The Ch Foundation (uk)

Charity Number: 1156222

Annual Expenditure: £140.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £140 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (discretionary grant-making)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (major grants include $218m to CIFF in 2024)
  • Geographic Focus: Indian subcontinent, Jamaica, with additional work in Rwanda, United States, and UK

Contact Details

Address: 7 Clifford Street, London, W1S 2FT

Phone: 020 7440 2330

Email: Not publicly available

Website: Not publicly available

Note: This foundation does not maintain a public website or email contact.

Overview

The CH Foundation (UK) is a private charitable foundation established in 2014 by Sir Christopher Hohn, the billionaire founder of TCI hedge fund and one of Britain's most prominent philanthropists. With annual charitable expenditure exceeding £140 million, it ranks among the four largest family foundations in the UK alongside the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, Arcadia, and Leverhulme Trust.

The foundation was quietly established following Hohn's divorce from Jamie Cooper-Hohn, with whom he had co-founded the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) in 2002. While CIFF continues to operate as the world's largest charity focused specifically on improving children's lives, The CH Foundation represents Hohn's personal philanthropic vehicle, focused primarily on the Indian subcontinent and Jamaica - reflecting his personal heritage (his father was a Jamaican-born car mechanic).

Between 2023 and 2024, The CH Foundation increased its charitable expenditure by over £10 million, demonstrating growing commitment to its mission. The foundation received income of £152.3 million in the year ending March 2024, up from £78.5 million the previous year, reflecting Hohn's continued dedication to philanthropy as one of the world's most generous donors.

Funding Priorities

Charitable Objects

The foundation's objects are specifically restricted to:

A) Indian Subcontinent

  • Providing assistance to persons in need by reason of poverty
  • Supporting those suffering from sickness
  • Helping victims of human trafficking
  • Addressing effects of serious or organized criminal behaviour
  • Advancing education
  • Promoting health

B) Jamaica

  • Advancing education
  • Promoting health

Geographic Focus

The foundation actively makes grants to organizations and projects in:

  • India (primary focus)
  • Jamaica (significant focus, reflecting founder's heritage)
  • Rwanda
  • United States
  • United Kingdom (10 areas)

Priority Areas

  • Healthcare and health promotion
  • Education advancement
  • Poverty alleviation
  • Human trafficking prevention and victim support
  • Humanitarian and disaster relief
  • Culture and arts (secondary focus)
  • Human rights, religious or racial harmony, equality and diversity

Major Grant Activity

The foundation is a major donor to the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), having contributed over $218 million in 2024 alone, with TCI (Hohn's hedge fund) committing a further $626 million for future years.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's charitable objects are geographically restricted to the Indian subcontinent and Jamaica (with some exceptions for interconnected work in other territories). Projects outside these areas are unlikely to receive support unless they directly relate to CIFF's broader mission.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees/Directors

Sir Christopher Anthony Hohn (appointed June 2016)

  • British billionaire hedge fund manager and philanthropist
  • Founder of The Children's Investment Fund Management (TCI)
  • Knighted in 2014 for services to philanthropy
  • Born October 1966
  • Estimated lifetime giving: $4.5 billion (as of 2019)
  • Son of Jamaican-born car mechanic, reflecting his commitment to Jamaica

Matthew John King (appointed September 2013)

  • Partner and Group CFO at TCI Fund Services LLP
  • BA (Honours) in Business Economics from Durham University
  • Previous experience with Belu Water Limited, Hakuna Matata, and Belu Foundation
  • Born March 1976

Governance Structure

  • Two active trustees with no remuneration
  • Registered as a charitable company (Company Number: 08702259)
  • No trading subsidiaries
  • No information publicly available regarding staff compensation or employee numbers

Sir Christopher Hohn's Philanthropic Philosophy

From his public statements and approach to philanthropy:

“Progress happens at scale and lasts longer when it is led by accountable governments and driven by the priorities of the people of that country.”

Key principles:

  • Tackling root causes: “Treating symptoms without addressing underlying issues leads to recurring problems”
  • Partnership with governments: Focus on working with accountable governments to achieve scale
  • Data-driven approach: Rigorous measurement of impact
  • Business-like rigor: Applying investment principles to philanthropy for clear returns
  • Long-term commitment: Doubling down on successful initiatives with proven results

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The CH Foundation (UK) operates as a private foundation with discretionary grant-making. Unlike many charitable trusts, it does not:

  • Accept unsolicited applications
  • Maintain a public website with guidelines
  • Provide application forms or online portals
  • Publish grant-making criteria or deadlines

Grants appear to be made at the trustees' discretion, likely through:

  • Personal connections and networks within the philanthropic sector
  • Partnerships with established organizations already known to the trustees
  • Strategic initiatives identified by the foundation itself
  • Recommendations from trusted advisors and sector experts

The foundation's major charitable activity includes making substantial grants to CIFF, suggesting a preference for supporting large-scale, established charitable operations rather than smaller grassroots organizations.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application data available.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Note: Given the absence of a public application process, the following insights are drawn from Sir Christopher Hohn's broader philanthropic approach and public statements about what drives his charitable giving:

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

Organizations most likely to benefit from The CH Foundation's support:

  1. Geographic Focus: Projects specifically benefiting populations in India, other parts of the Indian subcontinent, or Jamaica
  1. Scale and Government Partnership: Initiatives that work in partnership with accountable governments to achieve large-scale, sustainable impact
  1. Root Cause Solutions: Projects that address underlying systemic issues rather than merely treating symptoms
  1. Evidence-Based Impact: Organizations with strong data and measurement systems demonstrating clear, quantifiable outcomes
  1. Health and Education: Proven interventions in healthcare delivery, health promotion, or educational advancement
  1. Vulnerable Populations: Support for victims of human trafficking, organized crime, or extreme poverty

Characteristics Valued by Sir Christopher Hohn

Based on his public statements and philanthropic track record:

  • Rigorous, business-like approach to charitable work
  • Clear metrics for measuring impact
  • Sustainable, long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes
  • Scalable interventions that can benefit large populations
  • Strong governance and organizational capacity
  • Alignment with local priorities and government development goals

Connection to CIFF

Organizations already working with or funded by the Children's Investment Fund Foundation may have increased visibility, as The CH Foundation makes substantial donations to CIFF and likely values similar approaches to charitable work.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application route: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and has no public application process
  • Private, discretionary grant-making: Funding decisions are made at trustee discretion, likely through personal networks and strategic partnerships
  • Geographic specificity: Focus is tightly restricted to Indian subcontinent and Jamaica, with limited exceptions
  • Major scale operations: With £140 million in annual expenditure, this foundation operates at a scale comparable to the largest UK grant-makers
  • Strategic alignment with CIFF: Significant funding goes to CIFF, suggesting overlapping priorities around children's welfare, health, and development
  • Founder-led: Sir Christopher Hohn's personal values, heritage (Jamaican roots), and philanthropic philosophy deeply influence funding priorities
  • Evidence and impact focus: Hohn's documented approach emphasizes data-driven decision-making, measurable outcomes, and rigorous evaluation
  • Limited public information: The foundation maintains minimal public presence with no website, making it difficult for organizations to understand current priorities or seek funding

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References