Soneva Foundation

Charity Number: 1138811

Annual Expenditure: £1.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,443,442 (2023 expenditure)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (project-specific)
  • Geographic Focus: International (53 countries, with focus on Asia, Africa, and Indian Ocean regions)

Contact Details

Website: www.sonevafoundation.org / soneva.com/foundation/

Email: arnfinn@soneva.com

Phone: +44 (0)20 7486 5553

Address: 6 O-NES Tower, 10th Floor, Soi 6, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Secretary: Arnfinn Oines

For partnership enquiries: Contact via email to discuss project proposals and investment opportunities

Overview

Founded in 2010, the Soneva Foundation is a UK registered charity (number 1138811) established by luxury resort operators Sonu and Eva Shivdasani. The Foundation is primarily funded through a mandatory 2% environmental levy on room revenue from Soneva's luxury resorts, which has raised approximately US$7-10 million since 2008. The Foundation supports projects that have positive environmental, social, and economic impacts, with total expenditure of £1,443,442 in 2023. It has funded over 500 projects across 53 countries, providing clean water or sanitation services to more than 750,000 people worldwide. The Foundation employs innovative impact investing principles, seeking to recover outlays through carbon finance and reinvesting returns into additional projects. In 2024, Soneva won the World's Leading Sustainable Finance Initiative award at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, recognizing the Foundation's innovative financing model.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Soneva Foundation operates on a partnership basis rather than formal grant programs:

  • Partnership-Based Funding: The Foundation seeks to partner with organizations on environmental and social impact projects, with investment amounts determined on a project-by-project basis
  • Impact Investment Model: Where possible, the Foundation uses impact investing principles to recover funds (fully or partially) through carbon finance mechanisms, enabling reinvestment
  • Application Method: Rolling basis through direct contact with the Foundation

Priority Areas

Environmental Conservation:

  • Clean water and sanitation infrastructure (over 500 projects funded)
  • Forest restoration and reforestation (4,000 hectares across Thailand, Mozambique, Nepal, Philippines)
  • Coral reef restoration (largest facility in Indian Ocean, Maldives)
  • Mangrove restoration (2.5 million trees planted in Myanmar)
  • Carbon offsetting projects (fuel-efficient cookstoves)
  • Zero waste community initiatives

Poverty Relief and Community Development:

  • Access to clean water and sanitation
  • Climate-resilient livelihoods and agriculture
  • Food security and malnutrition prevention
  • Economic empowerment and business training

Education:

  • Construction and support of educational establishments in impoverished communities

Health:

  • Relief of sickness and preservation of health
  • Fighting childhood hunger and malnutrition

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the Foundation focuses on projects with clear environmental, social, and economic impact metrics. Projects must align with their carbon neutrality and sustainability mission.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • Sonu Shivdasani (Co-Founder and CEO, Soneva): British-Maldivian entrepreneur who founded Soneva resorts with wife Eva in 1995. Sonu believes “all companies, hotel businesses included, must have a purpose beyond profit. They must play a greater role in the world beyond just enriching their shareholders” and states this "doesn't have to run counter to a successful business model, in fact, it can be central to it."
  • Eva Malmström Shivdasani (Co-Founder and Creative Director, Soneva): Known as “The Conscience” for her environmental advocacy since Soneva Fushi's launch in 1995. Eva noted: “When promoting Soneva Fushi, Sonu never wanted to talk about the sustainability aspects of the resort, as he thought no one cared, but being very passionate I talked about it in every interview I did.”
  • Bruce Bromley (Deputy CEO and CFO, Soneva): Oversees the Soneva Foundation's operations and merges finance with sustainability. He shares responsibility for both finance and sustainability, embodying the two key pillars of sustainable corporate development.

No trustees receive remuneration or payments from the charity.

Secretary: Arnfinn Oines

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Soneva Foundation does not operate a formal application portal or fixed deadlines. Instead, they actively seek partnerships:

  1. Direct Contact: Email arnfinn@soneva.com to introduce your organization and project proposal
  2. Partnership Discussion: The Foundation is “constantly looking for partners to work with and is interested in investments in existing and potentially new projects”
  3. Investment Options: For some projects, the Foundation can consider investment structures where funds are recovered either fully or partially through mechanisms like carbon credits

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Timeline likely varies based on project complexity and investment structure.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated. Given the partnership-based model, unsuccessful initial approaches may lead to ongoing dialogue for future opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Impact Investing Model: The Foundation prioritizes projects where outlays can be recovered through carbon finance or similar mechanisms. The Myanmar Stoves Campaign exemplifies this: as Myanmar's first Gold Standard-certified carbon project, it mitigated over 350,000 tonnes of CO2 while generating more than $2.4 million in surplus funds for reinvestment.

Scale and Measurable Impact: Successful projects demonstrate clear, quantifiable outcomes. Examples include:

  • Myanmar Stoves Campaign: 60,000 fuel-efficient cookstoves distributed, improving lives of 280,000 people
  • Bangladesh Food Security Project: 350 households (1,750 people) supported over three years with USD $150,000 investment
  • Mangrove Restoration: 2.5 million trees planted, restoring 1,000 hectares

Strategic Partnership Potential: The Foundation works with established implementing partners including Action Against Hunger, Worldview International Foundation, Water Charity, and local NGOs like Soneva Namoona.

Environmental and Social Co-benefits: Projects should demonstrate both environmental impact (carbon mitigation, ecosystem restoration) and social impact (poverty relief, health improvements, education).

Geographic Focus Areas: While the Foundation operates in 53 countries, there is notable activity in Asia (Myanmar, Thailand, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines), Africa (Mozambique, Senegal), and regions where Soneva operates resorts.

Innovation and Sustainability: Projects employing innovative approaches to sustainability and circular economy principles align with Soneva's philosophy. The zero waste initiative (Soneva Namoona) engaging 22 islands demonstrates this approach.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Emphasize the investment return potential: Frame projects to show how funds might be recovered through carbon credits, sustainable revenue streams, or other impact investing mechanisms
  • Quantify environmental and social impact: Use specific metrics (people served, tonnes of CO2 offset, hectares restored, households supported) as the Foundation clearly tracks these outcomes
  • Position as a partnership, not just funding: The Foundation seeks collaborative relationships with implementing organizations rather than one-off grant distributions
  • Align with carbon neutrality goals: Projects that contribute to carbon offsetting or climate change mitigation have strong alignment with the Foundation's core mission funded by their 2% carbon levy
  • Demonstrate local community engagement: Successful projects show clear community benefit and participation, particularly in climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods
  • Consider multi-year timeframes: Many funded projects operate over 3+ year periods with substantial investments (e.g., USD $150,000 over three years for Bangladesh project)
  • Leverage the Soneva brand philosophy: Understanding Soneva's “Slow Life” philosophy and commitment to luxury hospitality in harmony with nature can help frame proposals that resonate with the founders' vision

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