What The Aziz Foundation does

The Aziz Foundation is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Charity Number 1169558) founded in 2015 by Asif Aziz as a family charitable foundation. Headquartered in London, it provides Masters-level scholarships to British Muslims in partnership with UK universities, alongside an Internships Programme that places students and graduates in professional environments. Its stated mission is to nurture confident, articulate public leaders of Muslim background who can critically engage with public narratives and address social challenges facing British Muslim communities.

The Foundation operates a portfolio of programmes beyond scholarships. The Muslim Friendly Universities (MFU) Programme is a research and advocacy initiative co-funded with multiple UK universities (including De Montfort, Loughborough, Bradford and the University of Manchester), producing reports on the lived experiences of Muslim students, staff, and doctoral researchers. The Aziz Inclusion Award, run in partnership with Emerald Network, is an annual recognition programme for British Muslims aged 40 or under, accompanied by the 'Emerald x Aziz Foundation 100' list. The Foundation also operates community-facing initiatives: Ramadan Lights London (an annual West End illuminated display using over 30,000 LED bulbs, partnered with the Heart of London Business Alliance and Algbra) and the Piccadilly Community Centre, a prayer space and community hub in the basement of the Trocadero building. In 2024, the Foundation published 'From Barriers to Bridges: A Decade of Impact', an independently produced social impact report marking its tenth anniversary.

The Foundation's revenue model is philanthropic rather than commercial. As a registered charity, it does not charge beneficiaries for scholarships or community programmes; income is generated through endowment funding from its founder family and through partner co-funding for specific research projects and community initiatives. Its go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer via its website, supported by a network of UK university partnerships for candidate recruitment and internship placement, and earned media through events such as Ramadan Lights London. The Foundation reports operating completely independently from any third-party organisation or commercial interests, in accordance with statutory charity requirements.

Name

The Aziz Foundation

Legal name

The Aziz Foundation

Website

https://azizfoundation.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Aziz Foundation is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation founded in 2015 that provides Masters scholarships, internships, and research programmes to support British Muslims into higher education and public life, operating community initiatives including Ramadan Lights London and the Piccadilly Community Centre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Education Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH), Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD)

Keywords

• Postgraduate scholarship programs
• Higher education access
• Charitable foundation grants
• University partnership scholarships
• Muslim community leadership

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Foundation Operations: The Aziz Foundation operates as a family charitable foundation that provides scholarships, internships, and community programs. Revenue generation is through philanthropic activities rather than commercial product sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Aziz Foundation is a family charitable foundation that provides Masters-level scholarships to British Muslims studying at partner UK universities, alongside an Internships Programme, the Muslim Friendly Universities research and advocacy programme, the Aziz Inclusion Award, the Ramadan Lights London cultural installation, and a Piccadilly Community Centre prayer and community space. Its activities are funded through philanthropic donations and partner co-funding, and it is regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales under charity number 1169558.

Product overview

The Aziz Foundation is a charitable foundation offering a portfolio of programmes focused on supporting British Muslims into higher education and public life. Its core offerings include the Masters Scholarship Programme providing financial support for postgraduate study, the Internships Programme offering career development opportunities, and the Muslim Friendly Universities Programme conducting research to improve institutional experiences for Muslim students. The Foundation also operates community initiatives including Ramadan Lights London, the Piccadilly Community Centre, and the annual Aziz Inclusion Award. These programmes are designed to nurture confident public leaders who can address social challenges facing British Muslim communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Masters Scholarship Programme A scholarship programme offering financial support to British Muslims pursuing Masters-level postgraduate study at partner UK universities. The programme enables scholars to progress in their careers and develop into public leaders addressing social challenges facing British Muslim communities.
• Internships Programme A work experience programme placing students and graduates in professional environments to support career development alongside academic study. Interns gain hands-on professional experience through placements with partner organisations.
• Muslim Friendly Universities (MFU) Programme A research and advocacy programme co-funded with UK universities to investigate and improve the lived experiences of Muslim students in higher education. Includes co-funded studies such as 'Being and Becoming' with De Montfort University, lived experiences research at Loughborough University, 'Countering Islamophobia on Campus' with the University of Bradford, and the MFU II Conference hosted with the University of Manchester.
• Aziz Inclusion Award An annual awards programme celebrating inspiring British Muslims aged 40 or under, developed in partnership with the Emerald Network. The 2026 longlist has been announced and nominations have opened for the new cycle.
• Ramadan Lights London An annual illuminated display in London's West End celebrating Ramadan, featuring over 30,000 LED bulbs in an aerial lights installation and community activities including the Ramadan Iftar Food Trail delivered in partnership with the Heart of London Business Alliance.
• Piccadilly Community Centre A dedicated prayer space and community centre located in the basement of London's Trocadero building, serving Muslim workers and visitors in the West End with prayer facilities and community services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Scholarship recipients achieve transformational academic and professional outcomes
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• UK Universities (Multiple)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation partners with UK universities by offering scholarship schemes for British Muslims pursuing postgraduate study at the Masters level. This includes co-funded research projects like the Muslim Friendly Universities Programme.
• De Montfort University (DMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funded the 'Being and Becoming: British Muslim Students' First-Year Journeys in Higher Education' research project as part of the Muslim Friendly Universities Programme.
• Loughborough UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funded research on 'Lived Experiences and Improved Futures for Muslim Students, Doctoral Researchers and Staff at Loughborough University' as part of the MFU Programme.
• University of BradfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funded research on 'Countering Islamophobia on Campus' examining lived experiences of Muslim staff and students.
• The University of ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in hosting the Muslim Friendly Universities (MFU) II Conference.
• Heart of London Business AllianceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Ramadan Lights London initiative, including the inaugural Ramadan Iftar Food Trail. A major partnership for the Foundation's flagship community visibility event.
• AlgbraflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the 2023 Ramadan Lights installation, which made history as the first aerial Ramadan lights in Western Europe.
• Emerald NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the Emerald x Aziz Foundation 100 list - 'Inspiring Muslims: Next Generation Edition', showcasing inspiring next generation Muslims aged 40 or under.
• Sonnet Advisory & Impact CICcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndependently produced the Foundation's comprehensive social impact report 'From Barriers to Bridges: A Decade of Impact'.
• University of Exeter (Centre for Social Mobility)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublished 'Catalysing Institutional Reform: Creating an inclusive learning environment for British Muslim students' based on a keynote speech by Foundation's Programme Manager.
• Bridge InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported multiple research reports by the Bridge Institute on British Muslims in higher education, fostering and adoption, economic inactivity, and Islamophobia issues.
• APPG on British MuslimscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the APPG's inquiry into Islamophobia which produced the 'Islamophobia Defined' working definition, and various other reports on British Muslims.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nuffield Foundation: UK grantmaking foundation funding education research and social policy projects, often in partnership with universities. Directly comparable as an education-focused grantmaking trust with co-funded research output.
• The Sutton Trust: UK foundation focused on social mobility through education, including university access programmes and research. Directly comparable in addressing intersectional disadvantage in higher education access.
• Esmée Fairbairn Foundation: UK grantmaking foundation with a strong education, communities, and inclusion focus. Comparable in funding model, beneficiary focus on social mobility, and emphasis on systemic change through research partnerships.
• The Dulverton Trust: UK grantmaking foundation funding education, social inclusion, and community programmes. Directly comparable as a UK trust with focus on educational opportunity and community empowerment.
• The Leverhulme Trust: UK-based family charitable foundation funding education and research through scholarships and grants. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and delivery model to the Aziz Foundation's scholarship programme and university partnerships.
• Muslim Hands: UK-based Muslim charity providing educational and humanitarian support. Comparable as a UK Muslim-focused charitable foundation, though with broader humanitarian scope than Aziz's education focus.
• The Tudor Trust: UK grantmaking charity supporting marginalised communities and community-led change initiatives. Directly comparable in supporting underserved communities through grant-funded programmes in the UK.
• Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust: UK grantmaking trust focused on social change, inclusion, and addressing disadvantage. Comparable as a UK grantmaking trust addressing intersectional disadvantage through systemic programmes.

Broad incumbents

• The King's Trust (formerly The Prince's Trust): Major UK youth development charity funding education, training, and career programmes. Broad incumbent in the UK education/leadership-development space with scholarship-like programming.
• Wellcome Trust: Large UK charitable foundation funding education and research at scale. Overlaps in education grantmaking and university research partnerships but operates at far greater scale across broader agenda.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/azizfndn
• Xx.com/AzizFndn
• Facebookfacebook.com/AzizFndn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Aziz Foundation