The Mila Charitable Organisation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £11.5 million (income 2023, significant increase from £425,000 in 2022)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Within 6 weeks of trustee meeting
• Grant Range: Varies according to project and need (no minimum or maximum specified)
• Geographic Focus: Britain, EU (27 countries), with particular focus on England, Wales, Austria, and Belgium

Contact Details

Address: The Mila Charitable Organisation, c/o Wedlake Bell LLP, 71 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4AY, UK

Phone: 020 7395 3000

Website: www.milacharity.org

Grant Applications Contact: Kate Johnson (via written application to the above address)

Overview

The Mila Charitable Organisation was established in 2017 and registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO - Foundation) on 28 October 2016 (Charity Number: 1169936). The foundation focuses on the advancement of education, the arts, science, and environmental protection and improvement. The charity experienced significant growth in 2023, with income rising from approximately £425,000 in 2022 to over £11.5 million in 2023. Operating across 27 countries and 58 areas within the UK, Mila makes grants to both organisations and individuals. The foundation is governed by eight trustees, none of whom receive remuneration, and it has no trading subsidiaries. Notable trustees include Professor Kim Nasmyth FRS, a distinguished geneticist and Whitley Professor of Biochemistry at Oxford University, and Hamish Forsyth, who serves on the boards of several major arts institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity operates a flexible grant-making approach without fixed grant programs or tiers. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with grants varying according to project scope and need. The foundation welcomes written applications from organisations and individuals across Britain and the EU.

Priority Areas

The Mila Charitable Organisation focuses on four primary areas:

• Education: Supporting educational initiatives and programmes
• The Arts: Funding arts organisations, performances, and cultural programmes (including dance, opera, theatre, and music)
• Science: Supporting scientific research and science education
• Environmental Protection and Improvement: Projects focused on conservation, sustainability, and environmental advancement

Past grantees demonstrate the foundation's diverse interests, including The Oxford Trust (science education), The Oxford Botanic Garden & Arboretum (environmental/educational), Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, Pimlico Opera, Arcola Theatre, Britten Pears Arts (arts organisations), and the Institute for Molecular Pathology in Vienna (science).

What They Don't Fund

The trustees explicitly exclude:

• Purposes for which the government has a statutory responsibility to provide
• Expeditions
• Individuals or organisations raising funds to give to another individual or organisation (intermediary fundraising)

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

All eight trustees were appointed on 26 October 2016:

1. Professor Kim Ashley Nasmyth FRS - Whitley Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Oxford and former director of the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna. Winner of the 2018 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for his groundbreaking work on chromosome segregation and the discovery of cohesin.

1. Hamish Forsyth - Serves as trustee of Oxford Lieder, Sir John Soane's Museum, and the Royal Academy of Music, bringing extensive arts sector governance experience.

1. Dr David Leonard Bentley

1. Anna Lucinda Nasmyth

1. Mark Michael Peregrine Francis

1. Polly Phipps

1. Kate Ariane Nasmyth

1. Laura Roxana Nasmyth

The presence of multiple Nasmyth family members suggests this is a family foundation. The board brings together expertise in science, arts, and charitable governance.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted in writing to Kate Johnson at:

The Mila Charitable Organisation

Wedlake Bell LLP

71 Queen Victoria Street

London EC4V 4AY, UK

Applications should include:

• Purpose of the project
• Project details (duration, aims, current status, existing funding)
• How funds will be used and managed

The charity accepts applications from anywhere in Britain and the EU on a rolling basis.

Decision Timeline

Successful applicants are notified within 6 weeks of the trustee meeting at which their application was considered. Only successful applicants receive notification. The frequency of trustee meetings is not publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The foundation does not publish information about the number of applications received versus grants awarded.

Reapplication Policy

Both previous grant recipients and unsuccessful applicants may reapply. According to the foundation's guidance: “Previous grant recipients and unsuccessful applicants will be considered by the Trustees on their own merits.” This indicates that past applications do not prejudice future consideration, and each application is evaluated independently.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Mission

The foundation emphasizes flexibility within its four priority areas (education, arts, science, environment). Given the trustees' backgrounds, applications demonstrating:

• Scientific excellence and innovation (reflecting Professor Nasmyth's research leadership)
• Cultural and artistic merit (reflecting Hamish Forsyth's arts governance experience)
• Environmental impact and sustainability
• Educational advancement and accessibility

are likely to resonate with the board's expertise and interests.

Partnership Approach

The foundation states: “The Charity will willingly work in partnership with other organisations to fund initiatives beyond the financial scope of a single organisation.” This suggests:

• Collaborative projects are welcomed
• Larger initiatives requiring multiple funders are acceptable
• The foundation is open to being part of a funding consortium

Geographic and Operational Scope

With operations across 27 countries and 58 UK areas, the foundation demonstrates:

• International outlook (particularly EU countries)
• Willingness to support both large and small organisations
• Support for both organisations and individuals

Examples of Funded Projects

Review of past grantees reveals successful applications have included:

• Science education: The Oxford Trust
• Arts performance: Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, Pimlico Opera (Primary Robins program), Britten Pears Arts, Arcola Theatre
• Music: The String Scheme, Britten Sinfonia Academy, Music Masters, Clonter Farm Music Trust
• Environmental: The Comfrey Project, Ouseburn Farm, Water Harvest
• Scientific research: Institute for Molecular Pathology (Vienna), Max Birnstiel Foundation
• Social inclusion through arts: Koestler Arts, Persona Arts, Handpicked Productions
• Community support: HostNation, Ute Bock (Austria)
• Youth engagement: FYTBus

This diverse portfolio suggests the foundation values innovation, community impact, and excellence across its priority areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No fixed deadlines or amounts: Applications are considered on a rolling basis with flexible grant sizes, allowing for tailored requests based on genuine project needs rather than fitting predetermined categories.

• Only successful applicants are contacted: Do not expect acknowledgment or feedback if unsuccessful. The lack of notification for unsuccessful applicants means persistence without feedback is required.

• Partnership-friendly: Explicitly welcomes being part of larger funding consortia, making this a good prospect for ambitious projects requiring multiple funders.

• International scope with EU focus: While Britain-focused, the foundation actively funds across 27 countries, particularly in Austria and Belgium, reflecting the trustees' international connections.

• Science and arts emphasis: The board composition (eminent scientist and arts trustees) suggests strong applications in these areas, particularly those demonstrating excellence and innovation.

• Family foundation with significant growth: The 2023 income increase from £425K to £11.5M indicates expanding capacity and potentially more grant opportunities.

• Reapplication is encouraged: Unsuccessful applicants are explicitly welcomed to reapply, with each application judged on its own merits—don't be discouraged by an initial rejection.

References

• The Mila Charitable Organisation official website: https://www.milacharity.org
• Application guidelines: https://www.milacharity.org/applying-for-grants
• Grantees list: https://www.milacharity.org/grantees-1
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1169936
• Charity Commission Trustees information: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5090507/trustees
• Professor Kim Nasmyth biography, University of Oxford: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2017-12-04-2018-breakthrough-prize-awarded-oxford-professor-kim-nasmyth
• Financial data from NGO Explorer: https://ngoexplorer.org/charity/1169936