The Annabel Arbib Foundation

Charity Number: 296358

Annual Expenditure: £0.9M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £934,264 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales
  • Application Process: No public application process - trustee discretion only

Contact Details

Address: 61 Grosvenor Street, London W1K 3JE

Email: admin@61GrosvenorStreet.com

Phone: 0203 011 1100

Charity Number: 296358

Note: This foundation does not operate a public grants programme.

Overview

The Annabel Arbib Foundation was established in 1987 by Sir Martyn Arbib and is now led by his daughter, Annabel Nicoll, who serves as a trustee alongside her family members. With annual expenditure of £934,264 (2024) and income of £621,928, this is a grant-making foundation that operates as a family trust. Since Annabel took responsibility for the foundation, its focus has shifted to supporting education and healthcare projects, with particular emphasis on providing access to excellent educational and healthcare opportunities where the need is most evident. The foundation continues to make donations to a wide number of charities, though its principal beneficiaries are The Arbib Education Trust (which operates The Langley Academy Trust schools in Slough) and the educational programmes at the River & Rowing Museum in Henley-on-Thames. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates through trustee discretion.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programmes with published criteria or application processes. Grant-making is conducted at the discretion of the trustees based on their philanthropic priorities.

Priority Areas

Education

  • Support for educational institutions, particularly academy schools
  • Museum-based learning initiatives (pioneered the first “Museum Learning” school in the UK)
  • Access to excellent educational opportunities for underserved communities

Healthcare

  • Medical and healthcare projects
  • Access to healthcare opportunities where need is most evident

Culture & Heritage

  • Support for museums and cultural institutions
  • Educational programmes within cultural settings

Principal Beneficiaries

  • The Arbib Education Trust (charity number 1146082) - the primary beneficiary, operating The Langley Academy Trust comprising The Langley Academy, Parlaunt Park Primary Academy, and The Langley Academy Primary in Slough
  • River & Rowing Museum (Henley-on-Thames) - ongoing support for educational programmes

What They Don't Fund

As this is a private foundation without published guidelines, exclusions are not publicly stated. However, the foundation's clear focus on education and healthcare suggests limited interest in other areas.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • Mrs Annabel Nicoll - Lead trustee and foundation sponsor
  • Mr Paddy Nicoll
  • Miss Phoebe Nicoll
  • Mr Sam Nicoll

The foundation is managed as a family trust with no trustees receiving remuneration. The foundation has no trading subsidiaries.

Leadership Vision

According to the Arbib Education Trust website, Annabel Nicoll's vision was inspired by schools in New York and led to the development of “Museum Learning” schools in Langley - the first museum school in the UK. This reflects her innovative approach to educational philanthropy and commitment to creating transformative learning environments.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Annabel Arbib Foundation does not have a public application process.

Grant-making decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees based on their philanthropic priorities and established relationships. The foundation focuses its resources on a small number of principal beneficiaries with which it has long-standing connections, while also making donations to a wider number of charities through trustee-led selection.

Organizations cannot submit unsolicited grant applications to this foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process operates.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation operating through trustee discretion, application statistics are not available.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Understanding This Foundation's Approach

Given the absence of a public application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations seeking to understand this funder should note:

Established Relationships Matter

The foundation's grant-making is concentrated on organizations with which the trustees have established, long-standing relationships. The primary beneficiaries (The Arbib Education Trust and River & Rowing Museum) have deep connections to the Arbib family.

Innovation in Education

Annabel Nicoll's vision for “Museum Learning” schools demonstrates the foundation's interest in innovative educational models that break traditional boundaries. This suggests trustees are attracted to transformative rather than incremental approaches.

Focus on Access and Opportunity

The foundation's stated focus is on “providing access to excellent educational and healthcare/medical opportunities where the need is most evident,” indicating a commitment to addressing inequality and expanding opportunity for underserved communities.

Quality and Excellence

Support for “excellent” educational and healthcare opportunities suggests the foundation prioritizes quality outcomes and demonstrable impact over geographic spread or quantity of beneficiaries.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not accessible for unsolicited applications: This foundation operates through trustee discretion without a public grants programme - do not attempt to apply
  • Focused on strategic relationships: Grant-making centers on a small number of principal beneficiaries with family connections rather than open competition
  • Education and healthcare priorities: When active, the foundation supports educational innovation and healthcare access, particularly for underserved communities
  • Values transformative approaches: The foundation's support for pioneering “Museum Learning” schools suggests interest in innovative, game-changing models
  • Family-led philanthropy: All trustees are family members (Annabel Nicoll and her immediate family), making this a closely-held private foundation
  • Significant but focused giving: With annual expenditure approaching £1 million, this is a substantial foundation but one that concentrates resources rather than spreading them widely
  • Research value only: While not accessible for applications, understanding this foundation's approach and priorities may provide insights into education and healthcare philanthropy trends

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