Parabola Foundation

The Parabola Foundation, established in 2013 in London by property developers Peter John Millican, Anne Deborah Millican, and Deborah Jude, operates as a charitable company limited by guarantee with a mission to advance charitable and cultural projects for public benefit. Rooted in philanthropy, partnership, and sustainable progress, it champions excellence in education, arts, science, cultural heritage, environment, and poverty relief, emphasizing accessibility, broad societal impact, and long-term transformation. Distinctively tied to its founders' property ethos—prioritizing people, places, and public good—it invests in trusted partners delivering rigorous, scalable outcomes, such as bowel cancer research with Newcastle University and South Tyneside NHS, arts commissions at Kings Place, and international development like Tanzania's Poverty Relief Foundation building wells and classrooms for rural empowerment.

It funds medium-to-large UK charities, academic institutions, NHS trusts, and established NGOs—not individuals—supporting diverse beneficiaries including children, families, those in poverty, and health inequality groups. Grants target health research (mental/physical), cultural education, environmental/heritage projects, poverty alleviation, and infrastructure, via project grants, strategic partnerships, capital builds, and multi-year commitments for enduring impact rather than short-term aid.

Invite-only with no unsolicited applications, public portals, or deadlines; funding decisions rest with trustees via networks and direct invitations. Predominantly England-focused but open to UK-national and aligned overseas work, it prefers organizations with strong track records and capacity, typically awarding £50,000–£550,000. Exclusions include small grassroots groups, general running costs, micro-grants, and non-strategic interventions, setting it apart through its selective, high-impact approach fostering innovation and societal value.