The Gecko Foundation

Charity Number: 1151102

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Charity Number: 1151102
  • Annual Giving: £400,704 (2023)
  • Annual Income: £24,179 (2023)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: UK, France, and Nepal
  • Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Address: 2nd Floor, 8 Lancelot Place, London, SW7 1DR

Email: geckofoundation@geckofoundation.org

Phone: 020 7591 8800

Website: No public website identified

Overview

The Gecko Foundation is a UK-registered charity (charity number 1151102) established in February 2013 as a private limited company by guarantee. The foundation operates as a grant-making charity supporting charitable organizations in the UK and abroad, with operations focused on France and Nepal. Initially, the charity concentrated its grant-making on schools and educational projects, with plans to broaden its scope over time to include culture and art, humanitarian and disaster relief, and other general charitable purposes. The foundation supports children and young people, people with disabilities, and the general public through its grant-making activities. The charity operates with three trustees who receive no remuneration, and had expenditures of £400,704 in 2023, significantly exceeding its income of £24,179, suggesting it operates from endowed capital or prior reserves.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Gecko Foundation does not operate defined grant programs with specific application windows. Grant-making appears to be conducted at the discretion of the trustees.

Priority Areas

  • Education and Training: Primary focus on schools and educational projects, particularly in France and Nepal
  • Disability Support: Funding for organizations working with people with disabilities
  • Culture and Arts: Support for cultural and artistic charitable activities
  • Humanitarian and Disaster Relief: International charitable support
  • Religious Activities: Charitable work with religious purposes under English law

Geographic Focus

The foundation operates in:

  • United Kingdom (particularly Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, and Tower Hamlets)
  • France
  • Nepal

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions have not been publicly disclosed. The foundation's objects specify that grants must be for purposes that are “exclusively charitable under English law.”

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The foundation is governed by three trustees who serve without remuneration. Key trustee identified:

Guillaume Henri André Fonkenell (Board Member)

  • Born August 1964
  • Founder and Chair of the Board of Trustees at Pharo Foundation
  • Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer at Pharo Management (UK) LLP
  • Connection to both Pharo Foundation and The Gecko Foundation suggests potential shared strategic vision in international development and education

The foundation has no employees receiving benefits over £60,000 and operates with a lean governance structure appropriate for a private foundation.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Gecko Foundation does not have a public application process. The charity appears to operate as a private grant-making foundation where funding decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees. Grants are awarded through trustee identification and selection rather than through open calls for applications or competitive processes.

Organizations seeking support would need to be known to or identified by the trustees rather than through unsolicited applications.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than scheduled application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given the absence of a public application process, success in securing funding from The Gecko Foundation depends on:

  • Alignment with Priority Areas: Organizations working in education (particularly schools), disability support, or humanitarian relief in France, Nepal, or the UK are most likely to be considered
  • Geographic Focus: Operating in France or Nepal, or in specific London boroughs (Kensington and Chelsea, Newham, Tower Hamlets) appears important
  • Trustee Awareness: Being known to or identified by the trustees is essential for consideration
  • Charitable Status: Organizations must be registered charities or operating for purposes exclusively charitable under English law
  • Educational Impact: Given the initial focus on schools and educational projects, demonstrating educational outcomes is likely valued

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Applications: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications; funding is awarded through trustee discretion
  • Education Focus: Primary emphasis on schools and educational projects, particularly in international settings (France and Nepal)
  • Private Foundation Model: Operates as a private grant-making trust with decisions made by three trustees
  • International Scope: Strong focus on international work in France and Nepal rather than solely UK-based projects
  • Connection to Pharo Foundation: The trustee connection to Pharo Foundation (which focuses on African education and development) suggests potential interest in international development and education initiatives
  • Limited Public Information: Very limited public information available about specific grants awarded or beneficiary organizations
  • Direct Contact Required: Organizations interested in support would need to contact the foundation directly to explore potential funding relationships

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