Thandizo
Charity Number: 1150152
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £66,134 (2024 expenditure)
- Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
- Decision Time: At trustee discretion
- Grant Range: Not publicly specified
- Geographic Focus: Malawi (primary), Southern Africa
Contact Details
- Website: www.thandizo.org
- Email: thandizo@thandizo.org
- Phone: 01433 639910
- Address: Warren Lodge, Bar Road, Curbar, Calver, Hope Valley S32 3YR
Overview
Thandizo (meaning “help” in Chichewa) is a small family-based UK charitable trust established in 2012 that provides grants and support primarily in Malawi's Lower Shire region. With annual expenditure of approximately £66,000, the charity focuses on sustainable development, poverty relief, and disaster response. Operating with minimal administrative costs and volunteer trustees who take no expenses, Thandizo works through established partner organisations on the ground in Malawi and other Southern African countries. The trust is recognised by HMRC for Gift Aid purposes and maintains a strong commitment to direct impact through its partner network.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programmes
Thandizo provides grants through trustee discretion to:
- Partner charities and voluntary organisations in Malawi
- Individuals facing poverty or financial hardship
- Emergency relief during natural disasters
Priority Areas
- Sustainable development projects in Malawi, particularly Lower Shire region
- Support for orphans, elderly people, and people with disabilities
- Environmental preservation and conservation
- Improving living conditions in disadvantaged communities
- Economic growth and regeneration initiatives
- Emergency relief during floods and droughts
What They Don't Fund
Not explicitly stated in available documentation

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Governance and Leadership
The charity operates as a trust with four trustees: Mrs Alison Kay Morton Lapish, Miss Jennifer Jane Lapish, Mr John Paul Lapish, and Mr Simon Oliver Lapish. As a family-based charity, the trustees work on a voluntary basis and take no expenses, ensuring maximum funds reach beneficiaries. The trust structure allows for flexible, responsive grant-making based on trustee knowledge of needs in their target communities.
How to Apply to Thandizo
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded at trustee discretion to established partner organisations and individuals identified through their existing network in Malawi and other target regions.
Getting on Their Radar
Thandizo works primarily through established partner organisations including:
- Pashello Charitable Trust
- TWAM (Tools with a Mission)
Organisations working in similar areas or with these partners may be able to establish connections through the existing network.
Decision Timeline
Decisions are made at trustee discretion without a formal application timeline.
Success Rates
Not applicable - no public application process
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - no public application process
Application Success Factors
As Thandizo operates through trustee discretion and established partnerships, successful grant recipients typically:
- Work directly in Malawi's Lower Shire region or other areas where Thandizo has established presence
- Focus on sustainable development, poverty relief, or disaster response
- Demonstrate direct impact on vulnerable groups (orphans, elderly, disabled individuals)
- Have established credibility through connections with Thandizo's existing partner network
- Align with the charity's philosophy of minimal administrative costs and maximum direct impact
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Thandizo is a small family trust without a public grant application process
- Focus area is primarily Malawi, especially the Lower Shire region
- Works through established partner organisations rather than open applications
- Prioritises sustainable development, poverty relief, and disaster response
- Values minimal administrative costs and direct impact
- Best approach is through connections with their existing partner network
- Small scale with annual expenditure around £66,000
Similar Funders
These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:
- Mymalawi
- Mjb Charitable Trust
- Haji Bashir Ahmed Foundation
- Capricorn Africa Trust
- Imdaadul Ghurabaa Trust
- The 3 Ts Charitable Trust
- Ambergate Charitable Trust
- Livingston Charitable Trust
- Mrs R P Tindall's Charitable Trust
- Christian Associates United Kingdom
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References
- UK Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 1150152. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5032214/full-print..
- Thandizo Official Website. www.thandizo.org..
- OpenCharities Database - Thandizo Profile. http://opencharities.org/charities/1150152..
- TotalGiving Charity Profile - Thandizo. https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/charity/thandizo..
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