The Hinduja Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £250,000 - £3,000,000 (varies significantly year to year)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified
• Grant Range: Up to £3,000 (community fund); larger strategic grants to major institutions
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide with emphasis on London; also operates in India

Contact Details

UK Office:

13th Floor, New Zealand House

80 Haymarket

London, SW1Y 4TE

Phone: 020 7839 4661

India Office (Foundation Headquarters):

Plot C-21, G-Block

Bandra Kurla Complex

Bandra (East), Mumbai – 400051

Maharashtra, India

Phone: 022-61360407 Extension 1054

Email: foundation@hindujagroup.com

Website: www.hindujafoundation.org

For UK Community Fund: Applications through ActionFunder platform (app.actionfunder.org)

Overview

The Hinduja Foundation is a UK-registered charity (established as Charity No. 802756) founded by the Hinduja family, one of Britain's wealthiest business families. The Foundation operates internationally with sister foundations in the UK, India, and USA. Its mission focuses on the advancement of education and medicine throughout the world, relief of poverty, hunger and sickness, and the promotion of interfaith understanding. In 2023, the charity reported total income of £392,788 and expenditure of £3,023,150, demonstrating significant commitment to its charitable objectives. The Foundation takes a strategic approach to grant-making, primarily supporting established institutions and programs rather than accepting open applications. In 2018, the Foundation joined the British Asian Trust's 'Founders' Circle', reflecting its commitment to major philanthropic partnerships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Fund (via ActionFunder):

• Amount: Up to £3,000 per project
• Geographic Focus: Central London only (within 2 miles of Old War Office Building, SW1A postcode)
• Eligible Organizations: Community groups, registered charities, social enterprises
• Application Method: Online through ActionFunder platform (rolling/periodic funding rounds)

Strategic Grants:

• Amount: Variable, ranging from thousands to millions for major institutional partnerships
• Method: By invitation or through established relationships; unsolicited applications generally not accepted
• Examples: £1 million to Millennium Dome Faith Zone, major endowments to Cambridge University

Priority Areas

The Foundation funds across four main pillars:

Education:

• University scholarships (particularly for Indian students at Cambridge)
• Research centers (Dharam Hinduja Indic Research Centre at Cambridge)
• Educational institutions and school programs
• Merit-based scholarship schemes

Healthcare:

• Medical research facilities
• Healthcare charities and organizations
• Hospital partnerships (King's College London Cancer Centre)
• Health awareness initiatives

Interfaith Understanding:

• Hindu temples and religious institutions (ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor, Shri Venkateswara Balaji Temple)
• Interfaith dialogue programs
• Religious and cultural heritage projects

Arts & Culture:

• Museum collections (Tate Foundation South Asian Acquisition Committee, V&A Nehru Gallery)
• Cultural centers (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Asia House)
• Heritage preservation

Social Welfare:

• Youth development (Duke of Edinburgh's Award Programme, Prince's Trust)
• Support for vulnerable populations (asylum seekers, refugees, homeless, LGBTQIA+ people, disabled people)
• Women's empowerment (The Loomba Foundation)
• Poverty alleviation

What They Don't Fund

Based on stated policies:

• Individual scholarship applications (except through merit-list selection from State Education Boards)
• Postgraduate scholarships (limited exceptions)
• Study abroad scholarships for individuals
• Organizations outside their geographic focus areas (for community fund)
• The Foundation does not typically accept unsolicited applications for major grants

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Srichand P. Hinduja (late)
• Gopichand P. Hinduja (GP) - Chairman of Hinduja Group and Hinduja Automotive Ltd
• Prakash P. Hinduja
• Ashok P. Hinduja (AP) - Chairman, Hinduja Group of Companies (India)

Key Leadership Insights:

Ashok P. Hinduja oversees the philanthropic activities of the Foundation as Managing Trustee, with primary focus on education, water conservation, and healthcare. He chairs the National Health and Education Society running P. D. Hinduja National Hospital & Medical Research Centre in Mumbai and serves as Managing Trustee of K.P.B. Hinduja College of Commerce.

Gopichand P. Hinduja, as Chairman, provides strategic oversight for the Foundation's activities across multiple countries, emphasizing socially responsible institutions and partnerships with established NGOs.

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, ensuring all funds go directly to charitable purposes.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Community Fund (Small Grants up to £3,000):

1. Sign up on ActionFunder platform (app.actionfunder.org)
2. Register your organization
3. Post a project aligned with Foundation's focus areas
4. Project automatically matches with eligible funds
5. Can submit video or written pitches

For Strategic/Major Grants:

• The Foundation primarily works through established relationships and partnerships
• Direct applications for major grants are generally not accepted
• Organizations seeking major funding should focus on building relationships through their community fund or sector networks
• Merit-based scholarships operate through State Education Board nominations, not direct applications

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The 2022 community fund round operated with approximately:

• Launch: July 5, 2022
• Deadline: July 18, 2022
• Project Delivery: November 30, 2022

This suggests a relatively short decision window, though timelines may vary by funding round.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The Foundation takes a selective, strategic approach to grant-making with focus on established institutions and proven organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly stated. For scholarship programs, the Foundation notes that requests are “generally not entertained” for categories outside their core focus, suggesting a firm policy on eligibility criteria.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment:

• Strong alignment with one or more of the four pillars (education, healthcare, interfaith understanding, arts/culture)
• Geographic focus matching Foundation priorities (London for community fund; UK-wide for strategic grants)
• Connection to Indian/South Asian communities or causes is advantageous given Foundation's heritage

Organizational Credibility:

• Established track record and registered charity status preferred
• Past grant recipients include major institutions (Cambridge University, Tate, Prince's Trust, British Asian Trust)
• Community organizations should demonstrate clear community benefit

Project Characteristics:

• Merit-based programs (particularly in education)
• Support for marginalized populations (refugees, homeless, disabled people, economically disadvantaged)
• Focus on women and girls
• Youth development initiatives
• Interfaith or cultural bridge-building activities

Examples of Funded Projects:

• Dharam Hinduja Cambridge Trust Scholarships for Indian students
• King's College London Cancer Centre
• Tate Foundation South Asian Acquisition Committee
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award Programme
• ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor construction
• Stroke Association, Elton John AIDS Foundation, mental health charities
• British Asian Trust programs

Key Success Factors:

• Clear, measurable outcomes aligned with Foundation priorities
• Demonstrate community need and organizational capacity
• For community fund: strong connection to central London communities
• For strategic grants: institutional credibility and long-term impact potential
• Cultural sensitivity and understanding of South Asian diaspora communities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Dual Approach: The Foundation operates two distinct funding streams—small community grants (up to £3,000) via ActionFunder and major strategic grants by invitation. Target the appropriate stream for your organization's scale and needs.

• Geographic Limitations: The community fund has strict geographic restrictions (2 miles from Old War Office Building in central London). Ensure you meet this requirement before applying.

• Relationship-Based for Major Grants: Significant funding typically flows to established institutions with existing relationships. Building visibility through smaller grants or sector networks is advisable before seeking major support.

• Four Pillar Focus: All applications must clearly align with education, healthcare, interfaith understanding, or arts/culture. Multi-pillar projects may be particularly attractive.

• Merit and Need: The Foundation values both merit-based achievement and support for disadvantaged populations. Demonstrate both excellence and social impact.

• South Asian Connection: While not explicitly required, many funded projects have connections to South Asian communities or India-UK relationships, reflecting the Foundation's heritage.

• Proactive Research: With limited public information on decision-making processes, research past recipients and consider reaching out to the Foundation directly for guidance on appropriateness of your project before investing significant time in applications.

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities - The Hinduja Foundation (Charity No. 802756). Retrieved from: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/802756

• Hinduja Foundation UK Website. “Hinduja Foundation - UK”. Retrieved from: https://www.hindujafoundation.org/hf-uk.html

• ActionFunder. “Hinduja Foundation - Community Fund”. Retrieved from: https://app.actionfunder.org/fund/90

• Hinduja Foundation. “Trustees”. Retrieved from: https://www.hindujafoundation.org/trustees.html

• Hinduja Group Ltd. “Hinduja Foundation”. Retrieved from: https://www.hindujagroup.com/hinduja-foundation.html

• Charity Commission financial records showing 2023 income of £392,788 and expenditure of £3,023,150; 2022 income of £248,583 and expenditure of £250,008

• CSRBox. “The Dharam Hinduja Merit-Cum-Means Scholarship Scheme”. Retrieved from: https://csrbox.org/csr-foundation/Foundation_Project_Detail_Maharashtra-The-Dharam-Hinduja-Merit-Cum-Means-Scholarship-Scheme_76