The Asfari Foundation

Charity Number: 1116751

Annual Expenditure: £4.1M
Throughout England And Wales, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Jordan

Contact Info

Website: www.asfarifoundation.org.uk

Phone: +44 (0)20 7372 3889

Email: admin@asfarifoundation.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £3.3 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (highly competitive)
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months
  • Grant Range: £7,000 - £225,000 (up to £75,000/year for 3 years)
  • Geographic Focus: Levant Region (Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Syria) and Levantine Communities

Contact Details

Website: www.asfarifoundation.org.uk

Email: admin@asfarifoundation.org.uk | programmes@asfarifoundation.org.uk

Phone: +44 (0)20 7372 3889

Address: London, UK

For program inquiries, contact programmes@asfarifoundation.org.uk

Overview

The Asfari Foundation was established in 2006 by Syrian-British businessman Ayman Asfari and his wife Sawsan Asfari. Since its founding, the Foundation has invested over £60 million in the Levant region and the UK to strengthen civil society infrastructure and empower youth. With an annual giving of £3.3 million (2023) and total income of £4.3 million primarily from the Asfari family, the Foundation focuses on three strategic pillars: Civil Society, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Knowledge Production and Influencing. Following a strategic review in 2024, the Foundation refined its grantmaking model with a new 2024-2028 strategy to build on existing strengths while adding depth and specificity to maximize impact. The Foundation emphasizes long-term partnerships, localization, and capacity building alongside financial support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Performance Excellence Grants

  • £7,000 per grant plus technical support
  • Duration: Up to 12 months
  • Focus: Strengthen specific organizational functions (governance, HR, financial management, program development, fundraising, research/advocacy, communications, M&E, innovation)
  • Application: Rolling basis with two cycles annually via online portal

Organisational Development Grants

  • Up to £50,000 in financial support plus technical coaching
  • Duration: Typically one year with possibility of extension
  • Focus: Strategic capacity building to enhance organizational impact
  • Application: Two-stage process (concept note, then full proposal) spanning 3-4 months

Long-Term Partnership Grants

  • Up to £75,000 per year for up to three years
  • 25% of grant dedicated to organizational and staff capacity building
  • Focus: Multi-year flexible funding for established partners
  • Application: Online portal, fixed deadlines when calls are open

Digital Transformation Grants

  • £7,000 per grant
  • Focus: Enhance digital presence and delivery capabilities
  • Application: Open calls announced periodically

Asfari Challenge for Social Innovation (ACSI)

  • Up to $3,875 in seed funding
  • Focus: Support enterprises in ideation or prototype stage
  • Application: Challenge format with specific deadlines

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports organizations working in at least one of these thematic areas:

  • Developing Independent High-Quality Media
  • Strengthening Governance
  • Promoting Active Citizenship
  • Innovation
  • Promoting & Supporting Entrepreneurship
  • Education & Lifelong Learning (EdTech/TechEd focus)
  • Gender & Feminism

Organizations must demonstrate impact on community cohesion, adopt innovative approaches, and address systemic weaknesses in their fields.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside the Levant Region (Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Syria) or Levantine Communities
  • For-profit organizations unless they are social enterprises or companies with defined social missions investing at least 50% of profits back into social impact
  • Unregistered organizations
  • Organizations not working in their priority thematic areas
  • Multiple applications from the same organization in a single calendar year (for Performance Excellence Grants)
  • Organizations with annual budgets significantly above £750,000 (while eligible, small to medium organizations are prioritized)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

Ayman Asfari (Chairman and Co-founder) - Born in Syria, founded Petrofac Ltd and co-founded the Asfari Foundation in 2006. Serves on boards of American University of Beirut, Chatham House, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Sawsan Asfari (Co-founder and Trustee) - Executive director of Galilee Foundation, board member of US Middle East Project, and co-founder of Cactus World Films.

Marwan Muasher (Trustee) - Vice president at Carnegie Endowment, former foreign minister and deputy prime minister of Jordan, author of books on Middle East politics.

Saba Almubaslat (Trustee) - Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa, former CEO of Asfari Foundation, extensive experience in international development.

John Ferguson (Trustee) - Former financial director of Shell Syria, now retired, trustee of charities working in the Arab world.

Adeeb Asfari (Trustee) - Co-Founder of Energy Growth Momentum, previously worked in investment and corporate finance.

Kareem Asfari (Trustee) - Junior legal associate at Guernica 37 Chambers, LLM in international law from SOAS.

Rasha Elmasry (Trustee) - Jewelry designer supporting Syrian refugee education initiatives, board chair of Karam Foundation.

The Foundation's leadership brings together expertise from fields including business, philanthropy, international development, governance, and civil society work in the Middle East.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Eligibility Quiz: Begin by taking the online eligibility quiz on the Foundation's website
  2. Application Portal: If eligible, applicants are automatically directed to the online application form
  3. Language: Applications accepted in both Arabic and English
  4. Save Regularly: The online form should be saved regularly as it's being completed
  5. One Application Rule: Submit only one application per calendar year for Performance Excellence Grants

Two-Stage Process (for Organisational Development Grants):

  • Stage 1: Concept note submission
  • Stage 2: Full proposal (for shortlisted applicants)
  • Final stage: Assessment and due diligence meetings with finalists

Contact for Questions: programmes@asfarifoundation.org.uk

Decision Timeline

  • Overall Process: 3-4 months from submission to final decision
  • Notification: Applicants notified by email
  • Performance Excellence Grants: Grant period up to 12 months
  • Organisational Development Grants: Typically one year with possibility of extension

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publicly disclose specific success rates, but notes that “the level of competition is expected to be extremely high.” With £3.3 million distributed in 2023 across multiple programs, competition is significant.

Reapplication Policy

  • Unsuccessful applicants can reapply: There is no restriction preventing unsuccessful applicants from submitting new applications
  • Priority for new applicants: Organizations that have never received Asfari Foundation funding are given priority
  • Previous grantees welcome: Organizations with completed grants (fully completed and reported) are welcome to apply again
  • One application per year: Organizations should submit only one application per calendar year to the Performance Excellence Grant program

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Looks For:

The Foundation seeks organizations that:

  • “Have excellent track records and are leading players or have potential to be in their field”
  • “Demonstrate a clear sense of purpose and strategy linked to a specific constituency/target group”
  • “Are actively seeking to become more effective, accountable and sustainable”
  • “Are actively seeking to transform and grow their organisation and the ecosystem in which they operate”
  • “Directly or indirectly have an impact on community cohesion”
  • “Adopt innovative approaches to programming”
  • “Address systemic weaknesses in their thematic areas”
  • “Are committed to transparency, active partnership, and sharing learning and insight”

Key Success Factors:

  1. Strong Alignment: Clearly demonstrate how your work addresses one or more of the Foundation's thematic priorities within the Levant region
  1. Organizational Capacity: Show commitment to organizational development and professional staff development
  1. Innovation and Impact: Highlight innovative approaches and systemic change rather than just service delivery
  1. Partnership Mindset: Emphasize willingness to collaborate, share learning, and engage in active partnership
  1. Clear Strategy: Present a well-defined strategy linked to specific target groups or constituencies
  1. Transparency and Accountability: Demonstrate commitment to good governance and organizational transparency
  1. Size Advantage: Small to medium-sized organizations (budgets up to £750,000) are prioritized
  1. First-Time Applicants: Organizations that haven't previously received Asfari funding have priority

Application Tips:

  • Save the online form regularly to avoid losing work
  • Consider applying in Arabic if that's your organizational language
  • Be realistic about the high level of competition
  • Focus on long-term organizational transformation rather than short-term projects
  • Highlight capacity-building needs and readiness to engage in organizational development

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic Specificity is Critical: Only organizations working in/for Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, or Levantine Communities are eligible - this is non-negotiable
  • Capacity Building is Central: The Foundation values organizational development as much as programmatic work; 25% of long-term grants must be dedicated to capacity building
  • Think Long-Term Partnership: The Foundation prefers multi-year relationships over one-off projects; demonstrate potential for sustained engagement
  • Size Matters: Small to medium organizations (under £750,000 annual budget) have a significant advantage in the selection process
  • Thematic Alignment is Essential: Your work must clearly fit within at least one of their seven thematic areas; peripheral alignment is not sufficient
  • Innovation and Systems Change: Emphasize how your work addresses systemic weaknesses and uses innovative approaches rather than traditional service delivery
  • Expect 3-4 Month Wait: Budget this timeline into your funding pipeline; decisions are not rapid
  • Competition is Intense: With £3.3 million distributed annually and applications from across the Levant, success rates are low; only apply if you have strong alignment

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References

  1. The Asfari Foundation Official Website - Homepage. https://www.asfarifoundation.org.uk/
  1. The Asfari Foundation - Performance Excellence Grants. https://www.asfarifoundation.org.uk/performance-excellence-grants
  1. The Asfari Foundation - Organisational Development Grants. https://www.asfarifoundation.org.uk/organisational-development-grants
  1. The Asfari Foundation - Our Trustees. https://www.asfarifoundation.org.uk/our-trustees-team/our-trustees
  1. The Asfari Foundation - Finances. https://www.asfarifoundation.org.uk/finances
  1. The Asfari Foundation - 2022 Application FAQs. https://www.asfarifoundation.org.uk/2022-open-call/2022-application-faqs/
  1. UK Charity Commission - The Asfari Foundation (Charity Number 1116751). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/4027422
  1. The Asfari Foundation - Funding Opportunities for 2023. https://www.asfarifoundation.org.uk/funding-opportunities-for-2023
  1. Global South Opportunities - “Apply Now: Asfari Foundation Organisational Development and Civil Society Grants 2025”. https://www.globalsouthopportunities.com/2025/09/21/foundation-27/