The Investindustrial Foundation

Charity Number: 1169179

Annual Expenditure: £4.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: €44 million committed over 10 years (approximately €4.4 million per year)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable - no public application process
  • Decision Time: Not applicable - trustee-directed giving
  • Grant Range: €800,000 - €10,000,000 (based on known commitments)
  • Geographic Focus: Europe (UK, Italy, Spain) and North America
  • Application Method: No public application process - trustee discretion

Contact Details

Address: First Floor, One Hooper's Court, London, SW3 1AF

Phone: +44 (0)20 7664 2121

Website: https://www.investindustrial.com/investindustrial-foundation.html

Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Investindustrial Foundation was established in 2016 with support from Investindustrial (a leading European private equity firm) and the Bonomi family. The Foundation complements Investindustrial's first corporate foundation, Invest for children (i4c), which was established in 2000. Over the past 10 years, Investindustrial has donated and committed €44 million across both foundations, demonstrating a significant long-term commitment to strategic philanthropy. The Foundation operates as a private charitable trust where grants are awarded at the discretion of trustees rather than through an open application process. The Foundation's mission centers on three strategic pillars: education and diversity, arts and culture, and environmental protection. The Foundation has made substantial grants including €1.5 million for the Anna Bonomi Women's Award at Università Bocconi, €800,000 for the renovation of the Cenacolo Vinciano (Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper), €6.5 million for COVID-19 hospital relief across Europe, and a €10 million commitment for nature capital and biodiversity restoration projects in Europe and North America.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates through trustee-directed strategic giving rather than formal grant programs. Known major commitments include:

  • Anna Bonomi Women's Award: €1.5 million scholarship program with Università Bocconi supporting 18 female students in economic difficulties to pursue undergraduate degrees
  • Cultural Heritage: €800,000 to the Cenacolo Vinciano (Museum of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper) for access route renovation and sustainable museum development
  • COVID-19 Emergency Response: €6.5 million donated to local hospitals across Europe during the pandemic
  • Biodiversity and Nature Capital: €10 million commitment for biodiversity restoration projects in Europe and North America
  • Support to Strategic Partners: Including Invest for children (i4c), Level 20 (women in private equity), and NYU Stern's Center for Sustainable Business

Priority Areas

Education and Diversity

  • Expanding access to quality education for underprivileged groups
  • Special focus on women, girls, and people with disabilities
  • Promoting female leadership in business and society
  • Supporting professional diversity and inclusion initiatives

Arts, Culture and Heritage

  • Supporting artistic excellence and cultural diversity
  • Preserving cultural heritage for future generations
  • Promoting intercultural dialogue
  • Major cultural institutions and landmark restoration projects

Environmental Protection and Conservation

  • Biodiversity preservation and ecosystem restoration
  • Climate change mitigation and sustainable development
  • Nature capital protection
  • Large-scale environmental conservation projects

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation's charitable objects state they support “such charitable purposes as the trustees see fit,” giving broad discretion. However, based on their established giving pattern:

  • Projects outside their three strategic pillars (education/diversity, arts/culture, environment)
  • Small-scale local projects (grants tend to be substantial, six-figure commitments)
  • Organizations without strategic alignment to Investindustrial's values or network
  • General operating costs for organizations not already in their portfolio of supported causes
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Foundation is governed by four trustees who direct all charitable giving:

  • Emanuele Bonomi - Trustee (appointed November 2019) - Member of the Bonomi family
  • Rohan Maxwell - Trustee (appointed July 2019)
  • Natalie Ramsden - Trustee (appointed July 2019)
  • Oliver Dunn - Trustee (appointed October 2018)

The Charity Commission records indicate that at least one trustee receives payments or benefits from the charity, though most governance is conducted on a voluntary basis.

Leadership Philosophy

Andrea C. Bonomi, founder and chairman of Investindustrial, has been honored with multiple awards for his philanthropic leadership, including recognition at NYU Stern's Haskins Giving Society Award Dinner in 2018. His approach integrates philanthropy with business strategy. As Bonomi has stated about responsible investing: it is “not only the right thing to do but also the intelligent thing, from a business perspective.”

The Anna Bonomi Women's Award honors Anna Bonomi Bolchini, the Italian entrepreneur and philanthropist known as the 'Lady of Finance,' who established the Carline Institute in Milan in the 1940s post-war period, providing education and assistance to girls and young women in need.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Investindustrial Foundation operates as a private family foundation with giving directed entirely at the discretion of its trustees. The Charity Commission records state the foundation advances “charitable purposes as the trustees see fit,” indicating trustee-led strategic giving rather than open grant programs.

Grants are awarded to pre-selected charitable causes and partner organizations chosen by the Bonomi family, Investindustrial leadership, and the trustees. There is no publicly available application process, guidelines for unsolicited applications, contact email for grant inquiries, or application portal.

The Foundation's beneficiaries appear to be identified through:

  • Strategic partnerships with major institutions (Università Bocconi, NYU Stern, major museums)
  • Emergency response initiatives (COVID-19 hospital support)
  • Causes aligned with the Bonomi family's interests and Investindustrial's business values
  • Organizations within the private equity and business sectors (Level 20)
  • Their sister foundation network (Invest for children)

Getting on Their Radar

The Foundation supports organizations that align with Investindustrial's strategic network and the Bonomi family's philanthropic interests. While there is no application process, organizations that might attract the Foundation's attention share these characteristics:

Strategic Institutional Partnerships: The Foundation gravitates toward prestigious educational institutions (Università Bocconi, NYU Stern) and major cultural institutions (Cenacolo Vinciano/Museum of Leonardo's Last Supper). Organizations with international reputation and strong governance structures appear to align with their giving model.

Connection to Private Equity Sector: Given Investindustrial's core business, organizations like Level 20 (promoting women in private equity) receive support. Organizations working at the intersection of business, finance, and social impact may align with their interests.

Bonomi Family Interests: The Anna Bonomi Women's Award demonstrates the family's commitment to women's education and empowerment. The award honors Anna Bonomi Bolchini, who established the Carline Institute for girls' education in 1940s Milan. Causes that resonate with this legacy of supporting women and girls may be of interest.

Network Through Invest for Children: The Foundation works closely with its sister organization, Invest for children (i4c), which focuses on helping differently-abled people and underprivileged children, operating primarily in Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland). Organizations already connected to i4c may have pathways to Foundation support.

Scale and Impact: Known grants range from €800,000 to €10 million, suggesting the Foundation seeks large-scale impact rather than supporting numerous small projects. Organizations capable of deploying significant funding effectively may be better positioned.

Geographic Focus: While registered in the UK, the Foundation has strong Italian connections (Bonomi family heritage, Bocconi University, Cenacolo Vinciano) and operates across Europe and North America through the Investindustrial network.

Application Success Factors

Since this Foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than open applications, traditional “application success factors” do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

Alignment with Strategic Pillars: All successful beneficiaries clearly align with at least one of the Foundation's three pillars - education/diversity (Bocconi scholarships), arts/culture (Cenacolo Vinciano), or environment (biodiversity restoration). Projects that span multiple pillars (e.g., environmental education) may be particularly attractive.

Focus on Women and Girls: The €1.5 million Anna Bonomi Women's Award represents a flagship initiative. The program specifically targets “female students in economic difficulties” and aims to “close the inequality gap between the career opportunities of women and men.” Organizations working on women's empowerment, particularly in education and business leadership, align strongly with demonstrated priorities.

Institutional Prestige and Credibility: Recipients include Università Bocconi (one of Europe's leading business schools) and UNESCO World Heritage sites (Cenacolo Vinciano). The Foundation appears to support established institutions with strong reputations rather than start-ups or grassroots organizations.

Scalable Impact: The €10 million biodiversity commitment demonstrates interest in large-scale, long-term projects rather than one-off initiatives. Projects with clear metrics, potential for significant impact, and professional implementation plans align with their investment approach.

European Cultural Heritage: The €800,000 Cenacolo Vinciano project supports “a sustainable museum” and was developed “in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano.” Projects that preserve European cultural heritage, particularly Italian cultural landmarks, resonate with the Bonomi family's heritage.

Emergency Response Capacity: The €6.5 million COVID-19 hospital donation demonstrates willingness to respond rapidly to crisis situations. Organizations with credible emergency response capabilities and infrastructure may attract support during humanitarian emergencies.

Business and Finance Sector Connection: Support for Level 20 (women in private equity) and the Bonomi Family Admissions Center at NYU Stern demonstrates interest in the business education and finance sectors. Organizations that bridge business and social impact align with Investindustrial's core expertise.

Sustainability and ESG Integration: Investindustrial is “the only private equity house in Southern Europe to be carbon-neutral” and has received numerous ESG awards. As Andrea Bonomi states, responsible investing is “not only the right thing to do but also the intelligent thing, from a business perspective.” Projects that demonstrate strong ESG credentials and integrate sustainability into their core model align with this philosophy.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists - this is a private family foundation with trustee-directed giving to pre-selected beneficiaries; traditional grant applications are not accepted
  • Large-scale strategic giving - known grants range from €800,000 to €10 million, indicating a focus on substantial, high-impact projects rather than numerous small grants
  • Three clear pillars - all giving aligns with education/diversity (especially women and girls), arts/culture, or environmental protection; projects spanning multiple pillars may be most attractive
  • Institutional partnerships preferred - beneficiaries include prestigious universities (Bocconi, NYU Stern) and major cultural institutions; established organizations with strong governance appear to be the target
  • Women's empowerment is central - the flagship €1.5 million Anna Bonomi Women's Award demonstrates deep commitment to supporting women and girls, particularly in education and business leadership
  • Strategic alignment matters - organizations connected to private equity, business education, or Investindustrial's network (including their sister foundation i4c) may have better access to trustees' consideration
  • Long-term commitment model - €44 million committed over 10 years indicates preference for sustained partnerships rather than one-off grants; organizations seeking multi-year strategic partnerships may align better than those seeking one-time funding

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