About Us

The fundamental purpose of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is to improve the quality of life for all throughout art, charity, science and education. The Foundation is committed to the future, to those most vulnerable, and to the value of culture.

The UK Branch

We are focused on building coalitions to tackle complex global problems. Based in London, the UK Branch sits at the heart of a world centre for philanthropy which enables us to deliver on the Foundation’s mission using our networks, experience and way of working. We look ahead, thinking globally and acting locally, to create the conditions for change by connecting across borders of all kinds – national, cultural, organisational, disciplinary and social. We prioritise the vulnerable and underserved in the UK and elsewhere.

Our approach 

As a small branch we can be nimble but cannot provide large-scale continuous support. However, being part of one of the largest foundations in Europe, we are well positioned to address transnational issues and can act as an ‘exchange’ for ideas.

We will help to create the conditions for longer-term change. We will:

Connect 

Reaching out through communities to support collective innovation in the UK and beyond.

Collaborate

Collaborate and experiment across boundaries – working with organisations with complementary strengths to co-create change.

Communicate

Communicate the value of our learning strategically – disseminating our learning to those who can act on it and work with those who can amplify our voice.

Capacity-build

Building skills and establishing a strong legacy before moving on.

Please note

We do not accept unsolicited funding requests. You can read more about the interactive approach the UK Branch takes to funding here.

For the following inquiries, please address the appropriate department at the Foundation’s Headquarters in Lisbon:

Updated on 26 january 2023

Cookies settings

Cookies Selection

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience, security, and its website performance. We may also use cookies to share information on social media and to display messages and advertisements personalised to your interests, both on our website and in others.