The Mclain Foundation Limited

Charity Number: 1139841

Annual Expenditure: £0.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £479,490 (year ending 31 December 2024)
  • Total Income: £2,829,974
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
  • Founded: 2011
  • Total Assets: Over £20 million

Contact Details

Registered Address: 6 New Street Square, New Fetter Lane, London, EC4A 3AQ

Note: The foundation does not have publicly available contact details for grant applications as they do not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The McLain Foundation Limited was registered as a charity in January 2011, originally under the name “Eight Strands Foundation (UK) Limited” before becoming “The McLain 8 Strands Foundation Limited” and finally “The McLain Foundation Limited.” The foundation was established by Bruce Hardy McLain, co-founder and former managing partner of CVC Capital Partners, and his wife Helle McLain, following Hardy's retirement from CVC in 2012.

The foundation operates as a private grant-making charity with broad discretionary charitable purposes as determined by its trustees. With total assets exceeding £20 million and annual charitable expenditure of approximately £479,490, the foundation supports charitable projects and organizations with grants of varying sizes and durations. The foundation's charitable objects are intentionally broad: “such exclusively charitable purposes as the Trustees may in their absolute discretion determine.”

The foundation has a strong investment portfolio that generates income to fund charitable work, with investment gains of £1,856,706 reported in their most recent accounts for the year ending December 2024.

Funding Priorities

Areas of Interest

The McLain Foundation supports projects across a diverse range of charitable purposes, including:

  • Arts and Culture - The McLains are known supporters of the arts, particularly theatre (they are Platinum supporters of the Donmar Warehouse in London)
  • Humanitarian and Disaster Relief
  • Animal Welfare
  • Health - Including Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia, autism
  • Education
  • International Development
  • Independent Living - For people with disabilities
  • Medical Support Services
  • Human Services - With special interest in projects supporting low-income people
  • Religious Organizations - Including Catholicism, Protestantism, and Lutheranism

Grant Characteristics

The foundation makes grants of “varying sizes and durations” to charitable projects and organizations. Specific grant amounts are not publicly disclosed.

For the year ending 31 December 2024:

  • Total charitable activities expenditure: £479,490
  • Fundraising costs: £64,170

What They Don't Fund

Given the discretionary nature of the foundation and lack of public application process, specific exclusions are not documented.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The foundation is governed by three trustees:

  • Mr. Bruce Hardy McLain (Founder) - Co-founder of CVC Capital Partners, one of the world's leading private equity firms. After retiring from CVC in 2012, Hardy established the 8 Strands foundation and family office. He resides in London with his wife Helle and six children.
  • Mrs. Helle Elisabeth Skov McLain - Director of the foundation since 2010, active in philanthropic activities alongside her husband.
  • Mr. Ian Terry - Third trustee providing governance oversight.

Note: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The foundation has no employees receiving benefits over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The McLain Foundation operates as a private family foundation where grants are awarded at the absolute discretion of the trustees. They do not accept unsolicited applications from organizations or individuals unknown to the foundation.

Grants appear to be made through:

  • Trustee-initiated giving to organizations and causes aligned with their interests
  • Support for organizations with which the trustees have existing relationships
  • Discretionary giving based on trustee knowledge and research

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's private nature and lack of public application process means that traditional grant-seeking strategies are not applicable. Organizations that align with the McLains' known interests (particularly in the arts, health, humanitarian relief, and projects supporting low-income people) and that operate within the trustees' networks may be considered for support.

Given Hardy McLain's background in private equity and the family's support for the Donmar Warehouse theatre, the foundation appears to favor established organizations rather than grassroots groups.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Applications: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications and operates entirely at trustee discretion
  • Private Family Foundation: Established by the McLain family following Hardy McLain's retirement from CVC Capital Partners
  • Broad Charitable Scope: The foundation's objects allow trustees to support any charitable purpose they choose
  • Substantial Resources: With assets over £20 million and annual charitable giving approaching £500,000, the foundation has significant capacity
  • Arts Philanthropy: The McLains are known supporters of cultural organizations, particularly theatre
  • Low-Income Focus: The foundation has documented special interest in projects supporting low-income people
  • Excellent Financial Management: Consistent on-time filing of accounts and strong investment performance

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