The Law Family Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 1141997

Annual Expenditure: £8.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £8.5 million (2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £8,000,000+ (based on known awards)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Greater Manchester and North England, with some national reach

Contact Details

Address: Third Floor, 40 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 5AL

Phone: 020 7647 4057

Charity Number: 1141997

Operating Name: AL Philanthropies

Note: The foundation does not appear to accept unsolicited applications. Contact information is provided for reference only.

Overview

The Law Family Charitable Foundation, also known as AL Philanthropies, was established in 2011 by Andrew and Zoë Law. Andrew Law is a British financier, chairman and CEO of Caxton Associates hedge fund. The foundation had total expenditure of £8.5 million in 2023-24 (charitable activities: £8.5m) and £30.5 million in 2022-23. The foundation operates as a private family foundation making strategic grants primarily in three core areas: education, health, and the arts. The foundation follows a proactive grantmaking approach, identifying and supporting causes aligned with the Law family's philanthropic vision rather than accepting open applications. Recent major commitments include £8.1 million for the Lowry's acquisition of L.S. Lowry's “Going to the Match” (2022), £5.85 million to the University of Sheffield (2021), £3 million to the Science and Industry Museum Manchester (2022), and £2.9 million to Factory International (2022). The foundation is a Global Alliance Founding Partner of the Earthshot Prize.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through strategic, proactive grantmaking rather than open application programs. Known grant sizes range significantly:

  • Major Strategic Grants: £2.9m - £8.1m (arts and cultural institutions)
  • University Partnerships: £5.85m (multi-year research and student support)
  • Research Programs: £1m+ (multi-year commitments)
  • Educational Infrastructure: Multi-million pound support for multi-academy trust

Application Method: Invitation-only / proactive identification of projects

Priority Areas

Education

  • Increasing educational opportunities for disadvantaged children
  • Supporting schools in Greater Manchester through the Laurus Trust (14 schools serving ages 4-18)
  • University access programs for students from poorer backgrounds
  • Partnership with Manchester City FC for Academic Football Program (2024)
  • Support for Speakers for Schools
  • Sutton Trust involvement (social mobility)

Health

  • Gene therapy research for rare diseases
  • Medical research into debilitating and incurable diseases
  • Mental health support through Place2Be (3-year research program in 20 Salford primary schools, 2022-2025)
  • Cancer support networks (Maggie's)

Arts & Culture

  • Major cultural institutions in Manchester and the North
  • Acquisition of significant artworks for public collections
  • Museum galleries and exhibitions
  • Contemporary arts organizations

Civil Society

  • Law Family Commission on Civil Society (2020-2023, research program chaired by Lord Gus O'Donnell)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's exclusions are not explicitly stated, but the funding pattern indicates:

  • The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications
  • Focus is predominantly on Greater Manchester and Northern England (with some national reach)
  • Projects outside education, health, and arts are unlikely to be considered
  • Small-scale projects below £10,000 do not appear in funding history
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Governance and Leadership

Chair and Founder: Andrew Law (born 14 June 1966)

Co-Founder: Zoë Law

Trustees: 3 trustees (some trustees receive payments or benefits for services to the charity)

Background: Andrew Law was raised in Cheadle Hulme near Stockport. His father was a mechanical engineer and his mother was a nurse. He attended Cheadle Hulme High School and graduated from the University of Sheffield with First Class honours in Economics (1987). He is CEO of Caxton Associates.

Andrew Law's Philanthropic Philosophy (from Beacon Collaborative):

“The first principle is that, as a philanthropist, you should pursue something which the government has neither the capacity nor the political will to pursue. Philanthropists should step up to fill the gap.”

"The second aspect of Andrew's strategy is to support new ideas in order to prove that they work... philanthropists are particularly well placed to back smaller, unproven solutions to social problems. Many small charities have the potential for large scale social benefit, but need initial support from philanthropists to get them off the ground."

“The third principle... if individuals can make a change through the first or second principle, then surely we should also be seeking to unlock the full potential of philanthropy in the UK.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Law Family Charitable Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation operates through proactive identification of causes and organizations that align with its strategic priorities.

The foundation identifies and approaches organizations directly rather than maintaining an open application process. All known major grants have resulted from the foundation's initiative or established relationships.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Given the scale of grants awarded (often multi-million pounds), decision-making likely involves extended due diligence periods.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept open applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no open application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's closed application process, organizations cannot directly apply. However, the funding pattern reveals strategic insights:

Strategic Alignment Factors:

  1. Geographic Connection: Strong preference for Greater Manchester and Northern England, particularly areas connected to Andrew Law's roots (Cheadle Hulme, Salford, Stockport, Sheffield)
  1. Filling Government Gaps: Andrew Law's first principle emphasizes supporting “something which the government has neither the capacity nor the political will to pursue”
  1. Proving New Approaches: The foundation backs “smaller, unproven solutions to social problems” with potential for large-scale social benefit
  1. Scale and Impact: Recent grants demonstrate preference for transformational funding that enables major initiatives (£2.9m - £8.1m range for major projects)
  1. Multi-Year Commitments: The foundation supports sustained programs (e.g., 3-year Place2Be research program)

Recent Funded Projects (Examples):

  • University of Sheffield: Student support + medical research (£5.85m, 2021)
  • Science and Industry Museum Manchester: Power Hall gallery (£3m, 2022)
  • The Lowry: Acquisition of “Going to the Match” painting (£8.1m, 2022)
  • Factory International: Arts and culture venue (£2.9m, 2022)
  • Place2Be Salford Research Programme: Whole-school mental health service evaluation (3-year study, 2022-2025)

Organizational Characteristics of Funded Partners:

  • Established institutions with track records
  • Projects with clear public benefit
  • Organizations serving disadvantaged communities
  • Initiatives with potential for systemic change
  • Strong connections to Northern England

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Open Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through standard grant applications. Building relationships and visibility within the foundation's networks may be the only pathway to consideration.
  • Geographic Focus Matters: Strong bias toward Greater Manchester, Salford, Sheffield, and Northern England. Connection to Andrew Law's personal history appears significant.
  • Think Transformational: Recent grants range from £2.9m to £8.1m. The foundation appears interested in funding that enables major institutional change rather than small-scale projects.
  • Three Strategic Principles: Align with filling government gaps, proving new approaches work, or advancing UK philanthropy broadly. Projects should clearly demonstrate one or more of these principles.
  • Established Institutions Preferred: Major universities, national museums, and established charitable organizations dominate the funding portfolio. Start-ups and new organizations face higher barriers.
  • Multi-Year Vision: The foundation commits to sustained programs (3+ years) rather than one-off grants, suggesting preference for partnerships over transactions.
  • Personal Connection to Founders: Projects connected to Andrew Law's background (engineering, economics, Sheffield, Cheadle Hulme) or the Law family's interests may receive consideration.

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References