The Apax Foundation

Charity Number: 1112845

Annual Expenditure: £1.0M
Geographic Focus: China, Denmark, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Spain, United States ... [2 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approximately £1 million per year (£30+ million total since 2006)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Trustees meet regularly (specific timeline not published)
  • Grant Range: Under £10,000 to over £100,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK and countries where Apax Partners operates (including US)

Contact Details

Address:

The Apax Foundation

33 Jermyn Street

London SW1Y 6DN

Telephone: 020 7872 6300

Email: foundation@apax.com

Website: https://www.apax.com/create/responsibility/apax-foundation/

Key Contacts:

  • Rohan Haldea, Co-Chief Executive Officer
  • Victoria Potter, Director of the Apax Foundation

Overview

The Apax Foundation was established in 2006 by Apax Partners, a global private equity firm, to build on the firm's longstanding commitment to charitable giving. Since inception, the Foundation has distributed over £30 million in grants (as of March 2024), averaging approximately £1 million per year. The Foundation focuses on social mobility in under-served communities and has developed active partnerships with charities in countries where Apax team members are based. It operates two principal grant programmes: large strategic grants to social mobility and social entrepreneurship organizations, and a matching programme supporting causes personally championed by Apax staff. The Foundation is led by eight Trustees including Sir Ronald Cohen, widely known as “the father of British venture capital” and “the father of social investment,” whose personal experience as a refugee at age 11 from Egypt deeply influences the Foundation's commitment to creating opportunities for disadvantaged communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Apax Foundation operates through two main funding streams:

1. Large Strategic Grants Programme

  • Grant amounts: £10,000 to over £100,000
  • Focus: Long-term partnerships with organizations working on social mobility (including education) and social entrepreneurship
  • Application: Written applications accepted on a rolling basis

2. Staff Matching Programme

  • Supports causes donated to personally by members of the Apax team
  • Encourages employee engagement in charitable giving

3. Emergency Response Programme

  • Initiated in response to disasters
  • Recent example: Support for Operation White Stork delivering medical equipment and humanitarian aid to Ukraine

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses the majority of its giving on organizations working in:

  • Social Mobility: Programs that help individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds access education and employment opportunities
  • Social Enterprise: Organizations using business models to address social problems
  • Relief of Financial Hardship: Supporting vulnerable populations experiencing economic difficulties
  • Advancement of Education: Educational programs particularly in deprived communities, both in the UK and overseas

Geographic Scope

  • UK-based organizations (national and local)
  • International organizations in countries where Apax Partners operates (notably the United States)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not published on their website, though the Foundation clearly focuses on organizations aligned with their social mobility mission and prefers organizations with which Apax team members have personal connections or commitments.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Apax Foundation is led by eight Trustees:

  • Sir Ronald Cohen (Chair) – Appointed 2006. Founder of Apax Partners, widely recognized as “the father of British venture capital” and “the father of social investment.” Chairman of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment and Big Society Capital. His experience as a refugee from Egypt at age 11 drives his commitment to social mobility.
  • David Norman Marks – Appointed 2006, Chartered Accountant
  • Simon Cresswell – Appointed 2013, General Counsel
  • Roxana-viorica Mirica – Appointed 2022, Private Equity Adviser
  • Thomas Alfred Crewe – Appointed 2024, Investment Adviser

Executive Leadership

  • Rohan Haldea, Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Apax Foundation and Apax Partner. Also serves as trustee of Impetus. Quote: “Impetus are at the forefront of transforming the lives of young disadvantaged people, which is a cause that has always resonated with me.”
  • Victoria Potter, Director of the Apax Foundation (joined 2024). Previously ran the Permira Foundation. Quote: "The value of 'We succeed as one global team' resonates with me deeply as I continue to build the Apax Foundation." Her passion for supporting charities focused on disadvantaged people was intensified during Covid, and she advocates for skills-based volunteering by corporate organizations.

Foundation Philosophy

“The Apax Foundation aims to make a meaningful difference in the communities where we work and live.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: Rolling basis

Applications may be made at any time in writing to the Foundation. There are no fixed deadlines.

Submission Address:

The Apax Foundation

33 Jermyn Street

London SW1Y 6DN

Email: foundation@apax.com

Application Materials:

Written applications should demonstrate:

  • Alignment with the Foundation's focus on social mobility, education, or social entrepreneurship
  • The charity's effectiveness and management strength
  • Number of beneficiaries reached
  • Sustainability of programs
  • Long-term public benefits

Eligibility

  • UK registered charities
  • Social enterprises
  • Organizations working in the UK and/or overseas
  • Organizations whose work helps stimulate social mobility and entrepreneurship and/or provides education in deprived communities

Decision Timeline

Trustees meet regularly to review donations and grants. Specific decision timelines are not publicly stated. Given the Foundation's partnership approach and preference for long-term relationships, the process may involve multiple discussions.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. However, the Foundation appears to operate a strategic partnership model, focusing on a select number of organizations with which it develops deep, long-term relationships rather than making numerous one-off grants.

Application Success Factors

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Based on the Foundation's partnerships and stated priorities, successful applicants typically demonstrate:

  1. Personal Connections to Apax Team Members: The Foundation's matching programme and emphasis on “active involvement from the Apax team” suggests that organizations with champions within Apax Partners may have stronger prospects.
  1. Strong Management and Operational Excellence: Given Apax Partners' focus on operational excellence in their investment practice, the Foundation values well-managed organizations with strong leadership.
  1. Clear Impact on Social Mobility: Organizations must demonstrate how their work creates opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve their circumstances.
  1. Long-Term Partnerships: The Foundation appears to prefer developing deep, sustained relationships with a focused group of organizations rather than making numerous small grants. Examples include 17+ years with Impetus and 7+ years with Breaking Barriers.
  1. Sustainability and Scale: The Foundation evaluates sustainability of programs and number of beneficiaries reached, suggesting preference for organizations that can demonstrate lasting impact at scale.
  1. Geographic Alignment: Organizations based in or serving communities where Apax Partners operates (UK, US, and other locations with Apax offices) appear advantaged.

Language and Terminology

The Foundation uses specific terminology that applicants should mirror:

  • “Social mobility” rather than simply “social change”
  • “Under-served communities”
  • “Disadvantaged backgrounds”
  • “Education and employment prospects”
  • “Social entrepreneurship”

Recent Funding Examples

  • Impetus: £2+ million total (venture philanthropy for youth employment and education)
  • Education Outcomes Fund: Multi-year operational grant
  • Operation White Stork: Humanitarian response in Ukraine
  • Breaking Barriers: Refugee employment support (since 2017)

Potential Barriers

  • No evidence of the Foundation responding favorably to “cold” applications from organizations without existing Apax connections
  • Limited public information about application success rates or rejected proposals
  • Preference for larger, more established organizations with proven track records
  • The Foundation does not appear to fund individuals, only registered charities and social enterprises

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Build relationships first: The Foundation's partnership approach suggests that establishing connections with Apax team members before applying may significantly improve success chances. Attend events, seek introductions, and demonstrate alignment with their values.
  1. Emphasize social mobility: Applications must clearly articulate how the work creates pathways for disadvantaged individuals to improve their economic and social circumstances through education, employment, or entrepreneurship.
  1. Demonstrate operational strength: Given Apax Partners' emphasis on operational excellence in their investment practice, show strong management, clear metrics, sustainability plans, and proven impact.
  1. Think long-term partnership, not one-off grant: Position your organization as a potential multi-year partner. Show how you could engage Apax staff through volunteering, mentoring, or skills-based support beyond financial contributions.
  1. Geographic relevance matters: Organizations based in or serving communities where Apax Partners has offices (London, New York, and other locations) may be advantaged.
  1. Flexibility on grant size: The Foundation awards grants across a wide range (under £10,000 to over £100,000), so organizations should request amounts appropriate to their needs and scale.
  1. Rolling applications reduce deadline pressure: With no fixed deadlines, applicants can take time to craft strong proposals and apply when ready, though this also means competition is ongoing.

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