A private foundation is an organisation set up by an individual, a family or a group of individuals, for a purpose such as philanthropy. It is estimated that private foundations account for approximately 12% of global philanthropic giving and are part of a much wider philanthropic sector which includes charitable organisations, churches, religious organisations and corporate social responsibility activities.
Foundations contribute significantly to the development agenda and have committed important resources to research – most notably in the areas of health and agriculture.
Most private foundations are grant making organisations who do not seek external funding. DFID's relationship with foundations generally takes the form of non-funding collaboration. This means that while we may joint fund with a foundation to support another venture, we will rarely fund foundations themselves.
Through membership of the International Forum for Research Donors, DFID's research and evidence department has strategic discussions with a number of foundations including the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation.
The discussions aim to make sure that the organisations involved share knowledge on areas like research, communication and value for money.
DFID co-funds a variety of programmes alongside the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation including:
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is also one of the founding donors to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (the GAVI Alliance). It has taken a policy lead on working with vaccine manufacturers and the reduction of vaccine prices, which is a policy area DFID will continue to collaborate on in the future.
DFID works closely with private foundations on accountability and transparency. The Transparency and Accountability Initiative (TAI) was launched in March 2010, and is co-chaired by DFID and the George Soros Open Society Foundations.
It helps citizens to hold governing institutions to account and brings together private donors to stimulate innovation in major areas of development work such as climate financing, natural resource governance, aid and budget transparency.
DFID also collaborates with the Nike Foundation which invests exclusively in adolescent girls as a powerful force for change and poverty alleviation in the developing world.
The Nike Foundation's expertise in communications and working with girls, combined with the reach, scale and knowledge of DFID creates a powerful partnership in the Girl Hub joint venture. Girl Hub aims to transform the lives of girls and influence decision-makers in developing countries to do more for girls and to do it better.
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DFID worked with the Gates Foundation and the GAVI Alliance to raise the money to vaccinate 250 million children. Picture: Giacomo Pirozzi/Panos