentation of women's social movements across South Asia
• Oral and visual archives

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus suggests they do not fund:

• Organisations outside India (except in rare cases)
• General charitable causes not aligned with their four core areas
• Organisations not working with marginalised communities
• Large, well-established institutions with diverse funding sources

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by three trustees from the Pagarani family, who took over Natco Foods approximately 10 years ago and made the decision to donate all company profits to philanthropy rather than taking shareholder dividends.

Trustees:

Luke Pagarani - Director of Natco Foods Ltd. and Trigon Snacks Trading Ltd. Luke holds an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Oxford (2012). He has spoken publicly about the foundation's commitment to supporting queer and feminist organisations in India fighting for LGBTQ rights and gender equality.

Natasha Pagarani - Business Improvement Manager at Natco Foods Ltd. Natasha holds an MA in South Asian Studies with Distinction from SOAS, University of London (2016) and a BA in Music with First Class Honours from the University of Manchester (2011).

Danny Pagarani - London-based artist. Danny studied BA in Philosophy and English Literature at the University of Sussex and attended Slade School of Fine Art and Glasgow School of Art.

Important Note: All three trustees serve on a voluntary basis without receiving salaries or expense reimbursement from HCF. Two of the trustees are employed by Natco Foods Ltd, creating a direct institutional link between the funder and the foundation.

How to Apply to Human Capability Foundation

How to Apply

The Human Capability Foundation does not have a public application process. They do not accept unsolicited applications for funding.

The foundation identifies potential grantees through:

• Recommendations from advisors in India and the UK
• Their own fieldwork and research in India
• Cross-sectoral partnerships and networking

Once an organisation is identified as a potential grantee, HCF initiates contact and invites them to apply. At this stage, the foundation provides guidance on the application process and answers any questions applicants may have.

Getting on Their Radar

Partnership Approach: HCF seeks to build long-term funding relationships with NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and CBOs (community-based organisations) in India. They value organisations that:

• Work at the intersections of multiple issues (gender, caste, class, sexuality, labour, disability)
• Are community-based and grassroots-focused
• Work directly with marginalised communities
• Have rights-based approaches to their work
• Demonstrate innovation and creativity in their programming

Advisor Networks: The foundation relies heavily on recommendations from trusted advisors in both India and the UK who work in relevant sectors. Building relationships with organisations already in HCF's portfolio or with sector leaders in India who may advise the foundation could increase visibility.

Fieldwork Presence: HCF conducts its own fieldwork and research in India to identify potential partners. Having a strong ground presence, demonstrated impact, and visibility within the sectors they prioritise (women's rights, mental health, disability rights, labour migration) is important.

Intersectional Approach: Organisations that work across multiple issues (for example, women's education combined with mental health support, or labour rights combined with environmental sustainability) align well with HCF's stated preference for intersectional approaches.

Decision Timeline

Timelines are determined on a case-by-case basis and are not standardised. Once invited to apply, the foundation works with organisations individually to determine appropriate grant cycles and partnership structures.

Success Rates

Not applicable - as the foundation only invites applications from organisations they have already identified and vetted through their research process, there is no traditional “success rate” for unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Given the invitation-only model and emphasis on long-term funding relationships, HCF typically works with grantees over multiple years rather than through one-off grants. Partnerships usually start with one or two-year grants, with subsequent funding decisions made individually based on each organisation's circumstances and needs.

Application Success Factors

Since HCF operates on an invitation-only basis, these factors reflect what they value in their grantee partners based on their current portfolio and stated priorities:

1. Grassroots and Community-Based Focus

Current grantees are predominantly small to mid-sized NGOs and CBOs working directly with communities. Examples include Shishu Sarothi in Assam (providing rehabilitation since 1987), Kotda Adivasi Sansthan in Rajasthan (empowering tribal migrant women), and Jeevika in West Bengal (promoting sustainable agriculture with women farmers).

2. Rights-Based Approaches

The foundation explicitly seeks organisations “working for the rights of marginalised communities.” Successful grantees like Anjali (mental health rights), Aajeevika Bureau (migrant workers' rights), and Sappho For Equality (LGBTQ rights) demonstrate clear rights-based frameworks in their work.

3. Intersectional Programming

HCF values organisations that work at the intersections of issues. For example, Vishakha combines literacy, health, and violence prevention; SAKAR focuses on out-of-school girls combining education with gender empowerment; and several grantees address how caste, class, gender, and disability intersect.

4. Innovation in Approach

Grantees demonstrate creative methodologies - Kolkata Sanved uses Dance Movement Therapy for trauma survivors; Vishakha uses local music and art forms for education; Thoughtshop Foundation trains youth to establish social enterprises addressing community needs.

5. Long-Term Commitment

Several grantees have been working in their communities for decades (Shishu Sarothi since 1987, for example), demonstrating sustained commitment to their communities and issues.

6. Support for Marginalised Within Marginalised

The foundation particularly supports work with multiply marginalised groups - women in informal labour sectors, tribal communities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, survivors of violence and trafficking, and migrant workers.

7. Documentation and Knowledge Building

Support for organisations like SPARROW (documenting women's social movements) and TARSHI (education and knowledge dissemination on sexual health) suggests value placed on knowledge creation and sharing.

8. Core Funding Philosophy

The foundation's explicit provision of core/unrestricted funding indicates they value organisational sustainability and autonomy. According to their website, core funding “enables organisations to focus on the work that they believe is most important, and provides the space for self-reflection and creativity.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not a funder you can directly approach with an application. Save time by not attempting to submit unsolicited proposals.

• Focus on building strong relationships within the Indian social development sector, particularly with organisations already funded by HCF or sector leaders who might advise philanthropic foundations.

• Demonstrate intersectional approaches in your work. If you work on women's education, show how you also address health, economic empowerment, or rights issues.

• Emphasise grassroots, community-based work with marginalised populations. HCF funds small to mid-sized organisations with strong community connections, not large institutions.

• If you're doing rights-based work in women's empowerment, mental health/disability, youth education, or labour migration in India, ensure you have strong visibility in your sector through publications, networks, and demonstrated impact.

• Build your organisation's reputation for innovation and long-term commitment. HCF values creative approaches and sustained engagement with communities.

• The foundation's unique funding model (100% profits from Natco Foods) means their annual giving capacity fluctuates with the company's profitability, but also demonstrates an unusual long-term commitment to philanthropy.

• The trustees' personal backgrounds (development studies, South Asian studies, arts) suggest they bring informed perspectives on international development, cultural approaches, and South Asian contexts to their grant-making decisions.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Ps Foundation
• Palan Foundation
• N Sethia Foundation
• The Breadsticks Foundation
• Inspirasia Foundation Uk
• The Jmcmrj Sorrell Foundation
• The Greencliffe Foundation Ltd
• The Ashmore Foundation
• The British Asian Trust
• The Kiawah Charitable Trust

References

• Human Capability Foundation official website (www.humancapabilityfoundation.com), including About Us, How We Work, Grant Holders, Trustees, and Sources of Funding pages..

• UK Charity Commission Register of Charities, “HUMAN CAPABILITY FOUNDATION - 1145084” (https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1145084)..

• Find that Charity, “GB-CHC-1145084 | Human Capability Foundation” (https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1145084)..

• Companies House, “HUMAN CAPABILITY FOUNDATION overview” (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07715471)..

• Asian World News, “Natco Foods Donates 100% of Profits to Charity” (http://asianworldnews.co.uk/food/natco-foods-donates-100-of-profits-to-charity/)..

• Gay Times, Luke Pagarani interview “We should not forget who our real allies are” (https://www.gaytimes.com/originals/luke-pagarani-gaysians-cover-interview-we-should-not-forget-who-our-real-allies-are/), November 2018..

• Information about specific grantee organisations from HCF Grant Holders page and cross-referenced with grantee websites including Anjali Mental Health Rights Organization, Kolkata Sanved, TARSHI, and others..