Morgan Stanley International Foundation

Charity Number: 1042671

Annual Expenditure: £2.9M

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Quick Stats

Charity Number: 1042671
Annual Giving: £2,890,622 (charitable activities, 2024)
Total Income: £3,543,963 (2024)
Grant Range: £20,000 - £70,000 (typical)
Geographic Focus: Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
Application Method: Proactive/invitation-based (no unsolicited proposals)
Decision Cycle: Quarterly

Contact Details

Email: communityaffairslondon@morganstanley.com

Phone: 020 7425 8000

Website: http://www.morganstanley.com/about-us-ir/giving-back/msif_guidelines.html

Registered Address: 25 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4QA

Overview

The Morgan Stanley International Foundation (MSIF) was established over 30 years ago as the philanthropic arm of Morgan Stanley's EMEA operations. The foundation focuses on making sustainable impacts on children's welfare in disadvantaged communities across Europe, Middle East and Africa, with a specific emphasis on child health (ages 0-18) and education (ages 4-21). With annual charitable expenditure of approximately £2.9 million, MSIF operates on a guiding philosophy that “global foundations matter, but their ability to affect change begins in local communities where needs and resources are most apparent.” The foundation takes a distinctive partnership approach, working with charitable organisations and state-funded schools to direct funding while actively utilizing the expertise and volunteer engagement of Morgan Stanley employees. Grant applications are considered quarterly by trustees who are senior representatives from across Morgan Stanley's divisions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Impact Through Innovation Awards (EMEA)

Annual solicited application process for registered charities
Designed to seed-fund innovative solutions in child health and education
Typical grant range: £20,000 - £70,000

Partnership Grants

Multi-year strategic partnerships with major institutions
Example: £11.5 million three-year partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital
Focus on creating lasting infrastructure and programs

Priority Areas

Children's Health (Ages 0-18)

Improving children's access to quality healthcare across EMEA
Supporting innovations in children's healthcare delivery
Building healthcare infrastructure and facilities
Recent example: Morgan Stanley Clinical Building at Great Ormond Street Hospital (2012)

Education (Ages 4-21)

Academic achievement programs for disadvantaged young people
Employability skills and career development initiatives
Supporting state-funded schools in underserved communities
School meal programs addressing food insecurity
Example: 10-year partnership with Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership supporting over 83 schools

Employee Skills-Based Support

UK Strategy Challenge: pro bono strategic consulting for nonprofits
Mentoring programs in literacy, numeracy, and business skills
All funded programs must include opportunities for Morgan Stanley employee volunteer engagement

Geographic Eligibility

Grants support organizations operating in geographic areas where Morgan Stanley maintains a corporate presence across EMEA. The foundation operates in 17 countries across the region, prioritizing local communities connected to Morgan Stanley offices.

What They Don't Fund

Organizations not registered as nonprofits with appropriate regulatory agencies (except state-funded schools)
National or international charities that don't operate in regions where Morgan Stanley is located
Political or religious organizations
“Pressure groups” or advocacy organizations
Individual sponsorships
Political causes, candidates, campaigns, or lobbying programs
Capital and endowment campaigns (outside core hospital relationships)
Fraternal or professional sports organizations
Special events (dinners, walks, runs, golf events)
Documentaries or individual performing arts productions

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by 16 trustees, all senior representatives from across Morgan Stanley's divisions. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Chair:

Kim Lazaroo (appointed April 2023)

Trustees include:

Clare Woodman (appointed 2008, longest-serving trustee)
Oliver Stuart (appointed 2012)
Sacha Anselm (appointed 2020)
Aidan Armstrong (appointed 2021)
Dorothee Fuhrmann, Emily Laino, Russell Weinberg (all appointed 2022)
Jean-Francois Mazaud, Liezel McCord, Andre Munkelt (appointed 2023)
Daniel Mayer, Navindu Katugampola, Sinead Wilson (appointed December 2024)
Imran Ansari, Lisa Potter (appointed February 2025)

The trustee board reflects Morgan Stanley's international presence with senior leaders from across the firm's operations.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Morgan Stanley International Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. The foundation takes a proactive approach to grantmaking and identifies potential partners through:

Annual solicited applications: The foundation invites registered charities to apply for the Impact Through Innovation Awards in EMEA
Direct outreach: Organizations that believe their work aligns with MSIF priorities may send an introductory email to communityaffairslondon@morganstanley.com

Initial Contact Process:

Send program information to communityaffairslondon@morganstanley.com
If the organization fits MSIF priorities, they will receive grant guidelines
Only applications reviewed and considered suitable will be contacted directly
Successful first-stage applicants are invited to complete a full proposal

Decision Timeline

Quarterly Review Cycle:

Grant applications are considered quarterly by the trustee board
Four review periods per year
Specific quarterly dates not publicly disclosed

Process stages:

Initial email inquiry/introduction
Guidelines sent (if aligned with priorities)
First-stage evaluation
Full proposal invitation (for successful applicants)
Quarterly trustee review and decision

Note: Specific timelines from initial contact to final decision are not publicly available and likely vary based on the complexity of the proposal and timing within the quarterly cycle.

Success Rates

Specific success rates and application numbers are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation's proactive approach and requirement that organizations be invited to submit full proposals suggests a selective process with initial screening significantly reducing the number of full applications reviewed.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation has not published a specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations interested in reapplying should contact communityaffairslondon@morganstanley.com to discuss timing and revised approaches.

Application Success Factors

Critical Requirements

1. Employee Volunteer Engagement Opportunity

The foundation requires all funded programs to include opportunities for Morgan Stanley employee volunteer engagement. This is non-negotiable and central to MSIF's partnership model. Over 7,200 volunteer hours were contributed to Tower Hamlets schools alone, demonstrating the scale of expected engagement.

2. Geographic Alignment

Organizations must operate in regions where Morgan Stanley has a corporate presence. This local connection is essential to the foundation's philosophy that change begins in local communities “where needs and resources are most apparent.”

3. Focus on Innovation

The Impact Through Innovation Awards specifically seek to “seed-fund innovative solutions.” Applications should demonstrate novel approaches to persistent challenges in child health or education rather than simply scaling existing programs.

Examples of Successful Partnerships

Great Ormond Street Hospital Partnership:

Three-year, £11.5 million partnership creating the Morgan Stanley Clinical Building
Combined employee fundraising with foundation matching
Later partnership for Morgan Stanley House parent accommodation facility
Demonstrates preference for transformational, infrastructure-building projects

Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership:

10-year funding commitment supporting over 83 schools
Integrated 7,200+ volunteer hours from Morgan Stanley employees mentoring students
Focus on academic achievement and employability skills
Shows commitment to long-term, scalable impact in local communities

Magic Breakfast Partnership:

Addresses food insecurity affecting educational outcomes
Provides healthy school meals to disadvantaged students
Connects health and education priorities

The Prince's Trust Collaboration:

Skills center development for young adults
Focus on employability and career opportunities
Ages 4-21 target demographic

Yorkhill Children's Charity:

£250,000+ donation supporting children's healthcare
Demonstrates significant single-grant capacity for major healthcare institutions

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Based on the foundation's documented partnerships and priorities:

Measurable innovation: Specific, testable approaches to longstanding problems
Scale potential: Ability to impact large numbers of young people
Employee engagement design: Built-in, meaningful roles for employee volunteers (not just one-off events)
Strategic fit: Programs addressing both immediate needs and long-term outcomes in health or education
Local presence in Morgan Stanley communities: Organizations serving areas with Morgan Stanley offices
Institutional credibility: Registered charities with appropriate regulatory standing
Skills-based volunteer opportunities: Particularly valued are programs where Morgan Stanley employees can provide professional expertise (mentoring, strategic consulting)

Common Barriers to Success

Organizations outside EMEA or not in Morgan Stanley office locations
Programs without clear employee volunteer engagement opportunities
Purely advocacy or lobbying-focused organizations
Traditional programs without innovative elements
National/international charities not operating locally in Morgan Stanley communities
Unregistered organizations or those lacking proper nonprofit status

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Employee engagement is paramount: Design your program with meaningful, ongoing volunteer opportunities for Morgan Stanley staff. This is a core requirement, not an add-on.

Focus on innovation, not replication: The Impact Through Innovation Awards specifically seek novel approaches. Emphasize what makes your solution different and testable.

Geographic specificity matters: Clearly demonstrate how your work benefits communities where Morgan Stanley has offices. Local impact is valued over broad geographic reach.

Think long-term partnership, not one-off grants: Successful examples show multi-year commitments. Present programs with sustainability and growth potential.

Scale and measurement: Be prepared to demonstrate how your program will reach significant numbers of young people and how impact will be measured. The foundation funded 83 schools and thousands of young people in documented examples.

Proactive relationship building: Since unsolicited proposals aren't accepted, focus on getting on the foundation's radar through initial email contact that clearly demonstrates alignment with priorities.