Ubs Optimus Foundation Uk

Charity Number: 1153537

Annual Expenditure: £144.3M
Geographic Focus: Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana ... [23 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Registered Charity Number: 1153537
  • Annual Income: £157 million (2024)
  • Annual Expenditure: £144 million (2024)
  • Global Grant Commitments: $310 million USD (2024, network-wide)
  • Grant Range: £3,000 - £370,000 (approx.)
  • Application Process: Invitation only - no public application process
  • Geographic Focus: Global (80+ countries) with UK-specific education programs
  • Programs Supported: 500+ (network-wide)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.ubs.com/global/en/sustainability-impact/social-impact-and-philanthropy/optimus-foundation.html

UK Charity Registration: Company number 08608213

Note: The foundation does not accept or review unsolicited applications. They proactively identify and select partners based on their strategic priorities.

Overview

UBS Optimus Foundation UK, registered in 2013, is part of the global UBS Optimus Foundation network committed to the well-being of children in need around the world. The UK entity reported income of £157 million and expenditure of £144.3 million for the year ending December 2024, operating as a grant-making organization that supports initiatives to improve children's education, protection, and health. The foundation takes an evidence-based approach, focusing on programs with the potential to be transformative, scalable, and sustainable. Through robust impact evaluations, often in collaboration with leading academic institutions, the foundation ensures funding is directed where it can achieve the best outcomes. In 2024, the global network raised a record $366 million in donations and committed $310 million in grants, reaching over 7 million people through 500+ programs worldwide. The UK arm specifically launched its Education Giving Circle in 2024, bringing together 21 philanthropists who have collectively raised over £1 million (including UBS matching) to tackle educational inequality in the UK.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

UK Education Collective Portfolio

The foundation's flagship UK program includes 20 partner organizations working to transform educational outcomes. The portfolio focuses on three core areas:

  • Early childhood education and care
  • Foundational skills (literacy and numeracy)
  • Transitions across the education lifecycle

Funding supports activities in specific regions, helps organizations scale their work, and supports research and evaluation.

UK Education Giving Circle

Launched in 2024 with 21 members, this collaborative giving initiative requires members to donate a minimum of £50,000 per year, with UBS adding a 25% matching contribution. Over two years, members participate in a learning and insights program including modules on effective philanthropy, expert talks, and immersive site visits within the UK's education system.

Global Programs

The foundation operates programs across four main focus areas globally:

  • Health: Primary healthcare, maternal and child health, mental health, oncology in lower-income countries
  • Education: Early years through employment transitions, support for refugee children
  • Child Protection: Emergency response and protection systems
  • Climate and Environment: Blue carbon conservation, ecosystem protection, climate resilience

Priority Areas

Evidence-Based Interventions: Programs must demonstrate measurable outcomes and be backed by research or have robust evaluation frameworks.

Scalability: Projects with clear pathways to scale and potential for wider impact.

Innovation: Solutions that push boundaries and involve “out-of-the-box” thinking, with the foundation embracing a “permission to fail” philosophy for high-risk, high-reward projects.

Collaborative Impact: Multi-stakeholder partnerships that bring together local communities, professionals, and decision-makers.

Vulnerable Children: Programs specifically addressing the needs of children in poverty, refugee children, and those affected by conflict or disasters.

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited applications (they proactively identify partners)
  • Single-beneficiary projects without broader impact potential
  • Projects without clear evaluation frameworks
  • Initiatives outside their four core focus areas
  • Programs lacking evidence base or scalability potential
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The UK foundation is governed by seven trustees who receive no remuneration:

  • Paul Dominic Vail (appointed 2019) - Private Investor
  • Victoria Hagmann (appointed 2025) - Banker
  • Vineet Bewtra (appointed 2020) - Consultancy

Global Leadership

Tom Hall - CEO of UBS Optimus Foundation network and Head of Social Impact and Philanthropy at UBS, with nearly 20 years' experience in impact and philanthropy. Tom believes that “through partnerships we can build an Impact Economy that values people and planet in all investment decisions and builds a world that is profitable for all.”

Maya Ziswiler - Also identified as CEO of the UBS Optimus Foundation in recent references.

Nalini - Head of Programs and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (joined January 2019), overseeing strategies, philanthropic grant making, and impact measurement.

Sarah - Child Protection Program Director (joined 2021).

The foundation's leadership team comprises over 150 professionals across the globe.

Financial Philosophy

Former CEO Phyllis Costanza articulated the foundation's approach: “The money does us no good sitting in a bank, which I know is anathema to how bankers think. Our goal is to get the money in and to get it out as quickly as possible.” The foundation operates without an endowment, deploying 100% of client donations directly to programs.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The UBS Optimus Foundation UK does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept or review unsolicited requests for funding. Instead, they work proactively to identify and select programs that align with their strategic priorities.

The foundation's approach involves:

  • Proactive identification of potential partners through their network and research
  • Occasional issuance of specific Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for targeted initiatives
  • Rigorous due diligence process for all potential partners
  • Focus on organizations they can support through their existing strategic portfolios

For UBS wealth management clients resident in the UK who wish to donate (rather than apply for funding), donations are eligible for Gift Aid and tax relief.

Partner Selection Criteria

When the foundation does evaluate potential partners, they assess:

  1. Topic Relevance and Responsiveness: Does the proposal address a key need relevant to the foundation's strategy?
  1. Innovation: Does the proposal provide innovative thinking and advance the field?
  1. Feasibility: Are goals and milestones clearly defined and achievable? Is there a clear logic framework and organizational structure to carry out the work?
  1. Evidence Generation: Potential for measurable outcomes and contribution to the evidence base.
  1. Scalability: Clear path for scaling up with potential for further support.

The foundation emphasizes that "collaboration is essential, and UBS Optimus' whole strategy is based on collaboration. We rarely go at it alone."

Current Status

As of the most recent information available, the foundation has stated: “Unfortunately, UBS Optimus Foundation is not looking for further programs at the moment. At the time of this writing, UBS is unable to take on new grantees as it is prioritizing previous grantee commitments.”

Organizations interested in future opportunities are advised to check back at a later date.

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Approach to Partnerships

Evidence-Based Decision Making: The foundation conducts thorough impact evaluations and research, often in collaboration with leading academic institutions, to ensure funding achieves the best outcomes.

Risk-Taking and Innovation: The foundation's approach involves taking on high-risk projects with a “permission to fail” philosophy, encouraging innovation and boundary-pushing in philanthropy.

Long-Term Commitment: The foundation provides not just funding but also strategy development, due diligence, contracting, and reporting support. They emphasize transparency, measurement, and adaptability in proving models.

Collective Impact Model: Many programs, particularly in the UK, use a collective impact approach bringing together local communities, professionals, and decision-makers.

Successful Partner Examples

Place2Be (UK Education Portfolio partner): Using a whole-school approach to tackle youth mental health crisis through early intervention and ongoing support. In 2024, Place2Be reached 45,000 young people, with 78% of those receiving one-to-one counselling showing improved mental health.

Cradle to Career North Birkenhead: This collective impact initiative has achieved remarkable results:

  • Closed a 15-month reading age gap for 8-16-year-olds
  • Reduced the number of children in care or on the edge of care by 90%
  • Students who received four years of support now perform 3-4 months ahead of the national average
  • 65% increase in children demonstrating the highest reading abilities
  • Delivering 11 programs across 10 areas, impacting more than 53,000 children

OnSide Youth Zones (UK Education Portfolio partner): National charity creating high-quality youth centres in underserved areas.

What the Foundation Values

From leadership statements and program selection, the foundation prioritizes:

  • Measurable Impact: Clear frameworks for evaluation and demonstrated outcomes
  • Scalability: Programs with potential to expand and create wider change
  • Innovation: Solutions that challenge conventional approaches
  • Collaboration: Multi-stakeholder partnerships and systems-level change
  • Evidence Generation: Contribution to the broader knowledge base in the sector

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. They identify partners proactively through their networks and strategic research.
  • Focus on Existing Portfolios: The foundation has stated they are currently prioritizing existing grantee commitments and not accepting new partners. Any future opportunities will likely be through specific, invitation-only RFPs.
  • UBS Client Connection: The foundation primarily serves as a giving platform for UBS wealth management clients. Organizations are more likely to be discovered through connections with UBS clients who are active philanthropists.
  • UK Giving Circle Access: Organizations working in UK education with strong evidence of impact might benefit from being known to the 21 members of the UK Education Giving Circle, who co-fund initiatives within the foundation's UK Education Collective Portfolio.
  • Network Visibility: Given the invitation-only model, building visibility in the relevant sector networks where the foundation operates (children's health, education, protection, climate) increases the likelihood of being discovered during their partner identification process.
  • Emphasis on Evidence: When and if opportunities arise, organizations must demonstrate robust evaluation frameworks, measurable outcomes, and evidence-based approaches. The foundation conducts rigorous due diligence and values transparency in impact measurement.
  • Geographic Scope: While the UK entity has specific UK programs (particularly in education), the global network operates in 80+ countries, with significant work in emerging markets and vulnerable communities worldwide.

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References