Pimco Foundation Europe

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 1139109
• Annual Giving: Approximately £225,000 (historical programme)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Up to £20,000
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Application Type: Invitation-only basis

Contact Details

Registered Office: 11 Baker Street, London

Email: EMEACORPORATESECRETARY@PIMCO.COM

Phone: 020 7872 1300

Charity Registration: 1139109

Company Number: 07401007

Note: The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis for grant applications, though prospective grantees may reach out via email.

Overview

PIMCO Foundation Europe was established in November 2010 as a registered charity (1139109) and operates as the UK philanthropic arm of PIMCO (Pacific Investment Management Company). The foundation's mission is “to empower people globally to reach their full potential,” with a strategic focus on addressing fundamental issues critical to human development. The foundation is part of PIMCO's broader global philanthropic network that includes foundations in the U.S. and Germany, supporting communities through local grants programmes. The foundation operates with no trustees receiving remuneration or benefits, maintaining its charitable status as a private limited company by guarantee. The foundation's priorities have evolved over time, historically supporting programmes around food security, homelessness, and youth employment, while more recently aligning with the global PIMCO Foundation's focus on Zero Hunger (UN SDG 2) and Gender Equality (UN SDG 5).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Historical Grant Programme (2016-2018 cycles):

• Grant amounts up to £20,000 per charity
• Total programme budget approximately £225,000 distributed to UK charities
• Application method: Online application when programmes were open

Current Approach:

• Invitation-only grant making
• Alignment with global PIMCO Foundation priorities
• Focus on supporting smaller local organizations

Priority Areas

The foundation's focus areas have included:

Zero Hunger:

• Organizations providing children and families with access to healthy, nutritious meals
• Improving nutrition and food security
• Promoting sustainable agriculture
• Food banking initiatives
• Partners have included organizations like FoodCloud and Münchner Tafel e.V. (Europe-wide)

Gender Equality:

• Economic empowerment of vulnerable women and girls
• Organizations promoting gender equality by equipping women and girls with skills to gain life-sustaining income
• Programmes supporting access to economic opportunities

Historical Focus Areas (2016-2018):

• Homelessness: Proven programmes equipping individuals and families at risk of, or currently experiencing, homelessness with access to long-term, sustainable housing
• Youth Employment: Work-readiness organisations focused on driving social mobility and developing young people's (ages 16 to 24) employability skills and preparing individuals for employment
• Education: Targeted academic and social/emotional initiatives serving under-performing pupils; initiatives contributing to childhood reading/writing advancement for underprivileged, minority, and/or immigrant children

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not extensively documented, eligibility requirements indicate:

• Organizations must be registered charities in good standing with the UK Charity Commission
• Organizations must operate without illegal discrimination based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, or disability
• Geographic focus is on England and Wales

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates as a private limited company by guarantee, registered at 11 Baker Street, London. According to UK Companies House records, the foundation's directors include senior PIMCO professionals with expertise in enterprise risk and portfolio management.

Key Principles:

• No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity
• Governance aligned with UK Charity Commission requirements
• Part of PIMCO's broader corporate purpose platform, “Purpose at PIMCO”

The foundation operates within PIMCO's global network of 17 offices and approximately 2,600 professionals across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Process:

The PIMCO Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis for grant proposals. Prospective grantees may not submit unsolicited applications through an open process.

Making Contact:

Organizations interested in being considered for funding may reach out to the foundation via:

• Email: EMEACORPORATESECRETARY@PIMCO.COM
• Phone: 020 7872 1300

Historical Application Process (when open programmes were running):

• Online application via dedicated website
• Detailed narrative required demonstrating:
• Qualifications of the agency and key personnel
• Implementation plan and timeline
• Evaluation and metrics
• Financial information
• Feasibility of the proposal

Eligibility Requirements

Organizations must:

• Be a registered charity in good standing with the UK Charity Commission
• Meet geographic criteria (England and Wales)
• Operate without illegal discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, or disability
• Align with the foundation's current funding themes

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The foundation's approach appears to vary depending on whether they are running structured grant programmes or making invitation-only grants.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available, as the foundation does not publish comprehensive data on the number of applications received versus grants awarded.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment

Given the invitation-only nature of the foundation's current grantmaking, success factors include:

• Food security and access to nutritious meals for children and families
• Economic empowerment for vulnerable women and girls
• Sustainable, long-term solutions rather than short-term interventions

1. Local Impact: The foundation supports smaller organizations in areas where PIMCO maintains operations, suggesting a preference for community-level impact in London and surrounding regions.

1. Proven Programmes: Historical grant cycles emphasized “proven programmes” with demonstrated track records, particularly for homelessness and housing initiatives.

1. Focus on Young People: When youth employment was a priority, the foundation specifically targeted ages 16-24 and work-readiness programmes focused on driving social mobility.

1. Measurement and Evaluation: Applications historically required detailed evaluation plans and metrics, suggesting the foundation values evidence-based approaches and measurable outcomes.

Building Relationships

Given the invitation-only model:

• Building relationships through PIMCO's employee volunteering programme (PIMCO Acts) may provide opportunities to connect
• The foundation participates in a Global Month of Volunteering with nonprofit partners worldwide
• In 2023, PIMCO engaged with 118 nonprofit partners through volunteering events

Organizational Capacity

Historical application requirements suggest the foundation seeks:

• Well-qualified staff and key personnel
• Clear implementation plans with realistic timelines
• Sound financial management
• Ability to demonstrate feasibility and sustainability

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Invitation-Only Approach: PIMCO Foundation Europe operates primarily on an invitation-only basis. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications but may reach out via email to express interest and build relationships.

1. Align with Global Priorities: Focus your work on Zero Hunger or Gender Equality with specific emphasis on food security, nutrition, or economic empowerment for women and girls to align with current foundation priorities.

1. Geographic Proximity Matters: The foundation supports local organizations in areas where PIMCO operates. Being based in or serving communities in London and surrounding areas may be advantageous.

1. Demonstrate Proven Impact: Emphasize evidence-based programmes with measurable outcomes, clear evaluation frameworks, and demonstrated track records of success.

1. Build Connections Through Volunteering: PIMCO's extensive employee volunteering programme (PIMCO Acts) engages with nonprofit partners globally. Engaging with PIMCO employees through volunteering could help build relationships and visibility.

1. Grant Size and Scale: Historical programmes offered grants up to £20,000, suggesting the foundation supports smaller to medium-sized projects rather than large capital campaigns.

1. Patience with Process: As an invitation-only funder with limited public information about timelines and decision processes, building relationships and maintaining long-term engagement may be necessary to secure funding.

References

• UK Charity Commission Register of Charities - PIMCO Foundation Europe (Charity 1139109). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1139109&subid=0 []

• UK Companies House - PIMCO Foundation Europe (Company 07401007). Available at: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07401007 []

• Third Sector (2016). “Announcing the PIMCO Foundation Europe Grant Programme.” Available at: https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/announcing-pimco-foundation-europe-grant-programme/article/1424026 []

• Third Sector (2018). "Announcing PIMCO Foundation Europe's 2018 Grant Programme." Available at: https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/announcing-pimco-foundation-europes-2018-grant-programme/article/1490329 []

• PIMCO (2025). “Purpose at PIMCO.” Available at: https://www.pimco.com/us/en/about-us/purpose []

• PIMCO (2025). “Global Month of Volunteering.” Available at: https://www.pimco.com/gb/en/about-us/purpose/global-month-of-volunteering []

• Funds for NGOs (2016). “Apply for PIMCO Foundation Europe Grant Programme!” Available at: https://www2.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/apply-for-pimco-foundation-europe-grant-programme/ []

• Inside Philanthropy. “PIMCO Foundation.” Available at: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-p/pimco-foundation []

• Blackbaud ENGAGE Blog. "Purpose at PIMCO | The Power of Partnerships & Knowing Your Why." Available at: https://blog.blackbaud.com/purpose-at-pimco-the-power-of-partnerships-knowing-your-why/ []