Michael Uren Foundation

The Michael Uren Foundation, established in 2002 by Sir Michael Uren OBE, is an independent UK grantmaking charity channeling wealth from his engineering and entrepreneurial ventures into transformative philanthropy. Governed by a small board of trustees under a family-led trust deed, it operates proactively at trustees' sole discretion, rejecting unsolicited applications to focus on ambitious, research-driven projects delivering long-lasting, large-scale societal impact. Core values emphasize ingenuity, evidence-led solutions, systemic change, and efficient fund use, inspired by Sir Michael's ethos of addressing complex challenges in public good through world-class innovation.

It prioritizes medical research and healthcare (e.g., £40 million for Imperial College's Biomedical Engineering Hub, £7.5 million for dementia research), higher education and scientific advancement, environmental conservation and animal welfare (e.g., £7+ million to International Animal Rescue for wildlife sanctuaries in Indonesia and Costa Rica, peat forest protection in Borneo), military and veterans' welfare (e.g., Royal Naval Benevolent Trust), and heritage preservation. Beneficiaries are typically established UK higher education institutions, research bodies, large conservation organizations, and major military charities, often funding capital infrastructure, pioneering research centers, and capacity-building programs with international reach.

Eligible entities include UK-registered charities and academic institutions of medium-to-large scale with proven delivery capacity; no geographic restrictions apply, though UK-focused with selective global projects. No income thresholds are specified, but preference favors organizations enabling scalable impact.

Grants range from £1 million to £40 million+, targeting catalytic capital projects rather than small grants, core costs, or emergencies. Funding is invitation-only with no deadlines or published processes—trustees identify and approach aligned causes adhoc—distinguishing it through minimal overhead monitoring, long-term vision, and aversion to inefficient administration for maximum enduring benefit.