The Material World Foundation Limited
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £573,221 (2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
- Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (trustees meet regularly)
- Grant Range: £500 - £50,000
- Geographic Focus: UK and international
- Application Method: No formal application process (written submissions reviewed by trustees)
Contact Details
Registered Office: Shipleys, 10 Orange Street, London WC2H 7DQ
Phone: 020 7312 0000
Email: advice@shipleys.com
Website: www.georgeharrison.com/mwf and www.materialworldfoundation.com
Overview
The Material World Foundation Limited was established by George Harrison in 1973, coinciding with the release of his album “Living in the Material World.” Harrison donated the publishing royalties from nine of the eleven songs on the album—including the hit “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)”—to the foundation in perpetuity, providing an ongoing income stream that continues today. With total income of £799,607 and expenditure of £573,221 in the 2024 financial year, the foundation continues Harrison's philanthropic legacy under the stewardship of his family, including widow Olivia Harrison and son Dhani Harrison. The foundation's mission reflects Harrison's philosophy: "It's the idea that if it is money and greed, then give the greedy money away in the material world." Over five decades, the foundation has supported hundreds of individuals, organizations, and charities globally.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The Material World Foundation operates with a broad grant-making remit rather than specific programmatic streams. Grants range from £500 to £50,000 and are made through trustee discretion with no formal application cycles or deadlines.
Priority Areas
Arts, Culture & Expression
- Performing arts institutions and venues (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, Royal Opera House, Roundhouse)
- Museums and cultural heritage (Victoria & Albert Museum, Royal Academy)
- Music education and artistic expression
- Alternative and diverse forms of artistic expression
Children & Young People
- Children's health and welfare (Great Ormond Street Hospital, Children with Cancer UK)
- Child protection and support services (NSPCC, Barnardo's, NCH Action for Children)
- Youth development (Teenage Cancer Trust, Starlight)
Health & Medical Research
- Cancer research and support (Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Relief, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research)
- Mental health (MIND)
- Disease-specific charities (British Heart Foundation, British Lung Foundation, Brain and Spine Foundation)
- Addiction support (Action on Addiction, Elton John AIDS Foundation)
Humanitarian & Social Justice
- International aid and development (Médecins Sans Frontières, Save the Children, Oxfam, UNICEF)
- Human rights (Amnesty International, Anti Defamation League)
- Homelessness and housing (Crisis, Shelter)
- Women's empowerment (Women for Women International)
The foundation's mission emphasizes “encouraging the exploration of alternate and diverse forms of artistic expression, life views and philosophies as well as a way to support established charities and people with special needs.”
What They Don't Fund
The foundation does not publicly specify exclusions, but given its pattern of funding, it appears focused on registered UK charities working domestically or internationally. There is no indication of funding for individuals (except in exceptional circumstances), political causes, or religious organizations.
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Governance and Leadership
Trustees
The foundation is governed by six trustees who meet regularly to consider grant requests:
- Olivia Harrison - George Harrison's widow, also trustee of The Harrison Family Foundation Limited
- Dhani Harrison - George and Olivia's son, musician and composer
- Linda Arias - Olivia Harrison's sister
- Kenneth Roberts - Also trustee of The Harrison Family Foundation Limited
- Leslie Josef Boss
- Deborah Owen
The foundation remains a family-led organization, maintaining George Harrison's original vision. The trustees have continued Harrison's approach to philanthropy, including significant crisis response donations such as $500,000 to COVID-19 relief efforts in 2020 (distributed to MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, Save the Children, and Médecins Sans Frontières).
Foundation Philosophy
George Harrison's founding philosophy guides the foundation: "It's the idea that if it is money and greed, then give the greedy money away in the material world." This reflects his spiritual beliefs and commitment to using material wealth for charitable purposes.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
The Material World Foundation does not have a formal public application process. There is no application form, online portal, or published guidelines for submitting proposals.
Charities interested in seeking support should write a letter to the foundation at their registered office outlining their work and funding needs. The trustees review written submissions during their regular meetings.
Submission Address:
The Material World Foundation Limited
c/o Shipleys
10 Orange Street
London WC2H 7DQ
Or via email: advice@shipleys.com
Decision Timeline
The foundation does not publish information about trustee meeting schedules or decision timelines. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as trustees “meet regularly to consider requests for grant support,” but specific timeframes are not disclosed.
Success Rates
The foundation does not publish statistics on application volumes, success rates, or the number of grants awarded annually. Given the lack of a formal application process and the pattern of supporting well-established charities, it appears the foundation operates largely through trustee-initiated grants and discretionary giving.
Reapplication Policy
No information is available about reapplication policies or restrictions for previously unsuccessful applicants.
Application Success Factors
Given the limited public information about the foundation's grant-making process, the following factors appear relevant based on their documented giving patterns:
Alignment with Founding Mission
The foundation has consistently supported causes that reflect George Harrison's interests and values—particularly artistic expression, children's welfare, health, and humanitarian causes. Organizations whose work aligns with these themes appear more likely to receive consideration.
Established Track Record
The list of supported charities includes many of the UK's most recognized and established organizations (NSPCC, Oxfam, UNICEF, Great Ormond Street Hospital). The foundation appears to favor organizations with proven impact and strong governance.
Arts and Cultural Focus
Given Harrison's musical legacy and the foundation's stated mission to encourage “alternate and diverse forms of artistic expression,” organizations working in arts, culture, and music education may have particular appeal.
Diverse Philosophical Perspectives
The foundation's mission specifically mentions supporting “exploration of alternate... life views and philosophies,” suggesting openness to organizations representing diverse spiritual, cultural, or philosophical traditions.
Special Needs Support
The foundation explicitly mentions supporting “people with special needs,” indicating this as a priority consideration area.
Crisis Response
The foundation has demonstrated willingness to respond to humanitarian crises (COVID-19 donations, historical responses to other emergencies), suggesting flexibility beyond routine grant-making.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No formal application process: This foundation operates through written submissions reviewed at trustee discretion rather than competitive grant rounds—relationship building and strategic timing may be more important than proposal writing excellence.
- Family-led legacy foundation: With George Harrison's widow, son, and sister-in-law on the board, the foundation maintains close ties to Harrison's original vision and values—understanding his philosophy and interests is crucial.
- Broad but consistent priorities: While the foundation funds across diverse causes, there are clear patterns favoring arts/culture, children's welfare, health, and humanitarian work—applications outside these areas face an uphill battle.
- Established organizations favored: The roster of supported charities skews toward well-known, established organizations with proven track records—newer or grassroots organizations may find it challenging to break through.
- Grant range flexibility: With awards from £500 to £50,000, the foundation can support projects of varying scales—be realistic and specific about funding needs.
- Limited transparency: The foundation does not publish detailed guidelines, success rates, or decision timelines—applicants should be prepared for uncertainty and potentially long waits without clear feedback.
- Strategic contact point: Submissions go through Shipleys accountants—ensure letters are professional, concise, and clearly articulate alignment with the foundation's mission rather than generic fundraising appeals.
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References
- The Charity Commission for England and Wales. “THE MATERIAL WORLD FOUNDATION LIMITED - Charity 266746.” Register of Charities. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/266746
- The Material World Foundation. “About.” Official website. https://www.materialworldfoundation.com/about
- The Material World Foundation. “Supported Charities.” Official website. https://www.materialworldfoundation.com/supported-charities
- Bath and North East Somerset Council. “The Material World Foundation.” Funding directory. https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/node/88387
- Wikipedia. “Material World Charitable Foundation.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Material_World_Charitable_Foundation
- George Harrison Official Website. “Material World Charitable Foundation Archives.” https://www.georgeharrison.com/tag/material-world-charitable-foundation/
- NME. "George Harrison's Material World Foundation donates $500,000 to COVID-19 relief funds." April 2020. https://www.nme.com/news/music/george-harrison-material-world-foundation-donates-covid-19-relief-funds-2636763