The Truell Conservation Foundation

Charity Number: 1147994

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £73,140 (charitable activities, 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable - no public application process
  • Decision Time: Not applicable - trustee discretion
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £100,000+ (based on documented examples)
  • Geographic Focus: UK, Ecuador (Galapagos Islands), and Belize
  • Application Method: No public application process - invitation only/trustee discretion

Contact Details

Address: Vestry House, Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0EH

Phone: 020 7280 9700

Email: tcf@truell.org

Website: www.truellconservationfoundation.com

Charity Number: 1147994

Company Number: 07893448

Overview

The Truell Conservation Foundation was established in 2005 by brothers Edmund and Danny Truell, successful investors who co-founded Pension Corporation in 2006. The foundation operates as a private charitable trust with an ambitious goal to create a charitable endowment of £100 million. Edmund's and Danny's shares in Pension Corporation are pledged to the foundation. With total income of £2,185,154 in 2024 (primarily from investments of £2.03 million), the foundation focuses on three distinct areas: conservation of precious ecosystems (particularly the UK and Galapagos Islands), educational support for children of UK Armed Forces veterans, and investment in gene therapy innovation. The foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than open grant applications, selecting projects and organizations aligned with their strategic priorities. The Truell Conservation Foundation received special recognition from the Ecuadorean government for its work on the Galapagos Islands' energy and resource planning.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Conservation Grants

  • Range: £5,000 - £100,000+ per project
  • Focus: Galapagos Islands and UK ecosystems
  • Method: Trustee discretion, no public application process
  • Examples:
  • £100,000 pledge to Galapagos penguin and cormorant monitoring (£60,000 distributed to date)
  • Over £1 million donated to Galapagos protection via Charles Darwin Foundation and Galapagos Conservation Trust
  • £5,000 to The Gobi 500 Challenge

Armed Forces Education Bursaries

  • Method: Through partnerships with educational institutions
  • Partners: Wellington College Foundation, Winchester College, Durham University Military Scholarships
  • Eligibility: Children of UK Armed Forces veterans, particularly families who have lost a parent in military service, or individuals injured/wounded as a result of military service

Gene Therapy & Technology Investment

  • Focus: Viral vector manufacturing and gene therapy innovation
  • Method: Direct investment and capitalization
  • Example: Support for ViroCell Biologics, a CDMO manufacturing viral vectors at Great Ormond Street Hospital's Zayed Centre for Research

Priority Areas

Conservation:

  • Galapagos Islands ecosystem protection
  • UK ecosystem conservation
  • Science-based conservation initiatives
  • Education and sustainability in conservation
  • Visitor management systems for protected areas (developed the TIPS online visitor tracking system for national parks)

Armed Forces Support:

  • Educational bursaries for children of UK military veterans
  • Support for families who have lost a parent in military service
  • Assistance for service members injured, wounded, or sick as a result of military service
  • Education and welfare of veterans and their families

Innovation & Technology:

  • Gene therapy advancement through viral vector manufacturing
  • Removing barriers to clinical trials for novel cell and gene therapies
  • Technology solutions for conservation (e.g., TIPS visitor tracking system)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not have publicly stated exclusions, but their funding is highly strategic and focused on the three core areas above. They do not accept unsolicited applications from organizations outside their established network and strategic interests.

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Governance and Leadership

Edmund Truell - Co-Founder and Chairman

Edmund is a financial entrepreneur and conservationist who co-founded Pension Corporation in 2006. He serves as a Trustee of the Charles Darwin Foundation and is a former chairman and founding member of the Galapagos Conservation Trust in London. He has raised £2 million for conservation initiatives and has been instrumental in developing the foundation's gene therapy investment strategy. On ViroCell investment, Edmund stated: “We have been studying the viral vector supply-demand imbalance and believe that the shortage of highly specialised design and manufacturing capacity represents a clear barrier to gene therapy innovation. We are delighted to capitalise and invest in ViroCell to accelerate novel therapies by enabling them to enter clinical trials faster.”

Danny Truell - Co-Founder

Edmund's brother, who co-founded Pension Corporation alongside Edmund in 2006. Both brothers have pledged their shares in Pension Corporation to the foundation.

Cédriane de Boucaud - Trustee

Brings 18+ years of experience in venture capital and corporate finance. She manages the Sustainable Technology Fund at Disruptive Capital Finance LLP and serves on the boards of Q Chip, Eco Plastics, and PyroPure. She holds an MA in Economics from Cornell University.

James Truell - Trustee

A medical doctor specializing in pediatrics who graduated from Imperial College School of Medicine in 2019. He has worked in the UK and New Zealand and has a long-standing interest in conservation.

The foundation operates with three trustees, none of whom receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Truell Conservation Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, pre-existing relationships, and strategic alignment with the foundation's three core focus areas. The foundation identifies and selects projects and organizations that align with their mission rather than reviewing unsolicited applications.

Organizations cannot apply directly for funding. Instead, the foundation:

  • Supports organizations where trustees have existing board positions or involvement (e.g., Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos Conservation Trust)
  • Partners with established educational institutions for bursary programs (Wellington College, Winchester College, Durham University)
  • Makes strategic investments in technology and innovation aligned with their mission
  • Awards grants based on trustee knowledge and sector involvement

Getting on Their Radar

Edmund Truell's Conservation Network: Edmund serves as a Trustee of the Charles Darwin Foundation and was former chairman and founding member of the Galapagos Conservation Trust. Organizations working in Galapagos conservation or UK ecosystem protection that connect with these networks may be more visible to the foundation.

Armed Forces Education Sector: The foundation partners with specific educational institutions (Wellington College Foundation, Winchester College, Durham University) for their military bursary programs. Organizations working in armed forces family support and education may benefit from connections with these partner institutions.

Gene Therapy & Life Sciences: The foundation's investment in ViroCell Biologics demonstrates interest in viral vector manufacturing and gene therapy innovation. Organizations in this sector working on removing barriers to clinical trials for novel therapies may align with the foundation's interests.

Trustee Involvement: Given the foundation's governance structure, organizations where trustees may have professional or personal connections in conservation, military family support, or life sciences innovation are more likely to receive consideration.

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Stated Priorities

On Education: The foundation states: “Education is the bedrock to happy and successful lives. When families of servicemen lose a parent fighting on behalf of the United Kingdom those left behind can face many challenges, and we aim to help such families by providing support for education in the form of bursaries.”

On Gene Therapy Innovation: Edmund Truell explained their ViroCell investment: “We have been studying the viral vector supply-demand imbalance and believe that the shortage of highly specialised design and manufacturing capacity represents a clear barrier to gene therapy innovation. We are delighted to capitalise and invest in ViroCell to accelerate novel therapies by enabling them to enter clinical trials faster.”

On Conservation: The foundation emphasizes science-based conservation, education, and sustainability. Their work has focused on practical solutions such as the TIPS visitor tracking system for national parks, demonstrating interest in technology-enabled conservation approaches.

Funded Projects Examples

Galapagos Conservation:

  • £100,000 pledge for monitoring Galapagos penguin and cormorant populations
  • Over £1 million total to Galapagos protection through Charles Darwin Foundation and Galapagos Conservation Trust
  • Development and implementation of TIPS (online visitor tracking and entry payment system) for national parks

Armed Forces Support:

  • Twice sponsored Durham University's Military Scholarships event at the Cavalry and Guards Club
  • Bursaries through Wellington College Foundation and Winchester College for children of military veterans

Technology & Innovation:

  • Capitalization and investment in ViroCell Biologics for viral vector manufacturing at Great Ormond Street Hospital's Zayed Centre for Research

Key Alignment Factors

  1. Strategic Fit: Projects must align precisely with one of the three core areas: Galapagos/UK conservation, armed forces family education, or gene therapy innovation
  2. Science-Based Approach: Conservation projects emphasize scientific rigor, sustainability, and measurable outcomes
  3. Practical Innovation: The foundation values technology solutions that address real barriers (e.g., TIPS system, viral vector manufacturing capacity)
  4. Established Institutions: Armed forces education support flows through established educational institutions with strong reputations
  5. Long-term Impact: The foundation's £100 million endowment goal suggests focus on sustainable, long-term impact rather than short-term projects

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and existing relationships.
  • Highly Focused Strategy: The foundation operates in three specific areas: Galapagos/UK conservation, armed forces family education, and gene therapy innovation. Projects outside these areas are not supported.
  • Trustee-Led Grantmaking: With Edmund Truell serving on the boards of Charles Darwin Foundation and formerly Galapagos Conservation Trust, trustee involvement and existing relationships drive funding decisions.
  • Substantial Multi-Year Commitments: Examples include £100,000+ pledges for conservation monitoring and over £1 million to Galapagos protection, indicating preference for significant, sustained support.
  • Education Through Partnerships: Armed forces bursaries operate through established institutions (Wellington, Winchester, Durham), not direct grants to individuals or small organizations.
  • Innovation and Technology Focus: The foundation values practical technological solutions, from conservation visitor tracking systems to gene therapy manufacturing capacity.
  • Network-Based Approach: Building relationships within the conservation, military family support, or life sciences sectors where trustees are active is essential for visibility.

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