Chandris Foundation

The Chandris Foundation is a UK-registered grant-making charity tied to the Chandris family's international shipping legacy, serving as their philanthropic arm to alleviate hardship, sickness, and disability; advance education; and support broader community-benefiting purposes. Established with a focus on practical relief for those in disadvantage, it draws income from investments and trading to fund diverse charitable needs, emphasizing improved life chances through health interventions, education, and social welfare. Its values prioritize prudent stewardship, sustained support, and responsiveness to societal challenges, operating as a flexible generalist funder with family-driven continuity.

It funds medical research, child welfare, disability support, educational projects, and community development, providing project funding, core costs, and unrestricted grants to organizations delivering tangible impact. Beneficiaries include people with disabilities, those facing health issues, children and young people, and communities in need, with grants awarded to both national institutions and specialist charities based on proven track records and robust governance.

Eligible applicants are limited to UK-registered charities and academic institutions based in the UK (with a focus on England and Wales), showing no strict income thresholds but favoring established entities. Funding is invitation-only, with no unsolicited applications or public forms accepted; trustees make discretionary decisions on a rolling basis throughout the year, without fixed deadlines or meetings. Typical grants range from several thousand pounds to over £100,000, contributing hundreds of thousands annually.

Distinctively, the foundation avoids competitive programmes, relying on networks and trustee knowledge rather than open calls, with no religious restrictions or specified exclusions beyond its broad charitable remit, enabling agile responses to evolving needs while upholding high governance standards.