Telles Foundation

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 1165054
• Annual Expenditure: £20,197,687 (2023)
• Annual Income: £37,809,796 (2023)
• Geographic Focus: Brazil and United States
• Beneficiary Type: Low-income Brazilian youth
• Primary Focus: STEM education and scholarships
• Number of Active Projects: 16
• Application Process: No public application - works through strategic partnerships

Contact Details

Address: Telles Foundation, Broadfield Law UK LLP, One Bartholomew Close, London, EC1A 7BL

Phone: 02077833563

Website: https://tellesfoundation.uk

Note: No public email address available on Charity Commission register. Contact through website or phone.

Overview

The Telles Foundation is a UK-registered charity (established 2015) founded to transform the future of low-income young people through access to education and opportunities. The foundation was established by Marcel Herrmann Telles, a Brazilian billionaire investor and co-founder of 3G Capital, alongside business partners Jorge Paulo Lemann and Carlos Alberto Sicupira. Rather than creating original programs, the foundation identifies and supports existing initiatives aligned with their objectives, working in partnership with leading educational institutions and organizations in Brazil and internationally. The foundation's operating philosophy emphasizes “focus and pragmatism to create meaningful impact” by supporting innovative solutions for real educational challenges. With an annual income exceeding £37 million, the foundation currently supports 16 projects benefiting thousands of students and over 1.1 million public school students across Brazil.

Funding Priorities

Core Pillars

The foundation concentrates support across three strategic areas:

1. Quality Public Education

• Strengthening educational systems serving disadvantaged populations
• Focus on Brazilian public schools
• Large-scale impact initiatives reaching over 1.1 million students
• Support for full-time high school expansion programs

2. Propelling Extraordinary Talent

• Identifying and nurturing exceptional young people from low-income backgrounds
• Scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate study
• Development programs from elementary through graduation
• Career placement support in technology and business sectors

3. Tech for Education

• Advancing technological solutions in educational contexts
• AI-powered tutoring platforms
• Software engineering training programs
• Innovation incubators for educational projects

Supported Organizations and Programs

Higher Education Partnerships:

• UCL (University College London): Supporting six Brazilian scholars pursuing foundation and undergraduate degrees in engineering and computer science
• Babson College (USA): Funding 19 scholars for business education; 14 graduates with 100% employment in high-impact positions
• Insper: Supporting 142 scholars with 69% tech employment rates
• Inteli: Funding undergraduate degrees in technology
• Illinois Partnership and ITEC: Combined support exceeding 200 scholars

Technology and Skills Training:

• 42 São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro: Software engineering programs with peer-to-peer learning; 400 students in São Paulo, 130 in Rio, with 80-100% employment in tech
• Instituto Apis: Manager and incubator for educational projects focusing on technical/vocational education and technology-enhanced learning tools

Scholarship and Development Programs:

• Ismart: Supporting over 9,000 students with scholarships and development programs; 89-95% university acceptance rate
• Fundação Estudar: Operating Leadership scholarships (839 scholars), Tech Fellows (62 supported), and Study Abroad initiatives (559 supported); 73% of scholars reach leadership roles within three years

Educational Technology:

• Khan Academy / Khanmigo: Implementing AI tutoring technology supporting 1,102 students in ISMART Online and 8,216 students across Paraná's public schools with personalized learning support

Systemic Educational Reform:

• Instituto Sonho Grande: Partnering with 18 Brazilian states supporting 6,000+ schools and 1.1+ million students; expanded full-time high schools from 8% to 35.3% between 2015-2023

Priority Beneficiaries

• Low-income Brazilian youth with demonstrated academic potential
• Students in areas of social and economic deprivation
• Public school students in Brazil
• Young people pursuing STEM careers and technology roles

What They Don't Fund

• Programs outside of Brazil and the United States
• Organizations not focused on education
• Individual applications from students (except through partner institutions)
• General operating costs for organizations not aligned with their strategic pillars
• Projects without measurable impact or employment pathways

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The foundation is governed by seven trustees (as registered with the Charity Commission):

• Claudio Moniz Barreto Garcia - Chair (appointed 20 June 2015)
• Marcel Herrmann Telles - Trustee (appointed 20 June 2015)
• Marina Angela De Sa - Trustee (appointed 20 June 2015)
• Christian Telles - Trustee (appointed 01 August 2017)
• Fabrizzia Telles - Trustee (appointed 01 August 2017)
• Max Telles - Trustee (appointed 01 August 2017)
• Giancarlo Chamma Matarazzo - Trustee (appointed 30 September 2025)

About Marcel Herrmann Telles

Marcel Herrmann Telles (born 23 February 1950) is a Brazilian billionaire investor and businessman who shares control of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest beer company, with longtime partners Jorge Paulo Lemann and Carlos Alberto Sicupira. He is co-founder and board member of 3G Capital since 2004, and previously served as chairman and CEO of AmBev. Telles also serves on the board of directors of ISMART, a not-for-profit foundation in Brazil. The Telles Foundation represents the family's philanthropic commitment to transforming Brazilian education.

How to Apply to Telles Foundation

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Telles Foundation operates through a strategic partnership model rather than accepting unsolicited grant applications. The foundation proactively identifies and approaches organizations that align with their mission and demonstrate leadership in their areas of expertise.

According to their website, the foundation “teams up with partners who are leaders in their areas of expertise and are willing to join forces to achieve more significant impacts.”

Partnership Selection Criteria

When evaluating potential partners and projects, the foundation considers:

• Measurable Impact: Projects must demonstrate evidence-based results and track outcomes for participants
• Innovative Methodologies: Support for organizations using up-to-date content and teaching approaches
• Employment Pathways: Ability to connect young people with qualified potential employers through established partnerships
• Scalability: Ideas that can scale to address Brazil's educational challenges at a systemic level
• Leadership in Field: Partners must be recognized leaders in their areas of expertise

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations working in Brazilian education might position themselves for consideration by:

• Building a Track Record: The foundation supports organizations with proven impact. Instituto Sonho Grande, for example, demonstrated success expanding full-time high schools from 8% to 35.3% between 2015-2023 across 18 Brazilian states before receiving support.

• Focus on STEM and Employment: The foundation prioritizes programs that prepare students for technology careers. 42 São Paulo's 80-100% employment rate and peer-to-peer learning model exemplify the type of outcomes valued.

• Connect Through Existing Partners: Many of the foundation's partners are interconnected. For instance, Fundação Estudar was co-founded by Marcel Telles himself in 1991, and Instituto Ismart has close operational ties with the foundation through events like the Telles Fellows Summit.

• Participate in the Aliança de IA para Educação: The foundation is part of this AI Education Alliance alongside Fundação Lemann and VélezReyes+, indicating collaboration within Brazil's educational technology ecosystem.

• Scale and Systems Change: The foundation supports both individual talent development and systemic change. Instituto Sonho Grande's partnership with 18 states affecting 1.1+ million students demonstrates the scale of impact they seek.

Key Characteristics of Funded Partners

Evidence-Based Results

All supported organizations demonstrate clear metrics: Ismart's 89-95% university acceptance rate, 42 São Paulo's 80-100% tech employment, Fundação Estudar's 73% leadership role achievement within three years.

Multi-Year Commitment

Partnerships appear to be sustained over time. The UCL partnership launched with an initial cohort but now supports six scholars, indicating growth and continued commitment.

Comprehensive Support Models

Successful partners provide wraparound support. The Babson College partnership covers not just tuition but accommodation, food, books, health insurance, and travel expenses.

Technology Integration

Many partners integrate technology meaningfully. Khan Academy's Khanmigo AI tutoring reaches 8,216 students in Paraná's public schools, while 42's peer-to-peer pedagogy operates 24/7 without traditional professors.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Critical

The foundation explicitly states it does not “reinvent existing solutions” but seeks “brilliant ideas, projects and partners” that demonstrate innovation addressing genuine educational challenges. Organizations should be able to articulate how their work fits within one of the three core pillars: Quality Public Education, Propelling Extraordinary Talent, or Tech for Education.

Demonstrate Measurable Outcomes

The foundation emphasizes that “measurable impact” is an “important attribute to ensure participants are actually learning skills critical to their future careers.” Every supported partner has clear metrics:

• Ismart: 89-95% university acceptance rate
• 42 São Paulo: 80-100% employment in tech within first year
• Fundação Estudar: 73% of scholars reach leadership roles within three years
• Instituto Sonho Grande: Full-time high schools expanded from 8% to 35.3%

Focus on Employment Pathways

The foundation is “mindful of already established partnerships with qualified potential employers” when evaluating projects. The ability to connect young people with career opportunities is a core consideration. Organizations should demonstrate concrete pathways to employment, particularly in technology and STEM fields.

Build for Scale

The foundation seeks "ideas that can scale and set out to solve the country's educational challenges." Instituto Sonho Grande's reach of 1.1+ million students across 18 states and Khan Academy's implementation across multiple Brazilian states exemplify the scale valued.

Partner with Leaders

The foundation explicitly seeks “partners who are leaders in their areas of expertise.” UCL, Babson College, Stanford University, and other world-class institutions represent the caliber of partners they engage. Organizations should be able to demonstrate recognized excellence in their field.

Support Low-Income Beneficiaries

All programs explicitly target low-income Brazilian youth. The foundation's charitable objects restrict support “specifically to the advancement and promotion for the public benefit of education, particularly but not exclusively in Brazil and in areas of social and economic deprivation.”

Innovation in Delivery

The foundation values innovative methodologies. Examples include 42's peer-to-peer learning model without professors, Khan Academy's AI tutoring, and Instituto Apis's role as an incubator for educational innovation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: The Telles Foundation operates exclusively through strategic partnerships and does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations cannot apply directly for funding.

• Partnership-Driven Model: The foundation proactively identifies and approaches organizations that are “leaders in their areas of expertise” and demonstrate measurable impact at scale.

• Three Clear Pillars: All funding aligns with Quality Public Education, Propelling Extraordinary Talent, or Tech for Education. Organizations must fit clearly within at least one pillar.

• Brazil-Focused with International Partnerships: While beneficiaries must be low-income Brazilians, the foundation supports both Brazilian organizations and international institutions (like UCL and Babson) that serve Brazilian students.

• Evidence and Employment Matter Most: Supported partners demonstrate clear metrics linking education to employment outcomes, particularly in STEM and technology careers.

• Think Scale and Systems: The foundation supports both individual talent pipelines (thousands of scholars across multiple programs) and systemic reform (1.1+ million students through Instituto Sonho Grande's state partnerships).

• Build Relationships Within the Ecosystem: Many partners are interconnected through co-founders (Fundação Estudar), shared events (Telles Fellows Summit), or collaborative initiatives (Aliança de IA para Educação). Organizations should build credibility and relationships within Brazil's educational innovation community.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Haddad Foundation
• The Greater Share Foundation
• Ipsos Foundation
• Viquaran Nisa Noon And Firoz Khan Noon Educational Foundation
• Ubs Optimus Foundation Uk
• Squarepoint Foundation
• The Jmcmrj Sorrell Foundation
• The Gsr Foundation
• The Brazil Football Foundation
• The Claude And Sofia Marion Foundation

References

1. UK Charity Commission - TELLES FOUNDATION Charity Overview (Charity Number 1165054).. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1165054&subid=0

1. Telles Foundation Official Website - Home Page.. https://tellesfoundation.uk/

1. Telles Foundation - Projects Page.. https://tellesfoundation.uk/projects/

1. UCL Engineering - Telles Scholarship.. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/engineering/telles-scholarship

1. UCL Giving - UCL partners with Telles Foundation to train future technology leaders. November 2022. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/giving/news/2022/nov/ucl-partners-telles-foundation-train-future-technology-leaders

1. Khan Academy Blog - Bringing the Future of Education to Brazil with Khan Academy and Khanmigo. 2024. https://blog.khanacademy.org/bringing-the-future-of-education-to-brazil-with-khan-academy-and-khanmigo/

1. UK Charity Commission - TELLES FOUNDATION Trustees.. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5064900/trustees

1. 42 Network - 42 São Paulo: Radical education. Real people. Relevant impact.. https://www.42network.org/blog/42-sao-paulo-radical-education-real-people-relevant-impact/

1. Babson College - Global Scholars Program.. https://www.babson.edu/tuition-and-financial-aid/undergraduate/financial-aid/financial-aid-for-international-students/global-scholars-program/

1. UK Charity Commission - TELLES FOUNDATION Contact Information.. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5064900/contact-information