Sigrid Rausing Trust

The Sigrid Rausing Trust is a charitable foundation based in the United Kingdom. It was established by Sigrid Rausing in 1995 and focuses on supporting human rights, social justice, and environmental causes.

According to data from the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF), the Sigrid Rausing Trust is among the top twenty largest charitable foundations in the United Kingdom. In 2020-2021, the trust provided grants totaling £32.1 million, which placed it at 18th among the largest grant-making organizations.[1]

History

The Trust was founded by Sigrid Rausing, a Swedish philanthropist and member of the Rausing family, known for their involvement in the Tetra Pak packaging company.

In 1988, Sigrid Rausing set up the charitable trust the Sea Foundation in 1988. In 1996, Sigrid Rausing transferred the funds to the Ruben and Elisabeth Rausing Trust, named after her grandparents. The trust was renamed the Sigrid Rausing Trust in 2003.

By 2014, the Trust had distributed approximately £208.3 million to human rights organizations worldwide.[2][3]

Trustees and Advisory Board

  • Sigrid Rausing (Chair)[4]
  • Andrew Puddephatt (Deputy Chair, Audit & Risk Committee Chair)
  • Daniel Hotz (Trustee)
  • Hosh Ibrahim (Advisory Board)
  • Jeffrey Jowell (Advisory Board)
  • Baroness Helena Kennedy KC (Advisory Board)
  • Joshua Mailman (Advisory Board)

Programmes

As of 2022, the Trust supported 11 main programs under three three board themes:[5]

Human Rights

  • Strengthening the Human Rights Field
  • Defending Civic Space
  • Torture and Arbitrary Detention
  • Truth, Justice and Memory

Fairness and Inclusion

  • Women’s Rights
  • LGBTI Rights
  • Migration and Inclusion
  • Arts

Environment

  • Conservation
  • Toxics and Pollution
  • Transparency and Accountability

Activities

Since 1995, the Sigrid Rausing Trust supported more than 800 grantees.[6] By the end of 2022, the Trust had distributed approximately £533 million in grants to organizations worldwide.[7]

In 2009, Sigrid Rausing Trust was ranked 6th on the list of UK foundations supporting international development and related activities (by international spending). The Trust provided $9.1 million in the respective year, covering projects in Africa, Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe.[8]

Between 2011 and 2018, the Sigrid Rausing Trust was among the top ten largest private grant-making organizations in Ukraine, according to the Foundation Center database.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Foundation Giving Trends 2022" (PDF). Association of Charitable Foundations. 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Sigrid Rausing on money, addiction and collective farming". The Telegraph. May 10, 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Sigrid Rausing Trust". SRT. 29 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Staff". Sigrid Rausing Trust. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  5. ^ "2022 Annual Report". Sigrid Rausing Trust. 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Who We Are". Sigrid Rausing Trust. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  7. ^ "2022 Annual Report". Sigrid Rausing Trust. 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Global Grant-making: A Review of UK Foundations" (PDF). Nuffield Foundation. January 18, 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  9. ^ "International Experience and Best Practices of Funds Functioning: Analytical Report" (PDF). Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting. 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2024.