The Hintze Family Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ??1,031,238 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Applications considered at trustees' meetings and between meetings
• Grant Range: ??5,000 - ??120,000 (no set minimum or maximum)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (particularly Diocese of Southwark for churches)
• Current Status: Closed to new applications until mid-2026

Contact Details

Address: 5th Floor, 33 Chester Street, London, SW1X 7BL

Email: enquiries@hfcf.org.uk

Phone: 020 4570 5600 / 020 7201 6900

Contact: Mr Jeremy Herridge

Website: No website available

Overview

The Hintze Family Charitable Foundation was established in 2004 as a trust by Michael Hintze (Baron Hintze), founder of hedge fund CQS, and his wife Dorothy, Lady Hintze. Since its launch in 2005, the Foundation has funded over 200 charities and organisations, distributing well over ??400 million. The Foundation focuses on education, museums and cultural institutions, Christian churches, healthcare, and support for armed services charities. Notable contributions include enabling the restoration of Michelangelo's frescoes in the Pauline Chapel at the Vatican, a ??5 million donation to the Natural History Museum in 2014, and ??2 million to the National Gallery. The Foundation does not maintain a website or publicly list grant recipients. In 2024, trustees made the decision to heavily limit new causes for the foreseeable future, with the Foundation remaining closed to new applications until at least mid-2026.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates on a rolling basis, with no fixed application deadlines. Applications can be made at any time in writing, though the Foundation is currently closed to new applications.

• General Grants: ??5,000 - ??120,000 (variable amounts with no set minimum or maximum)
• Applications and donations identified by the Chief Executive and Trustees are considered at trustees' meetings and between meetings

Priority Areas

Education

• Supporting schools, colleges and universities
• University research centres and academic chairs

Museums, Libraries and Art Galleries

• Providing public access to works of artistic, scientific, historic, architectural and cultural importance
• Major gallery renovations and exhibitions
• Museum collections and restoration projects

Christian Faith

• Advancing the work of Christian churches in England and Wales
• Repair and maintenance of Christian churches, particularly in the Diocese of Southwark
• Support for Christian institutions

Healthcare

• Projects to relieve sickness and protect public health
• Hospices and palliative care
• Children's hospitals
• Medical research centres

Armed Services

• Royal Navy and Royal Marines charities
• Military-related causes

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation has a strong tendency to support charities that one or more Trustees have a particular interest in or connection to. The Foundation does not currently accept applications from organisations outside their existing network of supported causes.

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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive: Dorothy, Lady Hintze (serves throughout the year)

Founder/Trustee: Michael Hintze, Baron Hintze

Contact: Jeremy Herridge

Trustee Interests and Patronages:

• Michael Hintze is a Patron of the Arts of the Vatican Museums
• Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery
• Honorary Captain and Special Friend of HMS Queen Elizabeth
• Senior Vice Patron of the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity

Staffing: Dorothy, Lady Hintze is the only employee of the Foundation

Decision-Making: "Applications and potential donations identified by the Chief Executive and the Trustees are considered at Trustees' meetings and between meetings."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: The Foundation is closed to new applications until mid-2026. The trustees have made the decision to heavily limit new causes the Foundation will support for the foreseeable future, not expecting to review this policy for at least 18 months.

When open, applications may be made at any time in writing to:

• Email: enquiries@hfcf.org.uk
• Post: Mr Jeremy Herridge, 5th Floor, 33 Chester Street, London, SW1X 7BL

The Foundation invites applications from registered charities in England and Wales that further its charitable objectives.

Decision Timeline

Applications are considered at trustees' meetings and between meetings. Specific timeframes are not publicly available.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. The Foundation has supported over 200 charities since 2005, though it does not list grant recipients in its annual accounts.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors:

1. Trustee Connections: The Foundation has a strong tendency to make commitments and donations to charities that one or more Trustees have a particular interest in or connection to.

• Dorothy Hintze is a great art lover, leading to substantial support for cultural causes
• Michael Hintze's interests in naval heritage, education, and healthcare have influenced funding decisions

• Restoration of Michelangelo's frescoes at the Vatican
• ??5 million to Natural History Museum (2014)
• ??2 million to National Gallery (2011)
• Sculpture and medieval/renaissance galleries at V&A Museum
• Theatre in the round at the Old Vic

• University of Oxford Centre for Astrophysical Surveys
• Chair of International Security at University of Sydney
• Charles Perkins Centre at University of Sydney ($1 million)

• Trinity Hospice campaign for new in-patient centre
• Evelina Children's Hospital

1. Military and Naval Causes: Strong preference for Royal Navy and armed services charities

Grant Sizes: The Foundation makes grants ranging from ??5,000 to ??120,000, though exceptional projects may receive larger amounts (as evidenced by the ??5 million Natural History Museum gift).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Currently Closed: The Foundation is not accepting new applications until at least mid-2026. Do not submit applications during this period.

• Trustee Connections Critical: The Foundation strongly favours organisations with which trustees have an existing relationship or personal interest. Cold applications from unknown organisations are unlikely to succeed.

• Prestige Matters: The Foundation has demonstrated preference for high-profile institutions and projects with significant cultural, educational, or historical importance.

• Long-Term Commitments: Financial data shows the Foundation pledges significant amounts to be paid over future years (??920,753 pledged in 2023 for future payment), indicating they support multi-year projects.

• No Website or Public Lists: The Foundation maintains minimal public presence and does not list grant recipients, making it difficult to research recent funding patterns.

• Limited Staff: With only the Chief Executive employed, the Foundation operates with minimal administrative structure, suggesting streamlined but highly selective decision-making.

• Focus on Excellence: Funded projects tend to be at major institutions or represent exceptional opportunities in their field (Vatican restoration, major museum gifts, academic chairs at leading universities).

References

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales - THE HINTZE FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION (Charity Number 1101842), Register of Charities, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1101842

1. The Hintze Family Charitable Foundation Report and Financial Statements for year ended 31 December 2023, Charity Commission, approved by trustees 28 October 2024

1. Bath and North East Somerset Council - The Hintze Family Charitable Foundation funding information, https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/node/90437

1. National Churches Trust - Hintze Family Charitable Foundation, https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/get-support/support-organisations/hintze-family-charitable-foundation

1. Civil Society News - “Hintze family foundation donates ??5m to Natural History Museum” (2014)

1. National Gallery Press Release - “??2 million gift from the Hintze Family Charitable Foundation”

1. Business Telegraph - “Sir Michael Hintze: Making A Difference”, https://www.businesstelegraph.co.uk/sir-michael-hintze-making-a-difference/

1. Parish Resources UK - Christian/Religious Activities funding information (PDF)