The Carmela & Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £215,000 (2023/24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Typically £2,500 (small grants)
• Geographic Focus: International (majority of grants for overseas projects), with UK also supported
• Total Grants Per Year: 60-70+ charities supported annually

Contact Details

Website: pignatellifoundation.com

Email: info@pignatellifoundation.com

Phone: 020 7680 8100

Address: 22 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1LS

Overview

The Carmela & Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation (Charity Number 1162522) was registered with the Charity Commission on 3 July 2015, founded and sponsored by Mark Pignatelli and Jenni Pignatelli. With annual expenditure of approximately £215,000 (2023/24), the foundation supports 60-70+ charities each year through small grants, typically £2,500. The foundation's mission is to support the most vulnerable in society, with a particular focus on children, young people, and disadvantaged communities in the UK, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The majority of grants are awarded for overseas projects. The foundation takes a distinctive approach by prioritizing charities with niche or specialist mandates and requiring exceptional financial efficiency (grants-to-revenue ratio above 80%) to ensure maximum impact from their funding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Small Grants Programme: Typically £2,500 per grant (rolling basis, online application)
• The foundation supports 60-70+ UK registered charities annually
• Most grants awarded for overseas projects, though UK work is also supported
• Applications accepted on a rolling basis through online form

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

• Personal development of children and young people
• Facilities and support for disadvantaged communities and individuals
• Education initiatives
• Fighting poverty and discrimination
• Projects in UK, Africa, Asia, and Latin America

Additional Areas:

• Environmental charities
• Animal welfare organizations

Beneficiary Groups:

• Children and young people
• Elderly people
• People with disabilities
• People of particular ethnic or racial origins
• Disadvantaged communities

What They Don't Fund

• Mainstream medical research
• Charities where grants-to-revenue ratio falls below 80%
• Non-UK registered charities
• General charities without a niche or specialist mandate

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (appointed 2014):

• Mark Guy Lewis Pignatelli, Chair and Founder
• Jenni Siew Lay Pignatelli, Trustee and Co-Founder
• Charlotte Natasha Pignatelli, Trustee

The board has remained stable since the foundation's inception in 2015, with all three trustees appointed in 2014. Mark Pignatelli also serves as a Partner at Comeragh Capital LLP. The foundation operates with a small, family-focused governance structure.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts applications exclusively through their online application form available on their website at pignatellifoundation.com.

Critical requirement: Applications submitted by any other means will not be accepted or processed.

Eligibility: Only UK registered charities may apply.

Application Content: Applicants should provide as much information as possible about their charity and its cause in the online form.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The foundation operates on a rolling basis with no fixed application deadlines.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation supported 70+ charities in 2022/23 and 60+ charities in 2021/22, demonstrating substantial grant-making activity relative to their annual expenditure.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

The Carmela & Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation has specific criteria that distinguish successful applications:

1. Financial Efficiency is Paramount: The foundation requires charities to maintain a grants-to-revenue ratio above 80%. This is significantly higher than typical nonprofit benchmarks and reflects their commitment to ensuring grant funding has maximum benefit. Charities should clearly demonstrate their financial efficiency in applications.

1. Niche or Specialist Mandate: The foundation specifically states it “sponsors charities with a niche or specialist mandate.” Applicants should clearly articulate what makes their work specialized or focused, rather than presenting as generalist organizations.

1. Overseas Project Priority: The foundation explicitly states “the majority of grants are awarded for overseas projects.” Charities working internationally in Africa, Asia, and Latin America appear particularly well-positioned, though UK projects are also funded.

1. Focus on Vulnerable Populations: Successful applicants work with children, young people, and disadvantaged communities, with particular emphasis on education and fighting poverty and discrimination.

1. Comprehensive Application Information: The foundation asks applicants to provide "as much information about your charity and it's cause as possible." Given the small grant size and high volume of applications, clear and compelling applications are essential.

• Green Shoots Foundation (educational courses in Cambodia)
• Chanasa Chifundo Malawi (empowering girls and women through the Lotus Project)
• Action Against Hunger, Habitat for Humanity, Street Child, SolarAid, Pratham, Bridge2Aid
• Chelsea Pensioners, Ronald McDonald House Charities
• Nepal Leprosy Trust, Destiny Children, Zimkids, Teen Action, Able Child

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Financial efficiency is critical: Ensure your grants-to-revenue ratio exceeds 80% and highlight this in your application
• Demonstrate niche expertise: Clearly articulate your specialized mandate rather than presenting as a generalist charity
• International projects favored: Overseas work in Africa, Asia, and Latin America receives priority, particularly addressing education, poverty, and discrimination
• Small grants only: With typical grants of £2,500, this is best suited for specific project elements or smaller charities where this amount is meaningful
• Online application required: No alternative submission methods accepted; use the official website form only
• Rolling deadlines: Applications accepted year-round, allowing flexibility in timing
• Volume matters: The foundation supports 60-70+ charities annually, suggesting they review substantial numbers of applications and make many awards relative to their budget

References

• Charity Commission Register - The Carmela & Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation
• Bath and North East Somerset Council - Pignatelli Foundation Grants
• The Carmela and Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation - Official Website
• The Carmela and Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation - How to Apply
• The Carmela and Ronnie Pignatelli Foundation - Charities Supported
• Giving is Great - Charity Factsheet for 1162522
• Green Shoots Foundation - Pignatelli Foundation Partnership
• Chanasa Chifundo Malawi - £2,500 Grant Announcement
• Accessed: 27 December 2025