What Oak Foundation does

Oak Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation formally established in 1983 by Alan Parker, with resources originating from the Duty Free Shoppers business. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Foundation operates as a group of independent philanthropic organisations distributed across Denmark, the UK, the US, and Zimbabwe, employing 11–50 staff. It does not sell products or services; instead it disburses grants to registered not-for-profit organisations worldwide through ten programmatic verticals: eight global programmes (Environment, Global Climate Initiatives, Housing and Homelessness, International Human Rights, Issues Affecting Women, Learning Differences, Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, and Special Interest) and two country programmes (Oak Foundation Denmark covering Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and the Zimbabwe Programme).

In 2025, Oak Foundation distributed USD 383 million across 365 programme grants and 613 discretionary grants to 336 organisations based in 33 countries. Its grant-making model is distinctive in three respects: it favours multi-year core/unrestricted support, it caps contributions at no more than 50% of any project budget or 20% of any organisational budget to encourage grantee independence, and it makes substantial use of re-granters and capacity-building intermediaries to extend reach to frontline organisations. Beyond direct funding, Oak is implementing the International Non Profit Accounting Standard (INPAS), a sector-wide shared reporting system designed to reduce administrative burden on non-profits. It also partners with safeguarding bodies (Funder Safeguarding Collaborative) and capacity builders (Resource Alliance) to strengthen grantee organisational effectiveness, particularly across Africa and Latin America.

The Foundation is governed by Trustees who set programme priorities, and its grantee portfolio spans environmental marine conservation, climate and clean energy, housing and homelessness, human rights and criminal justice reform, women's rights, learning differences education, child sexual abuse prevention, and country-specific work in Zimbabwe and the Nordic region. Communications occur primarily through the foundation's website, annual reports, twice-yearly newsletters via MailChimp, YouTube video content, and programme-specific case studies.

Name

Oak Foundation

Legal name

Oak Philanthropy Ltd

Website

https://oakfnd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Oak Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in 1983 by Alan Parker, headquartered in Geneva. It disburses grants globally through ten programmes to not-for-profit organisations, distributing USD 383 million in 2025 to 336 grantees across 33 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Grant-making Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grant-making
• Nonprofit foundation
• Charitable grants
• Social impact funding
• Civil society support

Headquarters

HQ city

Chapel Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant-making (Outflow): Oak Foundation does not generate revenue. As a philanthropic foundation, it distributes funds received from its founder Alan Parker (Duty Free Shoppers) and investment returns to not-for-profit organizations worldwide. In 2025, Oak Foundation made grants totalling USD 383 million to 336 organisations based in 33 countries.

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Oak Foundation is a private philanthropic grant-making foundation that distributes financial resources to not-for-profit organisations addressing global issues of social and environmental concern. The Foundation operates through ten programmes: eight global programmes (Environment, Global Climate Initiatives, Housing and Homelessness, International Human Rights, Issues Affecting Women, Learning Differences, Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, and Special Interest) and two country programmes (Oak Foundation Denmark and Zimbabwe). It provides multi-year core support grants and discretionary grants to registered not-for-profit organisations worldwide.

Product overview

Oak Foundation is a philanthropic grant-making organisation, not a technology product company. Its offerings consist of ten grant-making programmes: eight global programmes (Environment, Global Climate Initiatives, Housing and Homelessness, International Human Rights, Issues Affecting Women, Learning Differences, Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, and Special Interest) and two country programmes (Oak Foundation Denmark and Zimbabwe). Additionally, Oak Foundation supports the implementation of the International Non Profit Accounting Standard (INPAS) reporting system, a sector-wide initiative to streamline grant-reporting processes across the not-for-profit sector. Through these programmes, Oak Foundation commits resources to address global, social, and environmental concerns through multi-year, core support grants and flexible project grants to registered not-for-profit organisations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environment Programme A global grant-making programme that safeguards natural environments through three sub-programmes: Marine Food Systems and Livelihoods, Nature and People, and Regenerative Landscapes, using a systems change approach to address societal challenges affecting communities and natural environments. It is for not-for-profit organisations worldwide working on environmental protection and sustainable livelihoods.
• Global Climate Initiatives Programme A grant-making programme established in 2025 that supports practical, affordable, people-first solutions helping communities thrive while reducing pollution and overuse of natural resources. Focuses on cleaner energy adoption, waste reduction, and sustainable food systems for not-for-profit organisations and think-tanks working on climate action.
• Housing and Homelessness Programme A grant-making programme that supports not-for-profit organisations to end homelessness and create housing opportunity. Focuses on reducing and preventing homelessness, strengthening renter rights, and increasing supply and access to genuinely affordable and decent homes in the UK and beyond.
• International Human Rights Programme A grant-making programme that protects and promotes human rights globally by supporting civil society organisations working to close the gap between human rights rhetoric and lived experience, with a focus on detention as a last resort and due process rights. It is for not-for-profit civil society organisations globally, with significant activity in Brazil.
• Issues Affecting Women Programme A grant-making programme that funds organisations and movements worldwide to ensure women and girls are safe, free, and have equal opportunity to thrive. It supports cross-cutting strategies to build women's movements, end domestic violence, stop psychological violence, and prevent trafficking and exploitation, particularly in Latin America.
• Learning Differences Programme A grant-making programme that supports not-for-profit organisations creating learning environments to improve education for students with learning differences. Focuses on building educator knowledge, translating research into practice, and creating enabling conditions for schools to adopt supportive practices such as science of reading approaches in the United States.
• Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Programme A grant-making programme working towards a world where all children can thrive by supporting survivors, change-makers, and researchers accelerating action to end child sexual abuse online and offline. Focuses on dialogue, connection, and positive narratives to help young people engage in healthy relationships, with co-founded initiatives such as LinkUp Lab and Young Men and Media Collective.
• Special Interest Programme A grant-making programme that provides Trustees with space and flexibility to make grants outside of other programme strategies, supporting diverse fields including medical research, education, environment, humanitarian relief, mental health, and the arts with multi-year core and project support. It funds partners such as Trussell, Helpforce, ASAP, Transplanting Traditions Community Farm, Durham Technical Community College, Nest, and Resourceful Communities.
• Oak Foundation Denmark A country grant-making programme providing grants to not-for-profit organisations in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands that support people furthest from opportunity, including undocumented migrants, individuals living in shelters, people experiencing homelessness, and those earning a living through street-based sex work.
• Zimbabwe Programme A national grant-making programme funding local organisations in Zimbabwe that support the hopes and aspirations of Zimbabweans, particularly those furthest from opportunity. Focuses on helping families and communities thrive, building skills, fostering entrepreneurship, and supporting children and others with special needs, including partners such as Island Hospice and Healthcare, The HALO Trust, Agricultural Partnerships Trust (APT), Zimbabwe Women's Bureau (ZWB), and Farm Orphan Support Trust (FOST).
• INPAS Reporting System The International Non Profit Accounting Standard (INPAS) reporting system is a shared sector-wide financial reporting standard designed to reduce unnecessary administrative burden for not-for-profit organisations. Oak Foundation is implementing this system to streamline grant-reporting processes for grantees and to boost transparency, consistency, and confidence for funders and grant-making organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• USD 383 million in grants distributed to 336 organisations in 33 countries in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers46 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles10 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.

• The Resource AlliancenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered the Emerge Programme - a 16-month initiative supporting 20 Oak grantees from 14 African countries to revise organisational purpose and create income diversity through enhanced skills, strategy, and networks.
• Funder Safeguarding CollaborativenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers annual child safeguarding training for Oak Foundation, addressing risks and opportunities linked to new technologies including AI. Also led research in 2025 to develop practice standards for safeguarding in grant-making organisations.
• Renewables FirstcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy and environment think-tank based in Islamabad working to strengthen the enabling environment for distributed renewables in Pakistan through public awareness, knowledge sharing, and constructive engagement with decision-makers.
• World Resources Institute (WRI) Polsky CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organisation supported through Global Climate Initiatives Programme to support practical clean energy solutions.
• European Climate FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported through Global Climate Initiatives Programme for climate action work.
• EmbercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy think-tank supported through Global Climate Initiatives Programme, tracking global energy transition and providing data on renewable energy adoption.
• Hispanics in PhilanthropycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRe-granting, networking and capacity-building organisation founded in 1983 that provides grants, training, convenings and technical assistance to organisations in Latin America and the Caribbean, especially Mexico.
• Instituto de Defesa do Direito de DefesanotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed legal expertise and engaged with judicial authorities on custody hearings in Brazil.
• Rede de Justiça CriminalnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged with parliamentarians on custody hearings and criminal justice reform in Brazil.
• Instituto de Estudos da ReligiãonotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlayed central role in monitoring conduct of custody hearings at state level in Rio de Janeiro.
• MovembercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convenor of Young Men and Media Collective (YMMC) with Equimundo, supporting initiatives to shift digital culture for young men.
• EquimundocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of LinkUp Lab and co-convenor of Young Men and Media Collective, working to engage young men in healthy relationships.
• Futures Without ViolencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of LinkUp Lab with Equimundo to guide young men away from toxic online content.
• Citizens AdvicenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Trussell on Help through Hardship helpline providing practical advice and emotional support.
• MindnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Trussell on Help through Hardship helpline providing mental health support.
• NestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit organisation expanding economic opportunity through craft, supporting artisans and creating pipelines for hand-crafted product markets.
• Blue VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental not-for-profit hosting the Transform Bottom Trawling Coalition, working with local communities to protect fish stocks and marine habitats.
• Turning TidescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational re-granter working across Asia, Africa, and Latin America to support coastal and shoreline communities and small-scale fishers.
• Coalition for Fisheries TransparencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of civil society organisations working to improve transparency and accountability in fisheries governance and management.
• Global Fishing WatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUses cutting-edge technology combining satellite imagery with GPS data to create global snapshots of maritime industrial activity.
• FIMA NGOnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with lawyers in Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Chile using surveillance data from Global Fishing Watch to build legal cases against illegal fishing.
• Environmental Justice FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports efforts to protect small-scale fisheries and marine ecosystems.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ford Foundation: One of the largest US-based private foundations with multi-billion-dollar annual grantmaking addressing inequality, human rights, climate, and democratic participation. Comparable to Oak in programme breadth and systems-change approach across multiple continents.
• MacArthur Foundation: Major US private foundation supporting creative, global, and grantmaking programmes including climate solutions and human rights. Comparable to Oak in deploying large-scale, multi-year, programmatic grantmaking across geographies.
• Wellcome Trust: UK-based independent foundation funding global health research and broader societal challenges, with endowment-funded grantmaking. Comparable in international geographic reach, multi-year core support, and large grant outflows.
• Bloomberg Philanthropies: Large private foundation with major climate, public health, and education programmes plus strong international footprint. Comparable in scale, founder-funded origins, and diversified global cause portfolio.
• Hewlett Foundation: US-based private foundation funding environment, education, and global development with an explicit commitment to core, unrestricted support and long-term strategy. Highly comparable in grantmaking philosophy and programme structure to Oak.
• Rockefeller Foundation: Historic US private foundation with major climate, health, equity and global development programmes. Comparable to Oak in long operating history, international scope, and systems-change grantmaking approach.

Others

• Funder Safeguarding Collaborative: Coalition of foundations coordinating safeguarding standards and shared practices for grantmaking organisations. Listed as a partner in Oak's annual report and adjacent in role—strengthening the operational and safeguarding infrastructure of the foundation sector.

Direct peers

• Open Society Foundations: Large privately funded foundation that makes international grants across human rights, climate, gender equity, and democratic governance. Most directly comparable to Oak given similar scale, unrestricted grantmaking philosophy, and overlapping cause portfolios (international human rights, women, climate).
• Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF): Major privately funded foundation focused on climate, children's welfare, and global health with a systems-change and programmatic grantmaking model. Comparable to Oak in international scope and emphasis on multi-year, flexible grantmaking.

Regional players

• Robert Bosch Foundation: German-based corporate-affiliated foundation funding international relations, education, health, and social issues across Europe and globally. Comparable in international grantmaking, multi-programme structure, and focus on social concerns.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAyIOCLcCekqWNogUcs8Xfg
• Xx.com/oakfnd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments3 records

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Frequently asked questions about Oak Foundation