The Georg And Emily Von Opel Foundation

Charity Number: 1172977

Annual Expenditure: £1.9M

Geographic Focus: Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £1,874,647 (2024)
Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
Geographic Focus: International (primarily developing countries), UK arts/music

Contact Details

Website: https://www.vonopel-foundation.ch/

Phone: +41 52 647 0219

Email: info@vonopel-foundation.ch

UK Registered Address: Malverleys, Fullers Lane, East End, Newbury, Berkshire

Charity Number: 1172977 (England & Wales)

Overview

The Georg and Emily von Opel Foundation was established in August 2015 and registered as a UK charity in January 2017. The foundation is a charitable trust working to improve the lives of the poor and disadvantaged, with total charitable expenditure of approximately £1.87 million in 2024. The foundation operates on a proactive grant-making model, selecting projects based on their own research rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Their mission encompasses relief of poverty, advancement of education, health, arts culture and science, amateur sport, and the advancement of the Roman Catholic faith through grant-making. The foundation focuses on supporting communities in developing countries while also maintaining a commitment to classical music and the performing arts in the UK.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate through formal application processes or fixed grant programs. Instead, they proactively identify and select projects through their own research aligned with their charitable objectives.

Method: Invitation-only, proactive grant-making based on foundation research

Priority Areas

International Development:

Child development and education (school-building, integration of street children and child soldiers, education for orphans and young girls)
Disease prevention and child health (cholera, malaria, HIV prevention; health education and treatment for children and mothers)
Water and sanitation (access to clean water and hygienic sanitation facilities)
Hunger and malnutrition (combating child hunger, school meal programs)
Humanitarian relief (assistance after natural disasters, reconstruction efforts)

Catholic Charities:

Supporting Catholic projects helping vulnerable people
Religious organizations providing care and assistance

Arts and Culture (UK-focused):

Classical music and performing arts
Concert series and music education programs
Support for orchestras and music institutions

Known Partner Organizations:

Médecins Sans Frontières
WaterAid
Mary's Meals
Aid to the Church in Need
Philharmonia Orchestra
Royal College of Music

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific exclusions, but their focus on developing country projects and classical music/arts suggests they operate within these defined parameters. As they select projects proactively, they do not respond to unsolicited proposals outside their areas of interest.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

Georg von Opel (Chairman) - Appointed January 2017
Emily von Opel (Trustee) - Appointed January 2017
Lucia Waldner (Trustee) - Appointed April 2025

The foundation operates with a lean governance structure. No trustees receive remuneration, and the charity has no trading subsidiaries or employees receiving benefits over £60,000. The foundation is funded entirely through donations and legacies.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The Georg and Emily von Opel Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

The foundation operates on a proactive grant-making model, stating: “The choice of projects is based on our own research.” This means the foundation identifies and approaches potential grantees directly rather than accepting proposals from organizations.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation contacts organizations directly when they identify projects of interest.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept open applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation selects projects proactively through their own research.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's proactive approach, traditional application strategies do not apply. However, organizations can increase visibility to the foundation by:

Building Visibility in Priority Areas:

Demonstrate significant impact in developing country work aligned with foundation priorities (education, health, water/sanitation, hunger relief)
Maintain strong presence in Catholic charitable work
Excel in classical music and performing arts programming (UK-based organizations)

Organizational Excellence:

Proven track record of delivering measurable outcomes
Strong financial management and transparency
Effective project implementation in challenging environments
Clear alignment with foundation's stated priority areas

Grantee Requirements:

Organizations that receive grants must provide:

Annual progress updates
Final report on project outcomes
Financial transparency (foundation can request third-party inquiry into finances at grantee's expense if needed)

Strategic Positioning:

Since the foundation researches and selects projects independently, organizations should focus on:

Maintaining excellent public profiles in their work areas
Publishing impact reports and success stories
Being active in networks where the foundation may conduct research
Building relationships with current or past grantees who may provide informal connections

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Proactive Model: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - they identify and approach organizations based on their own research
Focus Areas: International development (particularly child welfare, health, water/sanitation) and UK classical music/arts are primary areas
Catholic Connection: Catholic charities and organizations have strong alignment with foundation priorities
Known Partners: Working with established international NGOs like MSF, WaterAid, and Mary's Meals suggests preference for proven, credible organizations
Visibility Matters: Since applications aren't accepted, focus on building organizational reputation and impact in foundation priority areas
Reporting Excellence: Grantees must provide annual updates and final reports, suggesting the foundation values accountability and measurable outcomes
Contact for Visibility: While unsolicited applications aren't accepted, maintaining organizational visibility through excellent work and impact reporting may lead to foundation interest