The Lucille Foundation

Charity Number: 1179736

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: UK and international (Uganda, Madagascar, Liberia, Kenya, India)
  • Application Process: Invitation only - no unsolicited applications accepted

Contact Details

Address: Greenwood Place West Wing, Somerset House, Strand, London, England, WC2R 1LA

Phone: 020 7759 1127

Website: https://lucillefoundation.org

Email: Contact through Greenwood Place

Charity Number: 1179736 (England & Wales)

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Greenwood Place actively identifies and reaches out to potential partners.

Overview

The Lucille Foundation was established in 2018 as an independent grant-making charitable trust. The foundation is chaired by Louisa Brassey, who co-founded Greenwood Place in 2017 and launched the Lucille Foundation through this philanthropy advisory organization. The foundation operates both domestically within the UK and internationally in Uganda, Madagascar, Liberia, Kenya, and India. Its mission is to “challenge inequality, restore balance to the environment and help to build thriving communities.” The foundation is executively managed by Greenwood Place, which provides strategic advice, due diligence, grant management, and reporting services. The foundation emphasizes long-term partnerships based on open dialogue and mutual respect, providing flexible funding designed to reduce administrative burdens for partner organizations while maintaining a focus on measurable impact and scalability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Lucille Foundation operates through an invitation-only grant-making model. Greenwood Place actively identifies potential partners through consultation with grantee organizations, funding partners, and sector experts. The foundation does not operate fixed deadline or rolling application systems accessible to the general public.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on two primary issue areas:

1. Community Development and Poverty Relief

  • Supporting communities facing poverty and inequality
  • Promoting community empowerment
  • Enhancing individual independence and agency
  • Protecting human dignity
  • Economic development in disadvantaged communities

2. Environment and Conservation

  • Revitalizing and restoring balance to the environment
  • Environmental conservation and heritage protection
  • Promoting sustainable development
  • Supporting organizations working toward a sustainable future

Key Thematic Focus: The foundation emphasizes organizations that share their values of individual independence, free choice, and collaborative problem-solving.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, the foundation's invitation-only model means they proactively identify organizations aligned with their strategic priorities rather than responding to requests outside these areas.

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Governance and Leadership

Chair: Louisa Lucille Henrietta Brassey

Louisa Brassey co-founded Greenwood Place in 2017 and has chaired and grown the Lucille Foundation over the past seven years. She is passionate about helping families engage in philanthropy earlier in life and has built Greenwood Place into a “multi-family office for philanthropy” supporting 16 families. She also advises Impact Bridge (an impact-led fund of funds) and sits on the sustainability and responsibility committee at Heineken N.V. She holds an undergraduate degree from Princeton University.

Executive Management: The foundation is executively managed by Greenwood Place, co-founded by Louisa Brassey and Rebecca Eastmond. Greenwood Place describes itself as a “philanthropy accelerator” with decades of collective experience supporting individuals, families, and foundations.

Trustee Remuneration: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Lucille Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, with Greenwood Place proactively identifying and reaching out to potential partners.

According to the foundation: “The Lucille Foundation cannot accept unsolicited proposals. The Lucille Foundation is executively managed by Greenwood Place who actively reach out to potential partners and perform their own due diligence.”

The foundation works in close consultation with existing grantee and funding partners and other sector experts to learn about organizations filling critical gaps in their priority areas.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed and likely vary based on the specific partnership under consideration.

Success Rates

Not applicable given the invitation-only model.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only model, organizations cannot directly apply. However, understanding what the foundation values can help organizations position themselves within relevant networks where they might come to the foundation's attention:

Values Alignment:

The foundation seeks organizations that share their core values of “individual independence and free choice” and emphasizes “empowering individuals and families” and “protecting human dignity.”

Impact Focus:

The foundation prioritizes organizations that “demonstrate measurable impact” and have “a strong vision for impact and scale.” They fund “high-impact organizations” rather than taking a scattered approach.

Partnership Philosophy:

The foundation describes their ideal partnerships as based on “open dialogue and mutual respect” and aims to provide “long-term, flexible funding” that reduces administrative burdens. They emphasize “genuine collaboration” and “long-term partnerships.”

Mission Statement Quote:

The foundation's philosophy is captured in a quote from Amartya Sen displayed on their website: "Poverty is not just a lack of money; it is not having the capability to realise one's full potential as a human being." Organizations whose mission resonates with this perspective on poverty and human capability may align well with the foundation's values.

Strategic Approach:

According to Greenwood Place's description of their services, they help foundations “maximize the impact of their charitable giving” through “rigorous due diligence.” Organizations with strong evidence of impact, clear reporting mechanisms, and transparent operations are likely to meet the foundation's standards.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No direct applications: You cannot submit a grant application to this foundation. They identify and approach organizations themselves through their executive management at Greenwood Place.
  • Network positioning: Being visible and well-regarded within the sectors of community development, poverty relief, and environmental conservation—particularly in the UK, Uganda, Madagascar, Liberia, Kenya, and India—may increase the likelihood of being identified by the foundation.
  • Values matter: The foundation places strong emphasis on organizational values around independence, agency, dignity, and empowerment, not just programmatic outcomes.
  • Impact and scale: Organizations should be able to demonstrate measurable impact and have a clear vision for scaling their work.
  • Long-term partnerships: The foundation seeks sustained relationships rather than one-off grants, suggesting they invest deeply in fewer organizations rather than spreading resources thinly.
  • Collaboration with other funders: The foundation works “in close consultation with grantee and funding partners and other experts,” suggesting they may co-fund with other philanthropic organizations. Building relationships with funders in similar spaces may indirectly connect you to the Lucille Foundation's network.
  • Professional management: With executive management through Greenwood Place, expect rigorous due diligence processes and professional grant management standards if invited to become a partner.

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