The Millby Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £677,592 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Strategic grants vary significantly (major research programme: £1.2 million over multiple years)
• Geographic Focus: UK and Southeast Asia
• Foundation Type: Private family foundation

Contact Details

• Email: INFO@MILLBYFOUNDATION.ORG
• Phone: 01258 405668
• Website: www.millbyfoundation.org
• Charity Number: 1140985

Overview

The Millby Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2011 and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The foundation seeks to promote gender equality by advancing the rights of girls and young women, primarily in the UK and Southeast Asia. With annual giving of £677,592 in 2023 (up from £638,617 in 2022), the foundation provides strategic grants to selected non-profit organisations that deliver opportunities, resources and support enabling girls to thrive and succeed while supporting movements that foster inclusivity and empowerment. The foundation has a particular interest in using visual design and communication to advocate for disadvantaged adolescent girls, and is dedicated to reducing violence against women and girls, including addressing exploitation, trafficking, and gender-based violence.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Millby Foundation provides strategic grants to selected non-profit organisations. Grant sizes vary significantly depending on the scope and nature of the project:

• Major Research Programmes: Approximately £1.2 million (multi-year funding for substantial initiatives like the Invisible Girls programme at LSHTM)
• Strategic Organisational Support: Grants to established organisations working in gender equality and women's rights
• Application Method: Not publicly disclosed; appears to operate through invited applications or identified partnerships rather than open calls

Priority Areas

Core Focus: Gender equality and advancing the rights of girls and young women

Specific Areas of Interest:

• Adolescent girls facing exploitation, trafficking, and gender-based violence
• Child domestic workers in Southeast Asia
• Violence against women and girls prevention and intervention
• Visual design and communication projects that advocate for disadvantaged adolescent girls
• Movements fostering inclusivity and empowerment for girls and young women
• Research and evidence generation to guide programming and policy
• Economic opportunities and financial inclusion for women and girls

Geographic Priority: UK and Southeast Asia, with particular emphasis on Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region

What They Don't Fund

Information about exclusions is not publicly available. However, as a private family foundation focused on a specific mission, funding appears limited to:

• Projects outside their geographic focus (UK and Southeast Asia)
• Organisations not working on gender equality or women's and girls' rights
• Projects not aligned with their strategic approach to supporting adolescent girls and young women

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Ms. Michelle Andrea Shu Lai Yue - Co-Founder and Chair

• Philanthropist and entrepreneur dedicated to helping women and girls fulfil their potential
• Co-Founder of The Beam Network, a financial education platform for women wealth holders
• Vice Chair of Trustees for Women for Women International - UK
• Chair of the Council of Advocates for the Freedom Fund (since 2017)
• Champions adolescent girls in the UK and Southeast Asia to uplift the next generation of leaders

Mr. Kevin Yau Kwong Ho - Co-Chair and Trustee

• Also serves as Deputy Chairman of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global
• Brings significant philanthropic leadership experience to the foundation

Foundation Philosophy

The foundation's leadership emphasises strategic, focused grantmaking to selected organisations rather than broad, open funding. Michelle Yue's work across multiple organisations (Millby Foundation, Beam Network, Women for Women International, Freedom Fund) demonstrates an interconnected approach to addressing gender inequality through various levers: direct service delivery, research, advocacy, and economic empowerment.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: The Millby Foundation operates as a private family foundation providing “strategic grants to selected non-profit organisations.” Public information suggests they do not accept unsolicited applications through an open process.

Approach:

• The foundation appears to identify and approach organisations aligned with their strategic priorities
• Partnerships may develop through existing networks and relationships in the gender equality and women's rights sectors
• For inquiries: INFO@MILLBYFOUNDATION.ORG

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation with trustees making strategic decisions, timelines likely vary based on the scale and nature of proposed partnerships.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment

Given the foundation's focused approach, organisations most likely to secure funding demonstrate:

1. Clear Gender Equality Focus

• Explicit commitment to advancing rights of girls and young women
• Evidence-based approaches to supporting vulnerable adolescent girls
• Work addressing exploitation, trafficking, or gender-based violence

2. Geographic Relevance

• Operations in the UK or Southeast Asia (particularly Myanmar and surrounding regions)
• Deep understanding of local context and cultural considerations
• Established presence and relationships in target communities

3. Strategic and Innovative Approaches

• Use of visual design, communication, and creative advocacy methods
• Research and evidence generation that can inform broader policy and practice
• Movements and initiatives fostering inclusivity and empowerment
• Interventions that are feasible, affordable, and scalable

4. Organisational Credibility

• Established track record in gender equality work
• Strong partnerships with local organisations and communities
• Academic or research credentials for research-focused projects
• Financial sustainability and governance structures

Example Funded Initiatives

Invisible Girls Programme (LSHTM)

• Major research initiative (approximately £1.2 million) focusing on child domestic workers in Myanmar
• Led by Professor Cathy Zimmerman at the Gender, Violence & Health Centre
• Aims to raise visibility and voices of child domestic workers
• Generates intervention-focused evidence to guide programming and policies
• Uses innovative research methods and works closely with international and local partners in Southeast Asia

Freedom Fund

• The Millby Foundation is listed among supporters of the Freedom Fund's work to end modern slavery
• Aligns with the foundation's focus on exploitation and trafficking

Key Terminology

Language that resonates with the foundation's mission:

• “Gender equality” and “advancing rights of girls and young women”
• “Building agency” for vulnerable women and girls
• “Inclusivity and empowerment”
• “Violence prevention” and “protection from exploitation”
• “Evidence-based interventions”
• “Strategic” and “feasible” approaches
• “Adolescent girls” as a specific demographic focus

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Private Foundation Structure: The Millby Foundation operates as a private family foundation making strategic grants to selected organisations. They do not appear to accept unsolicited applications through an open process. Building relationships and connections within the gender equality sector may be essential.

1. Focused Geographic Scope: Only organisations working in the UK or Southeast Asia should consider approaching this funder. Southeast Asian focus appears particularly strong, with significant investment in Myanmar and regional initiatives.

1. Adolescent Girls as Core Beneficiaries: The foundation's mission centres specifically on adolescent girls and young women, particularly those facing exploitation, violence, and marginalisation. Projects serving other demographics are unlikely to align.

1. Scale and Strategic Importance: The foundation makes substantial investments in strategic initiatives (e.g., £1.2 million research programme), suggesting they seek high-impact, evidence-generating projects rather than small grants to numerous organisations.

1. Innovation in Approach: The foundation's interest in “visual design and communication” to advocate for girls suggests openness to creative, innovative methods beyond traditional service delivery models.

1. Research and Evidence: Support for major research initiatives like the Invisible Girls programme indicates the foundation values evidence generation that can inform broader policy and practice in the sector.

1. Network Connections: Michelle Yue's leadership roles across multiple prominent organisations (Freedom Fund, Women for Women International) suggest the foundation is well-connected within the gender equality and anti-trafficking sectors. Organisations working with these networks may have better access.

References

1. UK Charity Commission Register - The Millby Foundation (Charity Number 1140985). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5016995

1. The Millby Foundation Financial Statements Year Ended 31 December 2023, UK Charity Commission.

1. Find that Charity - GB-CHC-1140985 - The Millby Foundation. https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1140985

1. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, “Invisible Girls” Research Programme. https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/research/centres-projects-groups/invisible-girls

1. Women for Women International, “Michelle Yue” team profile. https://www.womenforwomen.org/about/our-team/michelle-yue

1. Freedom Fund, “Michelle Yue appointed as new Chair of the Council of Advocates,” press release. https://freedomfund.org/press-release/michelle-yue-appointed-as-new-chair-of-the-council-of-advocates/

1. The Beam Network, “About Us,”. https://www.thebeamnetwork.com/about-us

1. Freedom Fund, “Our investors and supporters,”. https://www.freedomfund.org/investors-and-supporters/