Uggla Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £678,110 (charitable activities, 2023)
• Total Income: £3,268,499 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation/relationship-based funding)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £25,000,000+
• Geographic Focus: UK-registered; operates in UK, USA, Canada, and Thailand

Contact Details

Overview

The Uggla Family Foundation was established in 2021 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) by Lance Uggla, founder of IHS Markit. The foundation represents a first-generation family philanthropy with over 15 years of collective philanthropic experience and has committed over $34 million across its charitable initiatives. The foundation takes a strategic, long-term approach to philanthropy, focusing on creating transformational change through sustained partnerships rather than one-off grants. Notable for major endowments including £25.2 million to the London School of Economics and C$34.1 million to Simon Fraser University—both establishing perpetual scholarship programs for underrepresented students. The foundation is managed by the Uggla family with 5 trustees and supported by 40 volunteers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate open grant programs but rather develops strategic partnerships. Known funding includes:

• Education Scholarships: Multi-million pound endowments creating perpetual scholarship programs (LSE: £25.2m; SFU: C$34.1m)
• Arts & Culture: Major institutional partnerships (BFI: £1 million for digital platform development)
• Health & Reproductive Medicine: Support for specialist medical institutes
• Animal Welfare: International animal welfare projects, particularly in Thailand
• Climate: Supporting pathways to net zero

Priority Areas

The foundation works across five key pillars:

1. Education - Endowing tertiary education with focus on removing barriers for underrepresented students; scholarships emphasize academic excellence, leadership potential, and financial need
2. Creative Arts - Supporting universal access to arts and culture; interest in digital innovation and workforce development for young people from underrepresented communities
3. Health - Enabling better healthcare outcomes, including reproductive medicine
4. Climate - Supporting transition to net zero
5. Animal Welfare - Providing care and wellbeing for animals in need

Geographic priorities: While UK-registered, the foundation operates internationally with documented activities in Canada, USA, and Thailand.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly disclosed, but the foundation's approach suggests they:

• Do not accept unsolicited applications
• Focus on causes "close to the family's hearts"
• Prefer transformational, long-term partnerships over small one-off grants
• Seek opportunities for sustained, generational impact

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• Lance Uggla - Founder, alumnus of Simon Fraser University and London School of Economics, founder of IHS Markit
• Cassidy Uggla - Foundation Trustee, active spokesperson for foundation initiatives
• Riley Uggla - Trustee

Key Staff & Advisors

• Roslyn Taylor - Manages Uggla Family Office; 25+ years financial industry experience
• Will Meldrum - Consultant and board adviser
• Matthew Uggla - Works in Uggla Family Office
• Kendall Uggla - Manages ESG strategies

Leadership Philosophy

Lance Uggla has stated: “I feel fortunate every single day that I have benefited from an excellent university education, and by enabling these scholarships in perpetuity it is my way of saying thank you to Simon Fraser University and LSE for giving me such a strong foundation for my career.”

The family's approach centers on belief in “the positive return that results when doors are opened for those who have traditionally faced barriers to higher education.”

Application Process & Timeline

Application Success Factors

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Screenskills Limited
• Independent Cinema Office
• Bfi Trust
• Blind Ambition
• The Locker Foundation
• Old Possum'S Practical Trust
• The Charles Skey Charitable Trust
• The David Lean Foundation
• Reuben Foundation
• The Polonsky Foundation

References

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales - UGGLA FAMILY FOUNDATION (Charity No. 1195626), including financial statements for year ending 31 December 2023. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5178585

1. The Uggla Foundation official website - Mission, priorities, and program information. https://www.ugglafoundation.com/

1. British Film Institute - “BFI and The Uggla Family Foundation announce new partnership to expand digital access to screen culture” (2024). https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/bfi-uggla-family-foundation-partnership

1. Philanthropy News Digest - “Simon Fraser University receives $26.8 million from alumnus” detailing Lance Uggla's scholarship endowment. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/simon-fraser-university-receives-26.8-million-from-alumnus

1. London School of Economics - Uggla Family Scholars Programme information and scholarship details. https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/Undergraduate/fees-and-funding/uggla-family-scholarships/

1. Simon Fraser University - Uggla Family Scholarship program details and eligibility. https://www.sfu.ca/students/admission/fees-scholarships/uggla.html

1. Screen Daily - “BFI to transform streaming platform following £1m philanthropic donation” providing partnership details. https://www.screendaily.com/news/bfi-to-transform-streaming-platform-following-1m-philanthropic-donation/5189516.article

1. Giving is Great - Charity Factsheet for UGGLA FAMILY FOUNDATION. https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1195626