Mazzini Garibaldi Foundation

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 1124106
• Annual Income: £62,609 (FY ending June 2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £152,495 (FY ending June 2024)
• Geographic Focus: UK, primarily London Italian community
• Founding: 7 March 2008
• Initial Endowment: £1.4 million from sale of Mazzini Garibaldi Club premises

Contact Details

Website: www.mgfoundation.com

Email: admin@mgfoundation.com

Phone: 020 7880 7272

Registered Office: 79 Essex Road, Islington, London, N1 2SF

Application Page: www.mgfoundation.com/apply

Overview

The Mazzini Garibaldi Foundation was established in 2008 when The Mazzini Garibaldi Club generously donated £1.4 million from the sale of its freehold premises to create a lasting charitable foundation. The charity makes grants primarily from investment income to support individuals and groups, particularly those within the Italian community and those of Italian descent residing in the UK. The foundation is devoted to advancing education in literature, science and art (particularly Italian language and culture), providing financial assistance to care homes and charitable institutions, benefiting people of Italian descent in need or hardship, and promoting equality, diversity and good relations between British and Italian communities. The Foundation maintains strong historical links to the Mazzini Garibaldi Club and operates with an all-volunteer trustee board committed to preserving and supporting Italian heritage in the UK.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates a single grant program funded primarily through investment income. Applications are welcomed for consideration by the Trustees on a rolling basis. Grant amounts are not publicly specified and appear to be determined based on project need and available funds.

Past Grant Recipients include:

• Olimpiadi Gioventù Italiana (OGI) - Italian youth sports competition
• Villa Scalabrini Care Home, Shenley - Catholic care home for Italian community
• L'Aquila Earthquake Fund - Emergency relief
• St Peter's Club, Clerkenwell - Italian social club
• COASIT (Comitato Assistenza Scuole Italiana) - Supporting Italian schools and culture in the UK
• Finchley Italian Social Club
• Tricolore Theatre Company
• Arandora Star Memorials, London and Cardiff - Historical memorials
• Benvenuto a Bordo
• Italian Cultural Centre, Wales
• Italian Studies Library Group

Priority Areas

Education and Culture

• Italian language and culture education
• Lectures, classes, examinations, bursaries and scholarships
• Literature, science and art education
• Youth sports and cultural activities for people of Italian descent

Healthcare and Social Care

• Support for convalescent and residential care homes
• Hospitals, infirmaries and charitable healthcare institutions
• Medical assistance for the Italian community

Community Support

• Financial assistance for people of Italian descent in need, hardship or distress
• Support for Italian social clubs and community centers
• Recreation and leisure opportunities

Equality and Understanding

• Promoting mutual understanding between British and Italian communities
• Advancing awareness of Italian heritage and contributions
• Supporting equality and diversity initiatives

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation focuses exclusively on the Italian community and Italian-British cultural relations. Projects outside this scope are unlikely to be considered.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Foundation is governed by 8 trustees who receive no remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity:

• Peter Ciccone - Chairman
• Peter Capella - Vice Chairman
• Alessandra Tondelli - Trustee
• Nicky Pini - Trustee
• John Zani - Trustee
• Chiara Belli - Trustee
• Justine Menozzi - Trustee
• Alessandro Giacon - Trustee

The trustees bring a wide range of disciplines and experiences to the Foundation and have historical links to the Mazzini Garibaldi Club, ensuring continuity of the organization's mission to support the Italian community in the UK.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications for financial support are welcomed for consideration by the Trustees. While the Foundation accepts applications, specific details about application forms, deadlines, or required documentation are not publicly available on their website or in public records.

Contact the Foundation directly at admin@mgfoundation.com to:

• Discuss your project and its eligibility
• Request application guidance and requirements
• Inquire about current funding priorities
• Ask about submission procedures

The Foundation's policy is that grants are made mainly from income received from investments.

Decision Timeline

Specific information about decision timelines, trustee meeting schedules, or expected timeframes from submission to notification is not publicly available. Applicants should inquire about expected timelines when making initial contact.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly disclosed. Contact the Foundation directly to discuss reapplication opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's history and grant recipients, successful applications appear to share these characteristics:

Strong Connection to Italian Community

The Foundation's stated purpose emphasizes supporting “individuals and groups, particularly those within the Italian Community and those of Italian descent.” All documented grant recipients have clear ties to Italian heritage, culture, or the Italian community in the UK.

Alignment with Core Charitable Purposes

Successful grants fall clearly within one or more of the Foundation's four main areas: education in Italian culture/language/arts, healthcare and social care for the Italian community, support for Italians in need, and promoting British-Italian understanding.

Geographic Focus

While the Foundation serves the UK broadly, there is a particular emphasis on the London Italian community. Several grant recipients are London-based organizations (St Peter's Club Clerkenwell, Arandora Star Memorial London), though regional organizations (Italian Cultural Centre Wales, Villa Scalabrini in Shenley) have also received support.

Range of Project Types

The Foundation demonstrates flexibility in supporting diverse projects - from care homes to youth sports, from theatre companies to emergency relief funds, from social clubs to memorial projects. This suggests trustees consider each application on its merits rather than restricting to a narrow project type.

Community Infrastructure and Legacy

Many recipients represent ongoing community institutions (care homes, social clubs, cultural centers) rather than one-off projects, suggesting the Foundation values sustainable community infrastructure that serves Italians in the UK over time.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Direct connection to the Italian community is essential - the Foundation explicitly prioritizes support for “individuals and groups, particularly those within the Italian Community and those of Italian descent”

• Contact before applying - with limited public information about application procedures, reaching out to admin@mgfoundation.com for guidance is strongly recommended before submitting a proposal

• Demonstrate lasting community benefit - many successful grants support ongoing institutions and infrastructure rather than short-term projects

• Consider geographic reach - while London-focused, the Foundation does support Italian community initiatives throughout the UK

• Align with one of the four core purposes - clearly articulate how your project advances education, provides care/assistance, supports Italians in need, or promotes British-Italian understanding

• Foundation operates from investment income - as a foundation funded by a one-time £1.4m endowment, grants are made from investment returns; grant amounts and availability may vary with investment performance

• All-volunteer governance - trustees serve without compensation, demonstrating their personal commitment to the Italian community

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities - MAZZINI GARIBALDI FOUNDATION (Charity Number 1124106). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1124106 (Accessed: December 2024)

• Companies House - MAZZINI-GARIBALDI FOUNDATION (Company Number 06527950). Available at: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06527950 (Accessed: December 2024)

• The Mazzini Garibaldi Foundation official website. Available at: www.mgfoundation.com (Accessed: December 2024)

• Charity Commission public data showing Financial Year ending 30 June 2024: Total Income £62,609, Total Expenditure £152,495 (Accessed: December 2024)