Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation was established in 1961 by Ian Fairbairn as a memorial to his wife Esmée. Today it is one of the largest independent grant-making foundations in the UK.Our aim is to improve the quality of life for people and communities in the UK both now and in the future.

We fund the charitable activities of organisations that have the ideas and ability to achieve change for the better.We like to consider work which others may find hard to fund, perhaps because it breaks new ground, appears too risky, requires core funding, or needs a more unusual form of financial help such as a loan. We also take initiatives ourselves where new thinking is required or where we believe there are important unexplored opportunities.

We aim to commit £25 million annually towards a wide range of work. Our primary interests are in the UK’s cultural life, education and learning, the natural environment and enabling disadvantaged people to participate more fully in society.

Dawn Austwick OBE

Dawn is the Chief Executive of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, a grant-making trust that aims to improve the quality of life throughout the UK. She was formerly the Deputy Director of the British Museum, and from 1995 – 2000 was Project Director of Tate Modern. Before that Dawn was a Principal Consultant at KPMG, Theatre Manager of the Half Moon Theatre, and Projects Co-ordinator at Arts & Business.

Dawn has an MBA from the London Business School and an honorary doctorate from London Metropolitan University. She is a Trustee of Historic Royal Palaces, a member of the NCVO’s Funding Commission and sits on the AHRC Audit Committee and the Public Interest General Council of the Office for Public Management. Dawn is a Companion of the Chartered Institute of Management.