The Altenburg Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £274,847 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified (varies by project)
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, Germany, Lebanon, and areas affected by war or disaster

Contact Details

Address: Hamlet House, 107 Arthur Road, London, SW19 7DR

Phone: 020 8947 1942

Email: christiane@rusitrust.com

Website: thealtenburgfoundation.com

Charity Number: 1170216

Overview

The Altenburg Foundation is a family-run charity registered in November 2016, with total expenditure of £274,847 and income of £159,980 in the year ending April 2024. Founded by Christiane and Karl Altenburg, the foundation seeks to help those less fortunate in all corners of the world, with a particular focus on areas tragically impacted by war or disaster. Since 2016, the foundation has supported projects in Syria, Lebanon, and through partnerships with organizations working internationally. The foundation takes an “incubator financier” approach, providing strategic support to organizations that encourage self-sufficiency within communities. The foundation operates under the umbrella of The Rusi Trust and maintains a hands-on, relationship-based approach to grantmaking.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants to charitable organizations rather than individuals, focusing on:

• Education Projects: Supporting access to quality education, particularly in conflict-affected areas
• Community Development: Encouraging self-sufficiency within communities
• Amateur Sport: Using sports as a tool for integration, leadership, and empowerment
• Livelihoods Opportunities: Supporting skills development and professional training

UK-Specific Programs:

• Mentoring programs for underprivileged people
• Interest-free loans for skills and professional development
• Supporting people to access their full potential

International Programs:

• Educational infrastructure (solar power, libraries, computer learning spaces)
• Summer school catch-up programs for children affected by conflict or COVID-19
• Sports-based education and empowerment programs

Priority Areas

• Advancement of education
• Citizenship development
• Community development
• Amateur sport
• Projects in areas affected by war or disaster (particularly Syria, Lebanon)
• Support for refugee populations (Syrian, Palestinian, Lebanese)
• Organizations that promote self-sufficiency
• Grassroots organizations with proven local impact

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but as a family foundation making strategic grants, they likely focus on invited partnerships rather than broad, open grantmaking.

Ready to write a winning application for The Altenburg Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Join the Launch List

Governance and Leadership

The foundation has 3 trustees and no employees. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The foundation is managed under The Rusi Trust.

Key Leadership:

• Christiane Altenburg: Co-founder and trustee
• Karl Altenburg: Co-founder and trustee

Leadership Philosophy: In their own words regarding the Aid Pioneers partnership, Christiane and Karl Altenburg stated they were “incredibly impressed by the passion of the young people” and chose to invest in the platform to “leverage our investment and reach more lives.” This quote reveals their approach: they look for passionate leaders and organizations where their investment can create multiplier effects.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Altenburg Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are made at the trustees' discretion, typically through identifying organizations and projects that align with their mission.

The foundation appears to operate through:

• Direct identification of projects by trustees
• Partnerships with organizations they discover through their networks
• Long-term “incubator” relationships with selected organizations

Their website states: “If you are willing to support The Altenburg Foundation in their mission, you can get in contact with them to discuss how to collaborate,” suggesting they are primarily seeking donors rather than grant applicants.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on their documented grantmaking patterns:

• Focus on refugee education in conflict zones: The foundation has shown particular interest in Syrian refugees in Lebanon through projects like Alsama and Tuyoor Al Amal
• Long-term strategic partnerships: Their relationship with Aid Pioneers began in May 2022 as an “incubator financier” arrangement, suggesting they prefer ongoing relationships over one-off grants
• Trustees' personal engagement: Christiane and Karl Altenburg appear to be personally involved in identifying and supporting projects, as evidenced by their direct quotes about being “impressed by the passion of the young people”
• Innovative approaches: They funded pioneering work in community cricket for refugee education and solar power installations for schools

Organizations working in refugee education, conflict-affected areas, or using innovative approaches to community development may catch their attention, though unsolicited approaches are unlikely to be successful.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified. As a small family foundation with discretionary grantmaking, decisions likely depend on trustee meetings and relationship development timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation makes grants through trustee discretion rather than public applications, the following factors appear important based on their documented grantmaking:

Passion and Leadership: The Altenburgs specifically mentioned being “impressed by the passion of the young people” at Aid Pioneers, indicating that passionate, committed leadership matters to them.

Multiplier Effect: They describe themselves as “incubator financiers” and talk about wanting to “leverage our investment and reach more lives,” suggesting they look for organizations where their funding can create outsized impact.

Innovation: They've funded pioneering work in community cricket, solar power for schools, and accelerated education programs (12 years in 6), indicating openness to creative approaches.

Proven Track Record: Their funded organizations demonstrate clear impact - Aid Pioneers mobilized over £400,000 in donations and shipped 300 tonnes worth over £4 million in 2022; Alsama serves 400+ teenagers across 15 cricket hubs.

Focus on Self-Sufficiency: Their stated mission emphasizes “encouraging self-sufficiency within communities,” suggesting they prefer programs that build long-term capacity rather than creating dependency.

Alignment with Core Themes: Their documented grants focus consistently on education (especially for refugees), sports as a development tool, and infrastructure that enables learning.

Personal Connection: As a family foundation, personal relationships and direct engagement with project leaders appear important to their decision-making.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this foundation identifies and invites partnerships rather than accepting unsolicited applications
• Focus is on conflict-affected areas and refugees - particularly Syrian refugees in Lebanon, but also broader disaster response
• They prefer strategic, long-term partnerships - acting as “incubator financiers” rather than making one-off grants
• Innovation and passion matter - they're drawn to creative approaches and passionate leadership that can multiply impact
• Small but active foundation - with £274,847 in annual expenditure, they make meaningful grants to select partners
• Personal involvement - as a family foundation, the Altenburgs appear personally engaged in identifying and supporting projects
• Self-sufficiency is key - programs should build long-term capacity and independence within communities

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Rumi Foundation
• The Danson Foundation
• The Greenslade Family Foundation
• Wellington Management UK Foundation
• The Pickwell Foundation
• The Macfarlane Family Foundation
• THE CONWAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
• The Goyal Foundation
• Fantastic Peach Foundation UK Limited
• THE KENNETH & SUSAN GREEN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

References

1. UK Charity Commission Register - The Altenburg Foundation (Charity No. 1170216)

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1170216&subid=0

Accessed: December 9, 2024

1. The Altenburg Foundation Official Website

https://thealtenburgfoundation.com/

Accessed: December 9, 2024

1. The Altenburg Foundation - Aid Pioneers Collaboration

https://thealtenburgfoundation.com/project/aid-pioneers-collaboration/

Accessed: December 9, 2024

Quote: Christiane and Karl Altenburg on being “incredibly impressed by the passion of the young people”

1. The Altenburg Foundation - The Alsama Project

https://thealtenburgfoundation.com/project/the-alsama-project/

Accessed: December 9, 2024

1. The Altenburg Foundation - Tuyoor Al Amal

https://thealtenburgfoundation.com/project/tuyoor-al-amal/

Accessed: December 9, 2024

1. Find that Charity - GB-CHC-1170216

https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1170216

Accessed: December 9, 2024

1. ESPN Cricket - “They fled war in Syria and found cricket in Lebanon”

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/they-fled-war-in-syria-and-found-cricket-in-lebanon-1499216

Accessed: December 9, 2024

1. Alsama Project Official Website

https://alsamaproject.com/

Accessed: December 9, 2024