The Cynara Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £93,000 - £114,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: International (20 countries in Africa and Asia)

Contact Details

Email: charities.hwam@handelsbanken.co.uk

Phone: 01892701801

Address: Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management, 77 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8BS

Overview

The Cynara Foundation is a UK registered charity (number 1165220) established in 2016 with the mission of preventing and relieving global poverty. The foundation provides grants to both individuals in need and organizations working to prevent or relieve poverty. With annual expenditure ranging from £93,000 to £114,000, the foundation focuses its efforts across 20 countries primarily in Africa and Asia. The charity is managed through Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management, suggesting a private foundation structure with professional wealth management support. The foundation maintains compliance with HMRC Gift Aid regulations and has submitted all returns on time.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation provides two types of grants:

• Grants to individuals in need
• Grants to charities and organizations working to prevent or relieve poverty

Priority Areas

• Poverty prevention and relief
• International development
• Support for vulnerable individuals in developing countries

Geographic Focus

The foundation operates in 20 countries including:

• Africa: Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Togo
• Asia: Afghanistan, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Pakistan, Vietnam

Ready to write a winning application for The Cynara Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Join the Launch List

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by three trustees:

• Veronica Eng (Chair) - Appointed 2015
• Christopher Philip Snowden - Appointed 2015
• Peter George Gibbs - Chief Operating Officer, Appointed 2015

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The foundation operates with minimal overhead, with the highest pay bracket being less than £60,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants appear to be awarded at the discretion of the trustees, likely based on pre-existing relationships or trustee-identified opportunities. Organizations interested in funding should contact the foundation directly through Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management.

Getting on Their Radar

As a private foundation managed through Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management, potential beneficiaries may need to:

• Contact the foundation directly via the Handelsbanken charity services team
• Work through intermediaries who have existing relationships with the trustees
• Be identified through the trustees' networks in international development

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this foundation:

• Direct contact through the provided email and phone number is essential
• Organizations working in the foundation's 20 focus countries may have better alignment
• Demonstrable poverty relief impact in Africa or Asia appears crucial
• Small to medium-sized grants may be more likely given the foundation's annual giving level

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a private foundation without a public application process - direct relationship building is essential
• The foundation focuses exclusively on poverty relief in specific developing countries
• Annual giving of £93,000-£114,000 suggests multiple smaller grants rather than large single awards
• Management through Handelsbanken indicates professional oversight and potential for strategic giving
• The three-trustee structure means decisions likely require consensus
• Organizations already operating in the 20 listed countries have clear geographic alignment

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Ida Davis Family Foundation
• Goodwill Foundation
• ELARA FOUNDATION
• Halcrow Foundation
• The Markawasi Foundation
• The Breadsticks Foundation
• Altaf and Sheela Gatrad Charity Foundation
• Spiers Family Foundation Limited
• The Neon Foundation
• The Devchandbhai & Kankuben Foundation

References

• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5073025/full-print
• Giving is Great Charity Database: https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1165220
• NGO Explorer: https://ngoexplorer.org/charity/1165220
• Find That Charity: https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1165220