Macquarie Group Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: A$67 million globally (FY2024); A$13.4 million to employment-focused partners
• Success Rate: Not disclosed (invitation/EOI-based process)
• Decision Time: May-October for EOI rounds (5-6 months)
• Grant Range: A$150,000 - A$500,000 (approximately £80,000 - £265,000)
• Geographic Focus: Global (Americas, Asia, Australia, EMEA)
• UK Approach: Strategic partnerships and invitation-based funding

Contact Details

Email: foundation@macquarie.com

Website: https://www.macquarie.com/uk/about/community/about-the-foundation

EMEA Regional Head: Rachel Engel, Head of Macquarie Group Foundation in EMEA

Overview

The Macquarie Group Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Macquarie Group, a global financial services company. Established in 1985, the Foundation has contributed over A$641 million to thousands of non-profit organisations worldwide. In FY2024 alone, A$67 million was contributed to 3,000 community organisations globally, supporting 21,000+ people through training, skilling, and employment programs, with 1,300+ placed into employment.

In Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), the Foundation supports people aged 16-80+ to achieve their social mobility aspirations through employment, with an emphasis on enduring jobs and meaningful work. The Foundation operates through an expanding portfolio of 11 non-profit partnerships across the UK and Europe. Historically operating on an invitation-only basis, the Foundation is evolving toward more open Expression of Interest (EOI) rounds to become more inclusive and equitable in its grantmaking. The Foundation was recognised as a member of Impact Europe, demonstrating its commitment to social impact investing.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation does not currently operate open grant rounds in the UK/EMEA region but provides funding through:

Strategic Multi-Year Grants

• Amount: Varies by partner; comparable to A$150,000-A$500,000 range in other regions
• Duration: Typically multi-year commitments (3-5 years)
• Example: £180,000 over three years to Leadership Through Sport and Business (LTSB)
• Application Method: Invitation-based or through periodic Expression of Interest rounds

Social Impact Investments

• Amount: Major investments (e.g., £1.5 million to Growth Impact Fund)
• Focus: Evergreen funds supporting diverse-led Social Purpose Organisations
• First UK social impact investment: Growth Impact Fund

Priority Areas

Employment and Social Mobility (Primary Focus)

• Breaking down systemic barriers to employment
• Creating pathways to meaningful, enduring work
• Supporting young people (15-24 years) and underserved populations
• Focus on “future of work” and growth industries

Specific Populations Supported

• Refugees and asylum seekers
• Young people from low socio-economic backgrounds
• People outside mainstream education
• Underrepresented minorities
• Individuals aged 16-80+ seeking employment

Valued Organisational Characteristics

• Organizations led by people with lived experience of the communities they serve
• Programs with representation of community identities
• Evidence-based approaches to employment outcomes
• Opportunities for Macquarie employee engagement (mentoring, volunteering)

What They Don't Fund

Based on Australian EOI criteria (likely similar for EMEA):

• Religious organizations (unless service delivery is secular)
• Educational institutions as primary beneficiaries
• Political groups or campaigns
• Sports groups (unless integrated with employment programs)
• Organizations without charitable registration
• General appeals or fundraising events
• Capital campaigns or building projects (not primary focus)

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Governance and Leadership

Foundation Committee

The Macquarie Group Foundation Committee comprises senior executives from across Macquarie Group's global operations. The Committee meets quarterly to assess funding applications, review the Foundation's activities, and set and monitor strategy.

Committee Members (as of 2024):

• Evie Bruce (Chair) - Group Head, Legal and Governance Group (Sydney)
• Rachel Palmer - CEO EMEA; Corporate Operations Group (London) - Key EMEA representative
• Kristina Kloberdanz - Macquarie Asset Management (London)
• Stephen Moir - Financial Management, People and Engagement (Edinburgh)
• Miki Edelman - Head of Americas; Macquarie Capital (New York)
• Verena Lim - CEO Asia; Macquarie Asset Management (Singapore)
• Plus seven additional senior executives from across global operations

Leadership

• Rachel Engel - Regional Head of Macquarie Group Foundation in EMEA
• Lauren O'Shaughnessy - Global Director of Impact
• Alex H. Harvey - CFO and Head of Financial Management Group at Macquarie Group; Foundation Committee Chair for governance

Leadership Quotes

Alex Harvey (Chair) on FY2024 impact: “During FY2024, $A67 million was contributed to 3,000 community organisations around the world.”

Lauren O'Shaughnessy (Global Director of Impact) on equity in grantmaking: "We've worked with diversity, equity and inclusion experts to build our awareness of individual, institutional, and sector biases. Our journey to become a more equitable grantmaker continues to evolve."

Erin Shakespeare (Acting Global Head) on employee engagement: “When you work for an organisation that supports your volunteer activities and has an active Foundation, it adds an extraordinary dimension to your days at work.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Macquarie Group Foundation does not currently accept unsolicited grant applications in the UK/EMEA region. The Foundation operates primarily through:

1. Strategic Partnerships - Invitation-based relationships with selected organisations
2. Expression of Interest (EOI) Rounds - Periodic open rounds (currently available in Australia, Asia; not currently open in EMEA)
3. Proactive Identification - Foundation Committee members identify organizations aligned with strategic priorities

The Foundation is actively evolving from a purely invitation-only model toward more open and inclusive Expression of Interest processes. While EOI rounds are now operating in Australia and Asia, similar rounds may be introduced in EMEA in the future.

Current Application Status for UK/EMEA: No open EOI round at present. Organizations interested in Foundation support should:

• Monitor the Foundation website for future EOI announcements
• Email foundation@macquarie.com with queries (note: high volume may cause delays)
• Consider connecting with existing Foundation partners for insights

When EOI Rounds Are Available (based on Australian model):

• Online submission via Versaic platform
• Two-page EOI form
• One EOI per organization
• Multiple reviewers assess applications to reduce bias
• Shortlisted organizations invited to full application

Decision Timeline

For EOI-Based Processes (when available):

• EOI submission period: Typically 4-5 weeks
• Review and assessment: 3 months (May-July)
• Full application invitation: August-October
• Funding dispersed: Within 6 months of EOI close
• Total timeline: Approximately 5-8 months from EOI to funding

For Strategic Partnerships:

• Timeline varies; relationships often develop over months or years
• Multi-year commitments typical (3-5 years)

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The Foundation supported 54 employment-focused partners globally in FY2024 from thousands of community organizations engaged. In regional EOI rounds, they typically support 6-8 organizations per round from potentially hundreds of expressions of interest.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated for EMEA. In other regions with EOI processes:

• Only one EOI per organization per round
• Unsuccessful applicants can reapply in future rounds
• No specified waiting period mentioned

Application Success Factors

Since the Foundation does not currently accept open applications in EMEA, these insights are drawn from their documented approach and what they value in partners:

Strong Alignment Indicators

Lived Experience and Representation

• Organizations led by people from the communities they serve
• Staff and board reflect the identities and backgrounds of beneficiaries
• Lauren O'Shaughnessy noted the Foundation prioritizes “funding organizations that reflect the identities of communities they serve”

Employment-Focused Outcomes

• Clear pathways from program participation to employment
• Focus on “enduring jobs and meaningful work” not just any employment
• Alignment with “future of work” and growth industries
• Measurable employment outcomes and tracking

Evidence-Based Approaches

• Programs with demonstrated impact and evaluation frameworks
• Evidence-based methodologies for employment support
• Willingness to measure and report outcomes

Employee Engagement Opportunities

• Programs that can involve Macquarie employees through mentoring, volunteering, or skills-sharing
• Potential for one-to-one mentoring, career insight visits, or professional guidance
• The Foundation values partnerships that “involve not just financial resources, but also employee skills and networks”

Organizational Sustainability

• Strong governance and financial management
• Capacity to manage multi-year funding commitments
• Strategic approach to growth and scale

What the Foundation Values

Equity and Inclusion Focus

The Foundation is “taking proactive steps to acknowledge structural inequities and strengthen its approach to grantmaking” and values partners who share this commitment.

Core Operating Support

The Foundation prefers to fund overall organizational mission and core operating expenses rather than restricted project grants, allowing partners greater flexibility.

Reduced Application Burden

The Foundation seeks to minimize workload on non-profits - “Foundation completes most of grant application” to reduce burden on partner organizations.

Multi-Year Commitments

Preference for multi-year funding relationships (3-5 years) rather than single-year grants, enabling long-term planning and impact.

Red Flags to Avoid

• Generic approaches not tailored to the Foundation's employment and social mobility focus
• Lack of representation from communities served in organizational leadership
• Programs without clear employment outcomes or pathways
• Organizations unable to engage with employee volunteering or mentoring
• Approaches that don't demonstrate understanding of the Foundation's equity journey

Partnership Approach

The Foundation operates as a strategic partner rather than a transactional funder:

• Committee members often have direct involvement with partners (e.g., Mark Braithwaite with LTSB since 2016)
• Provides resources beyond funding (office space, networking, employee skills)
• Long-term relationship building (e.g., Islington Giving partnership over 10+ years)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Not Currently Open for UK Applications: The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications in EMEA and operates primarily through strategic partnerships and invitation-based funding. However, they are evolving toward more open EOI processes.

1. Employment is the Core Mission: All funding in EMEA focuses on social mobility through employment. Projects must demonstrate clear pathways to “enduring jobs and meaningful work” - alignment with this priority is non-negotiable.

1. Lived Experience Matters: The Foundation explicitly prioritizes organizations led by people from the communities they serve. Leadership diversity and representation are evaluated as part of their equity-focused approach.

1. Think Multi-Year Partnership, Not One-Off Grant: The Foundation seeks long-term relationships (3-5 years) and prefers to fund core operations rather than specific projects. They want to invest in organizational missions, not just programs.

1. Employee Engagement is a Two-Way Street: Partnerships that can meaningfully involve Macquarie employees through mentoring, skills-sharing, or volunteering are highly valued. Consider how your organization could engage corporate volunteers.

1. Significant Grant Sizes: When the Foundation does fund, grants are substantial (£80,000-£265,000+ range based on global comparisons, with £180,000 over 3 years confirmed for LTSB). This is not a funder for small grants.

1. Evidence and Outcomes Are Expected: The Foundation uses evidence-based approaches and expects partners to measure and report on employment outcomes. Strong evaluation frameworks strengthen partnership potential.

1. Watch for Evolution: The Foundation is actively working to become “a more equitable grantmaker” and moving from invitation-only to more open EOI processes. What's closed today may open tomorrow - monitoring their website and updates is worthwhile.

References

1. Macquarie Group Foundation website - UK/EMEA section: https://www.macquarie.com/uk/about/community/about-the-foundation

1. “Global grant making focus” - Macquarie Group: https://www.macquarie.com/us/en/about/community/global-grant-making-focus.html

• Quote: “During FY2024, $A67 million was contributed to 3,000 community organisations around the world” - Alex Harvey, Chair

• FY2023 total: A$52 million to 2,500 organizations

• Full Committee member list including Rachel Palmer (CEO EMEA) and Kristina Kloberdanz (London)

• Quote: "We've worked with diversity, equity and inclusion experts to build our awareness of individual, institutional, and sector biases" - Lauren O'Shaughnessy

• EOI process details: A$250,000-A$500,000 grants, 8 organizations supported, May-October timeline

• Over £1 million contributed over 10+ years partnership

• Growth Impact Fund: £1.5 million investment, first UK social impact investment

• Supporting 105 refugees per year into employment

• LTSB grant: £180,000 over three years

• UK partner organizations: ReachOut, LTSB, Dallaglio RugbyWorks, TutorMate, BIG Alliance, Social Mobility Foundation

• CoRe Programme: 1,500 volunteer hours worth £75,000+ (2019 data)