Michael Uren Foundation

The Foundation supports medical research and healthcare, higher education and scientific advancement, environmental conservation and animal welfare, military and veterans' welfare, and heritage preservation. It funds catalytic capital projects such as pioneering research centres and capacity-building programmes, rather than small grants, core costs, or emergency funding. No geographic restrictions apply, though UK-focused projects are common alongside selective global work. Examples include funding for biomedical research, dementia research, wildlife sanctuaries, and peat forest protection, all aimed at long-term, large-scale impact.

Beneficiaries are typically established UK higher education institutions, research bodies, large conservation organisations, and major military charities. Eligible entities include UK-registered charities and academic institutions of medium-to-large scale with proven delivery capacity. No income thresholds are specified, but preference favours organisations enabling scalable impact. There are no geographic restrictions, nor religious requirements. The Foundation operates by invitation only, so organisations fitting this profile may be proactively approached by the trustees.

The Foundation does not fund small grants, core costs, or emergency funding. It avoids projects that lack potential for long-term, large-scale impact and does not accept unsolicited applications. Its focus is on catalytic capital projects rather than ongoing operational or small-scale needs.

The Foundation operates by invitation only, with trustees proactively identifying and approaching aligned causes at their sole discretion. It funds catalytic capital projects, often with a multi-year vision, and provides minimal overhead monitoring. The Foundation places little emphasis on inefficient administration, seeking maximum enduring benefit through efficient fund use and long-term partnership.