The Chellaram Foundation

Charity Number: 1124939

Annual Expenditure: £4.3M
Geographic Focus: Spain, Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £5,018,092 (2024)
  • Annual Expenditure: £4,299,678 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: £25,000 - £750,000+ (based on known awards)
  • Geographic Focus: International (UK, India, Hong Kong, Africa)
  • Application Method: Appears to be invitation-only/proactive grantmaking

Contact Details

Website: www.chellaramfoundation.com

Email: prb@kayceeco.com

Phone: 020 7863 8580

Registered Address: c/o Forsters LLP, 22 Baker Street, London W1U 3BW

General Enquiries: info@chellaramfoundation.com (via website)

Overview

THE CHELLARAM FOUNDATION was established in 2000 by Mr. Lal Chellaram and his wife Shobhna, continuing a family legacy of philanthropy started by Kishinchand Chellaram over 70 years ago. Registered as a UK charity in 2008 (Charity Number 1124939), the Foundation operates internationally across India, UK, Hong Kong, and Gibraltar. With annual income exceeding £5 million and expenditure of approximately £4.3 million (2024), the Foundation supports significant projects across health, education, arts and culture, humanitarian relief, and animal welfare. The Foundation appears to operate through proactive, strategic grantmaking rather than open application processes, typically identifying and approaching organizations that align with their mission to support disadvantaged communities and preserve cultural heritage.

Funding Priorities

The “7 Directions” Framework

The Foundation organizes all funding under seven strategic areas:

  1. Health - Healthcare delivery in poor communities, medical infrastructure, disease research (diabetes, cancer), and community health programs
  2. Education - School infrastructure, e-learning materials, scholarships for high-performing students from disadvantaged backgrounds
  3. Children and Youth Initiatives - Nutrition programs, educational support, youth development
  4. Arts, Music and Culture - Indian cultural heritage preservation, cross-cultural artistic exchanges, music education
  5. Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief - Emergency support, food security, community welfare
  6. Environment - Conservation and sustainability initiatives
  7. Animal Welfare and Vegetarianism - Wildlife conservation, anti-poaching efforts, vegetarianism advocacy

Grant Examples by Area

Health:

  • £750,000+ for MRI machine at Bel Air Hospital, Maharashtra
  • US$100,000 for pancreatic disease research (Dr. Suresh Chari)
  • Mobile breast cancer clinic for rural Maharashtra
  • Support for Dr. Anguraj Sadanandam's pancreatic cancer immunotherapy research

Education:

  • US$107,000 for Viswa Santhi Vidyalaya School (31 classrooms, libraries, computer centers serving 1,375 students)
  • US$92,000 for Shri Shri Maa Anandamayee Upvan Shiksha Samiti (12 classrooms, laboratory, 475 students)
  • US$110,000 to rebuild Chellaram SAS Academy after flood damage
  • Sham Chellaram Scholarships at Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth (full undergraduate and postgraduate degrees with mentorship)

Children and Youth:

  • US$700,000 to UN World Food Programme for school meals for 25,000 children in São Tomé and Príncipe (8 months)

Arts, Music and Culture:

  • £100,000+ to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London (largest centre for Indian Arts and Culture outside India, 800+ students)
  • HK$440,000 for “Raaga and Rhythm” concert by In Harmony Arts and Culture Limited, Hong Kong
  • £56,000 for Pinch Media documentary film on Indus Valley civilization and Sindhi culture

Humanitarian Aid:

  • US$47,000 to Bombay Mother and Child Welfare Society (100-year-old trust providing healthcare, education, vocational training)

Animal Welfare:

  • HK$25,000 to The Elephant Foundation for elephant and rhino conservation education
  • Support to Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

Major Capital Projects:

  • £250,000+ to Clifton College for Chellaram Sports Complex (£7.9 million total project cost)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Foundation's track record suggests they focus on:

  • Organizations with established track records
  • Projects with significant community impact
  • Initiatives in disadvantaged or underserved communities
  • Projects aligned with founder values (particularly Indian cultural heritage, health equity, vegetarianism, animal welfare)
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Governance and Leadership

Founders and Key Trustees

Mr. Lal L. Chellaram (Founder)

Economics graduate from University College London, Chairman of the Chellaram Group with global interests in shipping, healthcare, manufacturing, distribution and investment. On the World Food Programme partnership: “[This programme means] children can return to an education that gives them some hope of breaking the cycle of poverty.”

Mrs. Shobhna Chellaram (Founder Trustee)

Accomplished Iyengar yoga instructor and classical musician. Strong advocate for arts and culture, viewing them as “fundamental to spiritual, social and moral fabric of society.” Passionate supporter of vegetarianism and animal welfare.

Mr. Prakash Bhoopatkar (Trustee Director)

Chartered Accountant serving as principal coordinator of foundation activities. Focuses on supporting charities in health, education, youth initiatives, and arts.

Mrs. Carole Cook (Trustee)

Partner at Forsters law firm specializing in tax, succession planning and philanthropy. Interests include medical research, health, environment, and animal welfare.

Mr. Julian R. Triay (Trustee)

Senior lawyer and Head of Property Department at Triay Lawyers, Gibraltar. Provides legal and strategic oversight.

Mr. Sankara Narayanan (Trustee)

Chartered and Cost Accountant with focus on healthcare projects and educational institution administration.

Mr. Vishal Khurana (Trustee)

CEO of Chellaram Shipping, closely involved with education projects in India and cultural programs in Hong Kong.

Mr. Iqbal Dharamsi (Trustee)

Former Corporate Finance partner at Deloitte, now Finance Director of Chellaram Group based in Gibraltar.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: The Foundation does not appear to accept unsolicited applications. Based on available evidence:

  • No application forms, guidelines, or eligibility criteria are published on their website
  • All documented grants appear to result from proactive identification by trustees
  • The Foundation operates through strategic, relationship-based grantmaking

Organizations seeking support should:

  1. Ensure alignment with the “7 Directions” framework
  2. Have an established track record and audited accounts
  3. Consider whether existing connections to trustees or the Chellaram business group exist
  4. Build relationships through sector events where trustees may be present
  5. Contact the Foundation directly via email (prb@kayceeco.com) to inquire about potential funding opportunities

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Given the size and complexity of documented grants, decisions likely require:

  • Multiple trustee meetings for major grants
  • Due diligence processes for new organizations
  • Site visits or detailed project documentation review

Success Rates

Not publicly available. As an invitation-only/proactive funder, traditional success rates do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available. Organizations that have received funding previously (e.g., Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay Mother and Child Welfare Society) appear to receive ongoing support, suggesting successful partnerships continue.

Application Success Factors

Alignment Factors

Strong Alignment Indicators:

  • Projects serving disadvantaged or marginalized communities in India, UK, Hong Kong, or Africa
  • Indian cultural heritage preservation or cross-cultural artistic exchange
  • Healthcare delivery in underserved areas, particularly diabetes and cancer research
  • Educational infrastructure and scholarships for disadvantaged students
  • Food security and child nutrition programs
  • Wildlife conservation and animal welfare, especially anti-poaching efforts
  • Vegetarian and plant-based initiatives

Geographic Focus:

  • Strong connection to India (founder's heritage)
  • UK presence (Bristol, London)
  • Hong Kong operations (Chellaram Group base)
  • International humanitarian work (Africa, particularly East Africa)

Project Scale:

  • Foundation capable of major gifts (£250,000+)
  • Also supports smaller targeted projects (£25,000-£50,000)
  • Prefers tangible, measurable outcomes (infrastructure, student numbers, meals provided)

Organizational Characteristics

Successful grantees typically demonstrate:

  • Established track record (many supported organizations are decades old)
  • Professional governance and financial management
  • Clear impact metrics and reporting capabilities
  • Alignment with founder values and interests
  • Capacity to leverage foundation funding with other resources

Strategic Considerations

Personal Connections Matter: The Foundation's founder, Lal Chellaram, attended Clifton College—later receiving a major donation. Trustee networks across legal, accounting, and business sectors create natural relationship channels.

Cultural Sensitivity: Strong appreciation for Indian heritage, arts, and cultural values. Projects that bridge Eastern and Western cultures particularly resonate.

Vegetarianism and Animal Welfare: These are deeply held values, particularly for Mrs. Shobhna Chellaram. The Foundation has stated: “The trade in exotic animals for consumption needs to stop. The lifelong incarceration, physical abuse and slaughter of over 75 billion chickens, pigs and cows to feed us needs to stop.”

Impact Focus: Preference for projects that create systemic change or reach large numbers of beneficiaries (e.g., 25,000 children fed, 1,375 students educated, 800+ arts students).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is NOT an open application funder: Do not submit unsolicited proposals without first making contact and establishing whether the Foundation is interested in your work.
  • Relationship-building is essential: Attend sector events, cultivate connections with trustees or Chellaram Group businesses, seek warm introductions from existing grantees or sector partners.
  • Scale and impact matter: The Foundation makes significant grants and expects proportional impact. Ensure your project can demonstrate reach and measurable outcomes.
  • Align with founder values: Understanding the personal passions of Lal and Shobhna Chellaram (education as poverty solution, Indian culture, vegetarianism, animal welfare) is crucial.
  • Geographic targeting: Strongest fit for UK-India connections, Hong Kong programs, or international humanitarian work in Africa or disadvantaged regions.
  • Long-term partnerships: Evidence suggests the Foundation maintains ongoing relationships with successful grantees rather than one-off funding.
  • Professionalism required: With annual expenditure over £4 million and grants regularly exceeding £100,000, expect thorough due diligence and professional reporting requirements.

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