Paul Hamlyn Foundation was established by Paul Hamlyn in 1987. Upon his death in 2001, he left most of his estate to the Foundation, creating one of the largest independent grant-making foundations in the UK.
Our mission is to help people overcome disadvantage and lack of opportunity, so that they can realise their potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives. We have a particular interest in supporting young people and a strong belief in the importance of the arts.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation is a registered charity with substantial investment assets that finance our grant-making activities. The financial objective of the Foundation is to maintain the real value of those assets after inflation, whilst generating a stable and sustained return to fund grant-making of, on average, 4 per cent per annum.
We understand that many of the areas in which we work as a grant funder are complex and require a long-term approach. Equally, in managing our assets, the Foundation is a long-term investor, expecting to exist in perpetuity.
We aim to distribute grants of about £25 million per annum, but this can vary from year to year depending on grant making opportunities and investment returns. We seek to produce the best financial return within an acceptable level of risk.