Ubs Uk Donor-advised Foundation

Charity Number: 1153551

Annual Expenditure: £230.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £230.4 million (2024)
  • Structure: Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)
  • Established: 2013
  • Grant Range: No minimum or maximum (donor-directed)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-registered and exempt charities only
  • Registered Charity Number: 1153551

Contact Details

Registered Office:

5 Broadgate

London EC2M 2QS

Primary Contact:

Through UBS Wealth Management Client Advisors (for UBS clients only)

Website:

UBS UK Charitable Giving

Note: This foundation does not accept direct applications from charities.

Overview

The UBS UK Donor-Advised Foundation is a registered UK charity (charity number 1153551) established in July 2013 with the stated purpose of “making grants to UK charities.” However, unlike traditional grant-making trusts, this is a donor-advised fund (DAF) that serves as a charitable giving vehicle for UBS Wealth Management clients. In the financial year ending December 31, 2024, the foundation distributed £230.44 million in grants to UK charities, making it one of the largest charitable distributors in the UK. The foundation received £170.15 million in donations and £11.10 million in investment income during this period. UBS covers all administration costs, meaning 100% of donor contributions are available for charitable grants. The foundation operates as a Company Limited by Guarantee (company number 08619664) and is overseen by nine trustees who approve all grant recommendations in accordance with Charity Commission rules.

Funding Priorities

How the Donor-Advised Fund Works

The UBS UK Donor-Advised Foundation is not a traditional grant maker. It operates as a donor-advised fund where:

  • UBS Wealth Management clients who are UK resident and domiciled taxpayers open individual accounts with the foundation
  • Clients contribute funds to their accounts at any time, with no minimum or maximum limits
  • Clients then recommend grants from their accounts to UK-registered or exempt charities (including universities)
  • The foundation's trustees review and approve these grant recommendations
  • Grants are distributed to charities based on individual donor direction, not foundation priorities

Grant Characteristics

  • No predetermined priorities: Grant recipients and focus areas are determined entirely by individual UBS client donors, not by the foundation itself
  • Eligible recipients: Any UK-registered charity or exempt charity
  • Grant amounts: No restrictions - determined by individual donor account balances and preferences
  • Frequency: Donors can make grants at any time - as regular payments, lump sums, or by distributing investment income
  • Anonymity option: Grants can be made anonymously if donors prefer

Cross-Border Giving

The foundation facilitates giving to overseas entities via third parties for a fee, though the primary focus is UK-registered charities.

What This Means for Charities

Charities cannot apply to this foundation for grants. Instead, grants come from individual UBS clients who have chosen to support specific causes. To receive funding through this vehicle, a charity must be recommended by a UBS client who has an account with the foundation.

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by nine trustees who serve without remuneration. The trustees' role is to approve grant recommendations made by donor-account holders, ensuring compliance with Charity Commission regulations rather than setting funding priorities.

As a donor-advised fund, strategic direction for individual grants comes from the account holders (UBS clients) rather than from foundation leadership.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

There is no public application process. The UBS UK Donor-Advised Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from charities.

Grants are made solely based on recommendations from UBS Wealth Management clients who have established donor-advised accounts with the foundation. Each client directs their own charitable giving through their account.

For UBS Clients

UBS Wealth Management clients who are UK resident and domicile taxpayers can establish an account by contacting their UBS Client Advisor. The setup process typically takes approximately one week, with no setup fees or annual charges (UBS covers all administrative costs).

Grant Processing

Once a UBS client recommends a grant to a charity:

  • The foundation's trustees review the recommendation
  • Trustees ensure the recipient is a UK-registered or exempt charity
  • Trustees verify compliance with Charity Commission rules
  • Upon approval, the grant is distributed to the nominated charity

Specific timelines for grant processing are not publicly disclosed, but the structure suggests relatively rapid turnaround once donor recommendations are submitted.

Tax Benefits for Donors

UBS clients contributing to their donor-advised accounts may:

  • Claim Gift Aid, increasing their charitable donation by 25%
  • Receive immediate tax relief on contributions
  • Benefit from Capital Gains Tax relief on donated assets
  • Time their charitable giving for maximum tax efficiency

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not a funding opportunity for most grant writers: The UBS UK Donor-Advised Foundation does not accept applications and has no funding priorities of its own - it is a vehicle for individual UBS clients' charitable giving
  • Understand your donor base: If your organization receives a grant “from” the UBS UK Donor-Advised Foundation, it actually comes from an individual UBS client donor (who may or may not be identified to you)
  • Focus on donor cultivation, not foundation applications: To access the significant resources flowing through this vehicle (£230+ million annually), organizations need strong individual donor cultivation strategies targeted at high-net-worth individuals
  • Donor-advised funds are growing rapidly: Understanding how DAFs work helps grant writers recognize which “foundations” are actually aggregators of individual giving rather than traditional grant makers
  • Consider other DAF providers: If your organization serves wealthy donors, be aware that multiple DAF providers operate in the UK (including Charities Aid Foundation, Prism the Gift Fund, NPT UK, and others) - these can be alternatives to establishing private foundations
  • No application means no rejection: While this vehicle isn't accessible through traditional grant applications, it also means there's no formal rejection process - individual donors simply choose whom to support
  • Scale matters: Even though you cannot apply to this foundation, knowing that £230 million flows to UK charities through this single DAF emphasizes the importance of major donor relationships in the UK charitable sector

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