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
• 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 (incorporated 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 programmes, the foundation identifies and supports existing initiatives aligned with their objectives, working in partnership with leading educational institutions and organisations in Brazil and internationally. The foundation's operating philosophy emphasises “focus and pragmatism to create meaningful impact” by supporting innovative solutions for real educational challenges.

Funding Priorities

Core Focus Areas

The foundation concentrates support across two strategic areas:

1. STEM Careers

• Supporting inclusion of talented young low-income Brazilians in the technology market
• Helping students become highly qualified professionals in STEM careers
• Partnerships with educational institutions offering technology and engineering programmes
• Career placement support in technology and business sectors

2. Scholarships and Development

• Investing in talented young low-income Brazilians through scholarships
• Providing opportunities to study at leading educational institutions in Brazil and abroad
• Development programmes from elementary through graduation
• Comprehensive support including accommodation, living costs, and career guidance

Supported Organisations and Programmes

Higher Education Partnerships:

• UCL (University College London): Supporting Brazilian scholars pursuing foundation and undergraduate degrees in engineering and computer science through the Telles Scholars Programme
• Babson College (USA): Funding Brazilian scholars for business education with comprehensive support covering tuition, accommodation, food, books, health insurance, and travel expenses
• Insper: Supporting scholars at this São Paulo institution where Marcel Telles and partners became controller shareholders in 2003
• Inteli (Institute of Technology and Leadership): Supporting undergraduate technology education at this São Paulo institution

Technology and Skills Training:

• 42 São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro: Software engineering programmes with peer-to-peer learning model; 85% of students enter the job market in their first year. Telles Foundation has been a main partner since the school launched in 2019

Scholarship and Development Programmes:

• Ismart (Instituto Social para Motivar, Apoiar e Reconhecer Talentos): Supporting students with scholarships and development programmes from elementary school to university level
• Fundação Estudar: Co-founded in 1991 by Marcel Telles, Jorge Paulo Lemann, and Beto Sicupira. The foundation operates Leadership scholarships, Tech Fellows programmes, and Study Abroad initiatives supporting talented Brazilian students

Educational Technology:

• Khan Academy / Khanmigo: Implementing AI tutoring technology in Brazilian public schools through the Aliança de IA para Educação (AI Alliance for Education), an initiative from Fundação Lemann, Telles Foundation, and VélezReyes+

Systemic Educational Reform:

• Instituto Sonho Grande: Partnering with 18 Brazilian states supporting 6,000+ schools and 1.1+ million students through the Integral High School (Ensino Médio Integral) model. The Telles Foundation is the institute's main partner, contributing financially to achieve its mission of improving public education quality

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

• Programmes outside of Brazil and the United States
• Organisations not focused on education
• Individual applications from students (except through partner institutions)
• General operating costs for organisations not aligned with their strategic focus areas
• 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 organisations 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 organisations 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 recognised leaders in their areas of expertise

Getting on Their Radar

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

• Building a Track Record: The foundation supports organisations with proven impact. Instituto Sonho Grande, for example, demonstrated success expanding full-time high schools across 18 Brazilian states affecting 1.1+ million students.

• Focus on STEM and Employment: The foundation prioritises programmes that prepare students for technology careers. 42 São Paulo's 85% 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 Ismart has close operational ties with the foundation, with Marcel Telles serving on Ismart's board of directors.

• 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

Supported organisations demonstrate clear metrics and employment outcomes. 42 São Paulo achieves 85% employment in the first year for graduates who often had no prior coding experience.

Multi-Year Commitment

Partnerships appear to be sustained over time, allowing for meaningful impact on beneficiaries throughout their educational journey.

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, such as Khan Academy's Khanmigo AI tutoring in Brazilian public schools and 42's peer-to-peer pedagogy operating 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. Organisations should be able to articulate how their work fits within the foundation's focus areas: STEM Careers or Scholarships and Development.

Demonstrate Measurable Outcomes

The foundation emphasises that “measurable impact” is an “important attribute to ensure participants are actually learning skills critical to their future careers.” Supported partners track and report clear employment and educational progression metrics.

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. Organisations 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, and other world-class institutions represent the calibre of partners they engage. Organisations should be able to demonstrate recognised excellence in their field.

Support Low-Income Beneficiaries

All programmes 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 Sonho Grande's Integral High School model combining conventional learning with socio-emotional skills development.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

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

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

• Two Clear Focus Areas: All funding aligns with STEM Careers or Scholarships and Development. Organisations must fit clearly within at least one area.

• Brazil-Focused with International Partnerships: While beneficiaries must be low-income Brazilians, the foundation supports both Brazilian organisations 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 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), board memberships (Ismart), controller shareholdings (Insper), or collaborative initiatives (Aliança de IA para Educação). Organisations 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
• Ipsos Foundation
• Squarepoint Foundation
• The Brazil Football Foundation
• The Jmcmrj Sorrell Foundation
• The Livingbridge Foundation
• The Gsr Foundation
• Ubs Optimus Foundation Uk
• Uggla Family Foundation
• The Exilarch's 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. 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 Programme.. 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

1. Wikipedia - Marcel Herrmann Telles.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Herrmann_Telles

1. Instituto Sonho Grande - About.. https://sonhogrande.org/

1. Fundação Lemann - Salman Khan launches Khanmigo for Brazilian teachers.. https://fundacaolemann.org.br/noticias/salman-khan-lanca-khanmigo-para-professores-brasileiros/

1. Aspire Institute - Aspire Global Partner Ismart Commits to Breaking the Poverty Cycle in Brazil. September 2022. https://www.aspireleaders.org/2022/09/brazilian-partner-believes-talent-is-equally-distributed/