What we do

The UK Branch works programmatically, selecting a limited number of specific causes where we believe we can make a demonstrable difference.

Our approach is firstly to:

• Undertake desk research and consult with relevant actors in civil society and beyond
• Seek proposals on an open or restricted basis.

We use this work to identify potential partners. This then informs the organisations we work with to develop proposals which invariably involve working in coalition with others. This then becomes the work we fund.

Our parent body in Portugal gives grants in a number of different fields. You can read all about them here.

Transparency

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) is committed to transparency and we work with 360Giving to publish information about our grants. Using the 360Giving data standard, our awarded grants since 2013 are available here. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Click here to view a copy of this license.

This means the data is freely accessible to anyone to be used and shared as they wish. The data must be attributed to Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch). We believe that with better information, grantmakers can be more effective and strategic decision makers. 360Giving provides support for grantmakers to publish their grants data openly, to understand their data, and to use the data to create online tools that make grant making more effective. 

Alternative ideas

The Directory of Social Change produces a number of guides and directories for those seeking funding.

National Lottery’s funding finder will help you search for compatible programmes.