What Chandler Foundation does

Chandler Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in 2013 by New Zealand-born investor and entrepreneur Richard Chandler, headquartered in Seattle, WA with operational subsidiaries in Singapore and Cape Town and program activity across more than 15 countries. The foundation's mission is to build "cultures of integrity" across government, marketplace, and community domains, primarily by partnering with national governments and anti-corruption institutions in developing nations. Its core programmatic offerings include National Action Plans developed under the Open Government Partnership framework, the Chandler Papers (a 12-publication series produced through the Oxford University-based Chandler Sessions on Integrity and Corruption), the Anti-Corruption Manual, the Anti-Corruption Leader Practice Group, and the Character is Destiny values curriculum for school-aged children; it also publishes the annual Social Investor magazine.

The foundation operates through a wholly-owned network of specialized subsidiaries collectively branded as the Flourishing World Network — Chandler Governance Group (Singapore, 2019), Chandler Institute of Justice (Cape Town, 2024), Chandler Institute of Governance, Chandler Academy of Governance, and Chandler Sessions on Integrity and Corruption. With a small core team of approximately 9 employees, the organization delivers programs via direct government engagement, peer-learning networks, and high-level convening at forums such as the World Economic Forum, Skoll World Forum, and the UN Convention Against Corruption. All programs and knowledge products are provided to partner governments at no cost, with revenue flowing entirely from founder Richard Chandler's charitable contributions rather than any commercial activity.

Reported program outcomes include helping Malawi unlock $20 million in World Bank governance trust fund payments and $6.5 million in IDA support for beneficial ownership transparency, engaging 39 senior anti-corruption practitioners from 11 African countries at the Doha launch of the Anti-Corruption Manual in 2025, and rolling out Character is Destiny across 30 schools in six Zambian provinces. The foundation has received industry recognition including a 2023 Gold Stevie Award for Social Investor magazine and a 2021 Catalyst 2030 Award.

Name

Chandler Foundation

Legal name

Chandler Foundation

Website

https://chandlerfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Chandler Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation founded in 2013 by Richard Chandler that partners with national governments and anti-corruption institutions, primarily in Africa, to build cultures of integrity through National Action Plans, knowledge products, and youth curricula via its Flourishing World Network of subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Governance and Anti-Corruption Philanthropy Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance, Democracy & Rule of Law (BPAGABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Governance and integrity programs
• Anti-corruption capacity building
• Philanthropic foundation services
• National integrity reform
• Civil society and government partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Foundation Funding: Chandler Foundation operates as a philanthropic organization funded by its founder Richard Chandler and other donors. Revenue is generated through charitable donations and grant funding rather than commercial products or services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chandler Foundation partners with national governments to develop and implement National Action Plans that build cultures of integrity across government, marketplace, and community domains. It produces knowledge products including the Chandler Papers series, the Anti-Corruption Manual, and the Character is Destiny youth values curriculum. All programs are delivered at no cost to partner governments through direct engagement, technical working groups, and network convenings.

Product overview

Chandler Foundation is a philanthropic organization focused on building cultures of integrity around the world through governance programs, knowledge products, and capacity building. The organization operates across three domains: government, marketplace, and community, using a 'Trust Waterfall' framework. Its portfolio includes National Action Plans (developed in partnership with governments), the Chandler Papers (a 12-publication series from Oxford University), the Anti-Corruption Manual, the Anti-Corruption Leader Practice Group, and the Character is Destiny values curriculum for youth. The foundation also produces Social Investor magazine as its signature annual publication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Flourishing World Network: A network of Chandler organizations united by shared heritage and common goal of flourishing world through better national governance
• National Action Plans
• Chandler Papers
• Anti-Corruption Manual
• Anti-Corruption Leader Practice Group
• Character is Destiny Program

Products and services

• National Action Plans Partnering with government leaders to develop and implement reform commitments that contain specific, actionable, and time-bound policies to build cultures of integrity. The process involves National Integrity Reports to identify gaps, followed by development and implementation of National Action Plans through the Open Government Partnership framework.
• Chandler Papers A set of 12 publications written by anti-corruption practitioners setting out a new generation of models and tools to dislodge entrenched corruption and build cultures of integrity. Produced as an output of the Chandler Sessions on Integrity and Corruption at Oxford University.
• Anti-Corruption Manual A practical guide for leaders of anti-corruption institutions containing strategies and tools needed to promote integrity and combat corruption effectively. Launched in Doha at the UN Convention Against Corruption with 39 senior practitioners from 11 African countries.
• Anti-Corruption Leader Practice Group A community of practice bringing together current and former heads of national anti-corruption agencies to discuss emerging challenges in anti-corruption and refine the contents of the Anti-Corruption Manual through peer learning.
• Character is Destiny Program A values curriculum focused on building cultures of integrity among school-aged children, providing an interactive program focusing on integrity, honesty, trust, honor, servanthood, courage, and accountability through engaging lessons, peer discussions, and positive role models.
• Social Investor Magazine An annual glossy print and digital publication serving social innovators and leaders in global philanthropy. Features diverse contributors from heads of state to entrepreneurs and philanthropists, sharing insights on achieving durable impact at scale.

Quantifiable outcome

• $20 million unlocked from World Bank governance trust fund for Malawi
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Chandler Governance GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in Singapore in 2019, Chandler Governance Group supports governments by developing leaders, strengthening institutions, and building public service capabilities through technical projects, training programs, the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI), and knowledge products. Part of the Flourishing World Network.
• Chandler Institute of JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in Cape Town, South Africa in 2024, Chandler Institute of Justice supports leaders, lawmakers, and legislative bodies across Africa with law reform advisory services, specialized legal training, development of model laws and legal knowledge products promoting good governance, economic development, and social mobility. Part of the Flourishing World Network.
• Chandler Sessions on Integrity and CorruptioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA three-year program convened at Oxford University that brings together senior anti-corruption officials from countries worldwide to develop and test new generation strategies to entrench public integrity. Chandler Foundation is the sponsor.
• Chandler Institute of GovernancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks to strengthen civil service and improve government effectiveness, forging partnerships with newly elected leaders in Malawi and Zambia to support good governance reforms.
• Open Government PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal membership of 75 countries and 150 local governments where government and non-government actors co-create National Action Plans of specific, monitored reforms to tackle corruption, advance good governance, and improve transparency. Chandler Foundation supported Malawi's reactivation and National Action Plan.
• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough support and strategic networking, Chandler Foundation helped Malawi tap into a World Bank governance trust fund to unlock $20 million in performance-based payments. Also facilitated $6.5m in IDA support for beneficial ownership transparency.
• Open OwnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization working to institutionalize transparency and accountability in government systems. Chandler Foundation connected Malawi to Open Ownership for beneficial ownership initiatives.
• Open Contracting PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization working to institutionalize transparency, accountability, and fairness within government procurement systems. Chandler Foundation connected Malawi to Open Contracting Partnership.
• Zambia Anti-Corruption CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body partnered with Chandler Foundation to launch Character is Destiny curriculum for youth, promoting ethical leadership among students across Zambia.
• Extractives Industries Transparency InitiativemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-stakeholder framework engaging government, civil society, and extractive industry companies to improve governance and fair markets. Government of Malawi is a member of EITI.
• Amazon, USAID, BHP FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in the JET Minerals Challenge (Powering a Just Energy Transition Green Minerals Challenge) to catalyze development, application, and scaling of innovations to strengthen transparency and counter corruption in critical mineral supply chains.
• Transparency InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal anti-corruption organization. Chandler Foundation and Transparency International Sri Lanka co-authored a letter to the Financial Times on IMF's role in ensuring Sri Lanka's anti-corruption bill results in sustainable change.
• IREXmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational nonprofit organization. Chandler Foundation and IREX co-hosted panel discussions on building trust and hosted salon discussions on trust-building at the community level.
• National Democratic InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrought together with Open Government Partnership and Chandler Foundation for high-level panel discussion on reforming the global public debt system to address corruption and governance concerns.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Open Society Foundations: One of the largest private foundations globally, with extensive governance, anti-corruption, and rule-of-law grantmaking programs across Africa and worldwide. Comparable to Chandler Foundation in its focus on governance reform but operates at far greater scale with a multi-billion endowment.
• Ford Foundation: Major US foundation with a dedicated international governance and civic engagement portfolio that supports anti-corruption, transparency, and accountable governance initiatives across the Global South. Comparable as a fellow grantmaking foundation pursuing governance outcomes through policy reform support.
• MacArthur Foundation: Large US foundation that has invested significantly in governance, transparency, and anti-corruption work globally. Both foundations pursue long-horizon, system-change outcomes in governance with high-conviction grantmaking approaches.
• Bloomberg Philanthropies: Major philanthropic vehicle funding governance and anti-corruption initiatives globally, including partnerships with national governments on transparency reforms. Comparable in operating through government partnerships and direct engagement with heads of state to advance reform agendas.

Direct peers

• Omidyar Network: Philanthropic investment firm founded by eBay's Pierre Omidyar that explicitly focuses on governance, citizen engagement, and anti-corruption. The most direct functional peer — a founder-led philanthropic vehicle prioritizing governance reform through grants and impact investments across emerging markets.
• Transparency International: The leading global anti-corruption civil society organization, producing the Corruption Perceptions Index and partnering with governments on reform. Directly comparable as Chandler Foundation co-authored FT commentary with its Sri Lanka chapter and operates in the same anti-corruption institutional space.
• Mo Ibrahim Foundation: Foundation focused specifically on governance and leadership in Africa, producing the Ibrahim Index of African Governance. Most direct peer in terms of geographic focus (Africa) and thematic concentration (governance), with a similarly founder-driven, high-conviction model.
• International IDEA: Intergovernmental organization supporting democratic governance and rule of law worldwide with strong African member-state programs. Comparable as a peer institution that supports governments on democratic and governance reform, particularly in transitional contexts where Chandler Foundation operates.
• Carter Center: Nonprofit founded by former US President Jimmy Carter focused on democracy, governance, and rule of law programs in developing countries. Comparable as a peer engaging governments directly on democratic and anti-corruption reforms through long-duration partnerships.
• Open Government Partnership: Multistakeholder initiative of 75 countries focused on government transparency and accountability through National Action Plans. Chandler Foundation directly supported Malawi's OGP reactivation and National Action Plan development, making OGP both a partner and the closest functional peer in the National Action Plan reform model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/chandlerfdn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@chandlerfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chandler-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Chandler Foundation