Tessa Jowell Foundation

What Tessa Jowell Foundation does

The Tessa Jowell Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales (charity number 1213948) founded in 2018 following the death of Baroness Tessa Jowell from brain cancer, and operated as a standalone entity from 2023. The Foundation is led by Founder & CEO Jess Mills (Baroness Jowell's daughter) with a four-person core team and pursues two strategic pillars: transforming brain cancer treatment and care, and early childhood development advocacy. Its core programmatic assets are the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (a multi-stakeholder coalition with NHS England, NIHR, Cancer Research UK, and 10+ partner organizations), the Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence network (14 adult and 5 children's NHS centres covering 40 million people), the Tessa Jowell Academy (free national training platform with 1,500+ healthcare staff), the Tessa Jowell Fellowship Programme (seed-funded specialist training with NIHR), and Start Strong (a coalition for early childhood development communications launching in 2026).

The Foundation does not develop proprietary technology; its platforms are programmatic coordination, training, and advocacy infrastructure layered on existing NHS delivery. Revenue is generated through individual donations (via JustGiving), corporate partnerships (Accenture, Droga 5, Broster Buchanan, Founders' Forum, Lexington Communications, CMS), event-based fundraising (marathons, Kilimanjaro climbs, skydives, wing walks), and legacy giving. Notable fundraising outcomes include Angel Mums being named JustGiving's Team Fundraiser of the Year 2024 with over £80,000 raised, and Sam Suriakumar raising over £60,000. The Foundation also benefits from pro-bono office space from Studio PDP and strategic support from CMS (legal) and Lexington Communications (communications and archive access).

Its go-to-market is community-led and advocacy-driven rather than commercial, targeting brain cancer patients and families as primary beneficiaries, NHS clinicians and allied health professionals as programme users, and corporate partners plus individual donors as funding sources. The Foundation leverages the personal legacy and political connections of its namesake to convene national health leaders, influence policy through the Department of Health and Social Care, and drive systemic improvement in brain cancer outcomes.

Name

Tessa Jowell Foundation

Legal name

The Tessa Jowell Foundation

Website

https://tessajowellfoundation.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Tessa Jowell Foundation is a UK registered charity (charity number 1213948) founded in 2018 that drives systemic improvement in brain cancer treatment through the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, a national network of 19 Centres of Excellence serving 40 million people, and the Tessa Jowell Academy training 1,500+ NHS staff, while co-founding Start Strong for early childhood development launching in 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Health Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Brain cancer charity
• Early childhood development
• Centres of excellence
• Healthcare training programs
• Cancer research advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The Foundation accepts donations through its JustGiving page. Donations support both brain cancer initiatives and early childhood development programmes.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners provide financial support through Charity of the Year programmes, match-funding campaigns, event sponsorships, and philanthropic gifts. Current corporate partners include Accenture, Droga 5, Broster Buchanan, Founders' Forum, Lexington Communications, and CMS.
3. Fundraising Events: The Foundation organizes and benefits from fundraising events including the London Marathon, Royal Parks Half Marathon, Kilimanjaro climbs, and community challenges. Angel Mums have raised over £80,000 through their Earth, Wind, and Fire Challenge.
4. Legacy Gifts: The Foundation encourages supporters to leave gifts in their wills, described as one of the most powerful ways to shape the future and continue Tessa's legacy.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Tessa Jowell Foundation is a UK-registered charity that funds and advocates for improvements in brain cancer treatment and early childhood development. It runs the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, operates a national network of 14 adult and 5 children's NHS-embedded Centres of Excellence, delivers free healthcare professional training through the Tessa Jowell Academy, funds specialist fellowships with NIHR, and co-founded the Start Strong coalition launching in 2026. Funding is sourced from individual donations, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, and legacy gifts.

Product overview

The Tessa Jowell Foundation is a charitable organization (not a technology company) offering advocacy programs and support services rather than technology products. Its core offerings consist of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission—a partnership with clinicians, hospitals, and policymakers to improve brain cancer care—alongside the Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence network (14 adult and 5 children's NHS centres), the Tessa Jowell Academy (national training platform for healthcare professionals), and the Fellowship Programme (specialist training for future brain cancer leaders). The Foundation also supports the Angel Mums advocacy group and is co-founding Start Strong (launching 2026) focused on early childhood development communications. A podcast series provides awareness content about brain tumours. These are charitable initiatives, not commercial technology products or platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence for Adults and Children A national network of NHS brain cancer centres setting world-class standards for treatment and care, comprising 14 adult and 5 children's Centres of Excellence serving a catchment area of 40 million people in the UK, with additional centres working towards designation.
• Tessa Jowell Academy A free national training platform for healthcare professionals supporting learning, collaboration, sharing of best practice, and continuous improvement in brain cancer care; over 1,500 staff members participate, with 54 nurses and AHPs trained in Supportive Communication skills.
• Tessa Jowell Fellowship Programme Seed funding for specialist training of future leaders in brain cancer care and treatment, delivered in partnership with NIHR.
• Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission A strategic partnership with clinicians, hospitals, researchers, patients, and policymakers to drive innovation and ensure equitable access to world-leading brain cancer care across the UK; the Foundation is a founding funder and strategic partner.
• Start Strong A coalition building a long-term strategic communications vehicle that unites everyone working in early childhood across the UK, founded in 2025 by the Tessa Jowell Foundation alongside leading philanthropic organisations to drive evidence-based advocacy and shift public attitudes toward early-years investment.
• Brain Tumour Awareness Podcast Series A video podcast series exploring brain tumour experiences, featuring conversations with leading clinicians, patients, and campaigners on diagnosis, treatment, caring for someone with a brain tumour, and living with a brain tumour.

Quantifiable outcome

• 19 Centres of Excellence established serving 40 million people
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Broster BuchanancoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025In January 2025, Broster Buchanan became the Foundation's first-ever corporate partner until December 2025. They have contributed to fundraising, especially the work of the Angel Mums.
• Studio PDPminorOthers · 1 January 2025Provides pro-bono office space for the Foundation's twice-monthly team meetings, saving the organization hundreds of pounds a month that can be reinvested in funded work.
• AccenturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In Early 2023, Accenture facilitated workshops for the Foundation to support development of its value and impact strategy. Working with Droga 5, they helped translate strategies into refreshed Mission and Vision statements.
• Droga 5coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Working with Accenture, Droga 5 helped translate the Foundation's strategies into refreshed Mission and Vision statements to maintain focus and sharpen core values as the organization grows.
• Founders' ForumcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAssists the Foundation with events and fundraising, and offers support in making connections with vital new funders.
• Lexington CommunicationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHas generously assisted with communications and helped the Foundation gain access to historic photos of Tessa Jowell from their archive. Also offers advice to the team when needed.
• CMSminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSupports the Tessa Jowell Foundation with legal advice and support.
• NHS EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS England is a partner in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working to improve brain tumour treatment and care across the NHS.
• NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIHR is a partner in delivering the Tessa Jowell Fellowship scheme, which provides specialist training for future leaders in brain cancer care.
• ACT for CancercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working to improve brain cancer treatment and care.
• BrainstrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working to improve brain cancer treatment and care.
• Cancer Research WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working to improve brain cancer treatment and care.
• Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working to improve brain cancer treatment and care for children.
• MinderoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working to improve brain cancer treatment and care.
• Brain Tumour SupportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working to improve brain cancer treatment and care.
• Cancer Research UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working to improve brain cancer treatment and care.
• Brainwaves-NIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working to improve brain cancer treatment and care in Northern Ireland.
• Children with Cancer UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working to improve treatment and care for children with cancer.
• Brain Tumour ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working to improve brain cancer treatment and care through research.
• The Brain Tumour CharitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working to improve brain cancer treatment and care.
• Start Strong CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tessa Jowell Foundation is a co-founder of Start Strong, a new coalition building a long-term strategic communications vehicle that unites everyone working in early childhood across the UK, launching in 2026.
• Brain Cancer JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA powerful patient-led movement campaigning for increased investment in brain cancer research. The Foundation collaborates with Brain Cancer Justice to push for policy changes.
• Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation is a founding funder and strategic partner of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, working with clinicians, researchers, policymakers and patients to drive innovation in brain cancer care.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Children with Cancer UK: UK charity funding research into childhood cancers including brain tumours. Listed Mission partner; directly comparable on paediatric brain-cancer funding, family support, and policy advocacy.
• Brain Tumour Support: UK charity offering support to brain tumour patients and families. Listed Mission partner; directly comparable on family support and patient-advocacy mission within the same disease area.
• The Brain Tumour Charity: UK's largest dedicated brain tumour charity, funding research and support services. Directly comparable as both organisations operate UK brain-cancer missions and partner with NHS neuro-oncology centres.
• Cancer Research Wales: Welsh cancer charity and listed Mission partner. Comparable on cancer research funding and policy advocacy with NHS engagement; geographically narrower scope.
• Brain Tumour Research: UK charity funding brain tumour research through a network of Centres of Excellence and campaigning for increased national investment. Mirror image of the Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence model.
• Brainstrust: UK brain tumour charity focused on patient support and clinical support tools. Listed Mission partner; overlaps on patient services for brain cancer and NHS clinical engagement.

Regional players

• Young Lives vs Cancer (CLIC Sargent): UK charity supporting children and young people with cancer, including brain tumours. Comparable on paediatric cancer family support and NHS clinical service partnerships; broader than brain cancer but strongly overlaps on the Children's Centres of Excellence mission.

Broad incumbents

• Cancer Research UK: The largest UK cancer charity; a listed Mission partner of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission. Overlaps on brain cancer research funding, policy advocacy, and NHS engagement, but operates across all cancers.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: Major UK cancer charity providing support to all cancer patients including those with brain tumours. Comparable fundraising model (donations, legacies, corporate partnerships) and NHS service-improvement partnerships, though broader in scope.

Emerging players

• Minderoo Foundation: Australian global philanthropy that has expanded into brain cancer research and is a listed Mission partner. Comparable as a younger, well-funded entrant seeking to influence brain cancer policy and research at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tessajowellfoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/angelmumsinsta
• Xx.com/foundationtessa
• Facebookfacebook.com/tessajowellfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tessa-jowell-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tessa Jowell Foundation