Sloane Robinson Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £995,495 (year ending Feb 2024)
• Annual Income: £983,673
• Decision Time: Not publicly available (operates through institutional partnerships)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Founded: 1998

Contact Details

Address: Unit 4 Hill Farm, Kirby Road, Kirby Bedon, Norwich NR14 7DU

Phone: 01508 480100

Email: info@fisherlegal.co.uk

Charity Number: 1068286

Note: The foundation operates primarily through established institutional partnerships. Direct applications are not openly solicited.

Overview

The Sloane Robinson Foundation was established in February 1998 by hedge fund managers Hugh Patrick Sloane and George Edward Silvanus Robinson. The foundation is a grant-making trust focused on advancing education, particularly through scholarships, fellowships, and academic facilities. With an endowment fund generating investment income, the foundation has developed long-term relationships with select academic institutions, notably Oxford University colleges (Lincoln College and Keble College) and the University of Bristol. In 2017, the foundation made its most significant gift to date: £10 million to the University of Bristol for the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, representing the university's largest-ever philanthropic donation. The foundation emphasizes liberal arts and orthodox sciences at undergraduate level and supports research into controversial public policy issues.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates primarily through institutional partnerships rather than open grant programs. Known partnerships include:

• Oxford University Scholarships: 15 graduate scholarships at Keble College, plus 3 Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholarships
• Lincoln College Oxford: Master's Awards in the Humanities and Social Sciences (full funding including fees and stipend)
• Major Capital Gifts: Significant institutional support (e.g., £10 million to University of Bristol)
• Academic Buildings: The Sloane Robinson Building at Keble College, Oxford (2002)

Application Method: Students apply through partner institutions' standard admissions processes and are automatically considered for Sloane Robinson scholarships based on eligibility criteria. No separate scholarship application required.

Priority Areas

Education and Scholarships:

• Scholarships for British and overseas students to study at British schools and higher education institutions
• Scholarships for British students to study overseas
• Emphasis on liberal arts and orthodox sciences at undergraduate level (excluding religion, social sciences, and languages)
• No subject restrictions at postgraduate level

Academic Infrastructure:

• Construction of new academic buildings
• Provision of furnishing and equipment
• Purchase of books and library resources

Research and Fellowships:

• Fellowships and professorships at universities for teaching and research
• Research into controversial issues of public policy (e.g., prison policy, drug decriminalization, population issues), with requirement that results be published

International Development:

• Support for young people working in developing countries on skills and knowledge transfer projects

Community Facilities:

• Buildings for rehabilitation and training
• Facilities that improve local lives and enhance the environment

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated in available public materials, the foundation's partnership-based model suggests:

• Unsolicited applications from organizations outside established partnerships are unlikely to be considered
• At undergraduate level: religion, social sciences, and languages are excluded from priority funding areas
• The foundation appears focused on education rather than other charitable sectors

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Hugh Patrick Sloane (Trustee since 1998)

Co-founder of the foundation and Sloane Robinson LLP hedge fund. Bristol alumnus (Economics and Politics, 1977) and Lincoln College, Oxford alumnus (MPhil in Economics). Major philanthropist with particular commitment to his alma maters.

George Edward Silvanus Robinson (Trustee since 1998)

Co-founder of the foundation and Sloane Robinson LLP. Partner in establishing the foundation's educational mission and long-term institutional relationships.

Deborah Fisher (Trustee since 2015)

Connected to Fisher Legal, which provides administrative support to the foundation. One or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity for providing services.

Foundation Philosophy

Hugh Sloane has stated that the foundation's goal is “developing long term relationships with a number of academic institutions, with the ultimate goal of establishing scholarships and bursary schemes for overseas students to study in the UK and generally provide educational opportunities to students that would otherwise not be available to them.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Students: The Sloane Robinson Foundation does not accept direct scholarship applications. Instead:

• Apply for admission to partner institutions (Lincoln College Oxford, Keble College Oxford)
• Automatic consideration for Sloane Robinson scholarships based on eligibility
• No separate scholarship application or additional documentation required
• Deadline: Typically May 31 for Oxford admissions

For Organizations: The foundation operates through pre-selected institutional partnerships rather than open grant applications. There is no evidence of publicly available application guidelines for unsolicited proposals.

Contact Approach: Organizations interested in potential partnership should contact the foundation directly via the contact details provided, though success is likely limited to established academic institutions with strategic alignment.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation's partnership-based model suggests decisions are made strategically through trustee-led relationship building rather than cyclical application rounds.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation's model of pre-selected partnerships means traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for general applications. For students applying to partner institutions, standard university admissions reapplication policies apply.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's partnership-based approach, the following factors appear critical:

For Academic Institutions Seeking Partnership:

• Strategic Alignment: Strong focus on liberal arts, orthodox sciences, and educational excellence
• Long-term Relationship Building: The foundation emphasizes “developing long term relationships” rather than one-off grants
• Trustee Connections: Both founders are Oxford alumni (Lincoln College for Sloane, business partnership between both), and Sloane is a Bristol alumnus—institutional connections matter
• Impactful Use of Funds: The £10 million Bristol gift supported transformational infrastructure (Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus)
• Support for International Students: Clear mission to provide opportunities for overseas students to study in the UK

For Students at Partner Institutions:

• Merit-based selection through standard admissions processes
• Focus on humanities and social sciences (Lincoln College awards)
• No additional application burden—automatic consideration demonstrates foundation's commitment to accessibility

Foundation's Stated Priorities:

The foundation funds research into “controversial issues of public policy” with the requirement that “useful results of such research are published”—suggesting openness to bold, important research with public benefit.

Evidence of Impact: The foundation made the “largest ever philanthropic donation” to University of Bristol, indicating preference for transformational rather than incremental impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not Open to General Applications: This foundation operates exclusively through pre-selected institutional partnerships, primarily with Oxford University and University of Bristol
• Students, Not Organizations, Should Apply: If you're a student, apply to partner institutions through normal admissions—no separate foundation application needed
• Focus on Academic Excellence: Priority is elite academic institutions with established reputations in liberal arts and sciences
• Think Transformational: The £10 million Bristol gift suggests the foundation prefers major, transformational projects over numerous small grants
• Relationship-Driven: With only 3 trustees and partnership-based model, personal relationships and trustee connections appear essential
• Long-term Commitment: Foundation language emphasizes “long term relationships” and endowed scholarships rather than short-term project grants
• Contact Before Applying: Organizations should contact Fisher Legal directly before investing effort in proposals, though prospects appear limited to major academic institutions

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: SLOANE ROBINSON FOUNDATION (1068286). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3948166/full-print

• University of Bristol News: “Hugh Sloane gift.” https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2017/july/major-gift.html

• Keble College Impact Report 2023-24: “Graduate Support.” https://impact.keble.net/graduate-support

• Lincoln College Oxford: "Finance and Funding - The Sloane Robinson Foundation Master's Award in the Humanities and Social Sciences." https://lincoln.ox.ac.uk/study-here/graduate-study/finance-and-funding

• Giving is Great: “SLOANE ROBINSON FOUNDATION Charity Factsheet.” https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1068286

• Wikipedia: “Hugh Sloane” and “George Robinson (hedge fund manager).”