The Karlsson Jativa Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 1168787

Annual Expenditure: £2.8M

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Quick Stats

  • Founded: 2016
  • Annual Expenditure: £2.83 million (2021)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (strategic partnerships)
  • Grant Duration: Multi-year funding (typically 3 years)
  • Geographic Focus: UK, Sweden, Europe (music); Andean Latin America (poverty relief)
  • Application Type: Proactive/strategic partnerships (not open applications)

Contact Details

Address: 78-79 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5ES

Phone: +44 (0)20 3931 5210

Email: info@kjcf.org.uk

Website: www.kjcf.org.uk

Key Staff:

  • Liz Appleby - Signatur UK Programme Manager
  • Carolina Garcia Morengo - LACT Programme Manager
  • Lin Richardson - Fellowships Programme Manager
  • Vicky Waterhouse - Finance Director
  • Willy Pedroso Aguiar - Communications Manager

Overview

The Karlsson Jativa Charitable Foundation (KJCF) was established in 2016 as a registered charity in England and Wales (Charity No. 1168787). Operating for over 20 years through its predecessor structures, the foundation has two primary charitable objectives: advancing music and music education in the UK, Sweden, and Europe; and relieving poverty while promoting education, health, and welfare in Latin America. With an annual expenditure of approximately £2.83 million (2021), KJCF funds transformative projects through three distinct programmes: Signatur (music education), LACT (Latin American Children's Trust), and Fellowships (brain health research). The foundation's philosophy emphasizes long-term strategic partnerships with established charities capable of delivering structural change and improving opportunities for marginalized communities. KJCF is led by founder Erland Karlsson alongside trustees Rose Marie Jativa Karlsson, Jeremy Arnold, and Martin Andersson, with no trustees receiving remuneration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

1. Signatur Programme (UK & Sweden - Music Education)

Created in 2018, the Signatur Programme supports organizations providing access to high-quality music education, particularly for young people who might otherwise lack such opportunities. The foundation provides multi-year grants (typically 3 years) to established music organizations.

Current UK Partners include:

  • Liverpool Philharmonic (In Harmony programme) - 3-year partnership from 2024-2027
  • Noah's Ark Children's Hospice (Music Therapy)
  • Music Masters (Musicians of Change)
  • ORA Singers (vocal composition mentoring)
  • Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (LEAP SoundLab)
  • Aurora Orchestra (Music for All)
  • The Music Works (The Drop - Gloucester)
  • Music of Life (Choirs in Special Needs Schools)
  • London Music Fund (Partnership Fund)
  • Royal Academy of Music (Junior Academy Musical Theatre)
  • Awards for Young Musicians (Furthering Talent programme)
  • Southbank Centre (Youth Singing Programme)
  • Liverpool FC Foundation (Sound Minds - mental health programme)
  • Caritas Westminster (Music Therapy at Bakhita House)
  • Sound Connections (Progression Pathways project)
  • Signatur Foundation Sweden

2. LACT Programme (Latin America - Poverty Relief & Education)

The LACT Programme funds UK-registered charities operating in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The programme focuses on multi-year development projects supporting families and children through education, health, poverty alleviation, and child protection.

Current Partners include:

  • CAFOD
  • Children Change Colombia
  • Daniëlle Children's Fund
  • EMpower – The Emerging Markets Foundation
  • Lumos Foundation
  • Plan International
  • Save the Children
  • Sense International
  • Teach for All Network
  • War Child
  • World Vision

3. Fellowships Programme (Brain Health Research)

Supports talented academics conducting research to advance understanding of brain health, providing grants to help researchers build sustainable careers.

Priority Areas

Music Education (UK, Sweden, Europe):

  • Projects that enrich lives through quality music experiences
  • Programmes reaching diverse segments of society
  • Music education across various genres
  • Projects for children and young people, especially those facing barriers
  • Mental health and wellbeing through music
  • Music therapy in healthcare settings
  • Talent development and progression pathways

Latin America (Andean Countries):

  • Education access and quality
  • Health and healthcare access
  • Child protection
  • Poverty alleviation
  • Community-led development
  • Capacity building and advocacy
  • Projects with scalable or replicable methodologies

Research:

  • Brain health research
  • Academic fellowship support

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation:

  • Only funds UK-registered charities (even for international work)
  • Works with established organizations with proven track records
  • Does not appear to fund individuals directly
  • Focuses on specific geographic regions (UK, Sweden, Europe for music; Andean countries only for Latin America)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Erland Karlsson - Founder and Trustee
  • Rose Marie Jativa Karlsson - Trustee
  • Jeremy Arnold - Trustee
  • Martin Andersson - Trustee

The board is responsible for strategy design and implementation, while day-to-day activities are led by programme managers for each funding stream. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The foundation operates under a trust deed dated 5 July 2016, as amended 6 December 2016.

Programme Management Team:

  • Liz Appleby (Signatur UK)
  • Carolina Garcia Morengo (LACT)
  • Lin Richardson (Fellowships)

The foundation's philosophy centers on funding partners with potential to deliver structural change over the long term, improving opportunities for those who otherwise might not reach their full potential.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: KJCF appears to operate through proactive strategic partnerships rather than open application processes. There is no publicly available application form, portal, or deadline information on their website or public materials.

The foundation identifies and approaches organizations that align with their strategic objectives. Evidence suggests they:

  • Conduct their own research to identify potential partners
  • Work with established charities with proven expertise
  • Build long-term relationships with partners
  • Focus on organizations capable of effective local implementation

For organizations interested in KJCF funding:

  • Contact the foundation at info@kjcf.org.uk to inquire about potential partnership opportunities
  • Reach out to the relevant programme manager for your area of work
  • Build awareness of your organization's work within the sector
  • Demonstrate proven expertise and effective implementation

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the strategic partnership approach, decision timelines likely vary based on:

  • Alignment with current strategic priorities
  • Availability of funding within each programme
  • Due diligence and relationship-building processes

Grant Duration

The foundation demonstrates commitment to multi-year funding:

  • Music Education (Signatur): Typically 3-year partnerships (e.g., Liverpool Philharmonic 2024-2027)
  • LACT Programme: Multi-year development projects emphasizing sustained commitment
  • Approach: Long-term partnerships to maximize impact

Success Rates

Not publicly available. As the foundation operates through proactive strategic partnerships rather than competitive applications, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the strategic partnership model. Partnerships appear to be renewed or extended based on ongoing relationships and outcomes.

Application Success Factors

Key Characteristics KJCF Seeks

Based on their funded partners and stated priorities:

  1. Established Organizations: KJCF explicitly states they support “established charities” with proven track records
  1. Proven Expertise: Organizations must demonstrate effective local implementation and subject matter expertise
  1. Community Involvement: Projects should involve communities directly in design and delivery
  1. Scalability/Replicability: Potential for projects to be scaled or replicated
  1. Capacity Building Focus: Methodologies focused on building capacity and advocacy rather than direct service only
  1. Structural Change Potential: As stated in their materials: “fund partners who have the potential to deliver structural change over the long term”
  1. Reaching Marginalized Communities: Particular focus on those “who otherwise might not be able to fulfil their potential” or “have that experience”
  1. Quality and Excellence: For music programmes, emphasis on “high quality music” and “broad qualitative music education”

Examples of Funded Work

Signatur Programme (Music):

  • Liverpool Philharmonic's In Harmony programme expanding Youth Hubs and Talent Development for 11-18 year olds
  • Music therapy in hospices and special needs schools
  • Mental health and wellbeing programmes using music
  • Vocal composition mentoring programmes
  • Progression pathways for young musicians

LACT Programme:

  • Lumos Foundation's work helping 953 children in Colombia
  • Multiple international development organizations working in Andean countries
  • Focus on education, health, protection, and poverty alleviation

Strategic Approach

The foundation's language emphasizes:

  • “Initiate and accelerate” project development
  • “Sustained commitment”
  • “Long-term partnerships”
  • “Collaborative approaches”
  • “Supporting organisations to open doors and transform lives”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Strategic Partnership Model: KJCF does not operate open applications. They proactively identify and partner with organizations aligned with their mission. Building sector visibility and demonstrating excellence is essential.
  1. Established Organizations Only: You must be an established UK-registered charity with a proven track record. New organizations or individuals are unlikely to be considered.
  1. Multi-Year Commitment: KJCF favors long-term partnerships (3+ years), so demonstrate capacity for sustained programme delivery and relationship management.
  1. Geographic Specificity: For music education, focus is UK, Sweden, and Europe; for poverty relief, only Andean Latin America (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela). Outside these regions, you won't fit.
  1. Structural Change Focus: Emphasize how your work creates lasting systemic change, builds capacity, and has potential for scale or replication—not just direct service delivery.
  1. Quality and Reach: For music programmes, demonstrate both excellence in musical provision and ability to reach marginalized communities, particularly young people facing barriers.
  1. Contact Strategically: If your organization strongly aligns with one of their three programmes, reach out to the relevant programme manager with a concise introduction to your work and potential alignment. Don't expect an immediate response or application form.

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