What Stelios Philanthropic Foundation does

The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation is a UK-registered charity (Charity no. 1141206) founded in 2011 by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the founder of easyJet and the easy family of brands. It operates exclusively as a philanthropic vehicle: more than half of easyGroup's annual profits are donated to the Foundation, which in turn channels the funds into charitable programmes across six countries — the UK, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, France, and Monaco. For the year ended 30 September 2025, easyGroup donated £12.7 million, taking cumulative giving since 2010 to €122 million. There is no technology product; the Foundation's principal assets are its brand association with the easy family, four conference hall venues, and its programmatic portfolio.

The Foundation's activities are organised into four pillars: (1) the Food From the Heart programme, which distributes roughly 200,000 snack items per month across Cyprus, Greece, the UK, Ireland, and France via partners including Trussell, Capuchin Day Centre, and Restos du Coeur (42 million+ items distributed since 2012); (2) entrepreneur award programmes — Disabled Entrepreneurs (UK, £300,000/yr), Young Entrepreneurs (UK/Greece/Cyprus/Monaco), Bi-Communal Cyprus Awards (€410,000/yr), and the newly launched North-South Business Cooperation Awards for Ireland (€500,000); (3) direct donations to partner charities including Cancer Research UK, The King's Trust, UNICEF, WWF, Earthshot Prize, and the British Red Cross; and (4) free venue hire for registered charities at its London, Monaco, Athens, and Nicosia conference halls, serving 150+ charities annually.

The Foundation has 18 staff and a board comprising six trustees and ten associate members (16 governance participants), with no commercial pricing model — all services, awards, food, scholarships, and venue use are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. Recent strategic expansion includes a €10 million, seven-year commitment (announced March 2026) to the Greek Ministry of Health to retain 80 doctors on 47 small Greek islands, marking the Foundation's first major healthcare programme. Sir Stelios signed the Giving Pledge in 2017, committing half his wealth to the Foundation during his lifetime or via his will.

Name

Stelios Philanthropic Foundation

Legal name

Stelios Philanthropic Foundation

Website

https://stelios.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation is a UK-registered charity founded in 2011 by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, funded by more than half of easyGroup's annual profits. It operates Food from the Heart, entrepreneur awards, scholarships, and a Greek islands healthcare programme across six European countries, donating £12.7 million in FY2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Philanthropic foundation services
• Charitable giving programs
• Entrepreneur awards
• Food assistance programs
• Scholarship funding

Headquarters

HQ city

London, England

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. easyGroup Profit Donations: easyGroup donates more than half of its annual profits to the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. For the year ended 30 September 2025, donations totalled £12.7m. Cumulative giving by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and easyGroup to the Foundation since 2010 amounts to 122 million euros.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation provides charitable grants, cash-prize entrepreneur awards, food assistance through the Food from the Heart programme, university scholarships, healthcare funding, and free venue hire to registered charities. Funded by donations of over half of easyGroup's annual profits, the Foundation operates programmes across the UK, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, France, and Monaco, including the Greek Islands Doctor Support Initiative and long-running award programmes for disabled and young entrepreneurs.

Product overview

The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation is a charitable organization founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou in 2011, operating as a single unified charitable entity rather than a platform product. The foundation's activities are organized into four main areas: (1) the Food from the Heart programme providing food assistance to vulnerable populations; (2) Awards for Entrepreneurs including Disabled Entrepreneur Awards (UK), Young Entrepreneurs Awards (UK, Greece, Cyprus, Monaco), Bi-communal Cyprus Awards, and North-South Business Cooperation Awards (Ireland); (3) Direct charitable donations to partner organizations; and (4) Free conference hall venues for charities in London, Monaco, Athens, and Nicosia. Funding comes from easyGroup royalties, with over €122 million donated since 2010.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Food from the Heart: Food assistance programme providing 200,000 snacks monthly to those in need, launched in Greece and Cyprus during the 2012 economic crisis and expanded to UK, Ireland, and France.
• Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs
• Stelios Young Entrepreneurs Awards
• Stelios Bi-Communal Awards for Business Co-operation
• North-South Business Cooperation Awards

Products and services

• Food from the Heart Programme Food assistance programme providing 200,000 snacks monthly to food-insecure individuals across Cyprus, Greece, the UK, Ireland, and France, through partnerships with Trussell (UK), Capuchin Day Centre (Ireland), and Restos du Coeur (France). Over 42 million food items distributed since inception.
• Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs (UK) Annual entrepreneur award programme for disabled entrepreneurs in the UK, awarding £300,000 in cash prizes annually in partnership with Leonard Cheshire disability charity. Over £2.15 million donated since 2007.
• Young Entrepreneurs Awards (UK) Annual award programme for UK startup owners aged 34 or younger with companies registered in the last 5 years and revenues of at least £200,000. Three cash prizes totalling £300,000 awarded each year.
• Bi-Communal Cyprus Awards Annual awards promoting peace and cooperation on Cyprus by rewarding Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot entrepreneurs engaged in joint business. €410,000 distributed in 2025, with €4.8 million total since 2009.
• North-South Business Cooperation Awards (Ireland) Awards launched in 2025 to foster cross-border trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with €500,000 prize fund for nine teams of entrepreneurs operating across the island.
• Young Entrepreneurs Awards (Greece) Awards encouraging startups by business owners aged 34 or younger in Greece, running since 2008 with €120,000 distributed to 10 companies in 2019.
• Monaco and Riviera Young Entrepreneur Awards Awards programme launched in 2025 for startups aged 34 or under in Monaco and the French Riviera.
• Conference Hall Venue Services Free conference hall venue hire for registered charities at four locations: London (34 Thurloe Square, 60 capacity), Monaco (14 Quai Antoine 1er, 200 capacity), Athens (Kidathineon 22, 200 capacity), and Nicosia (Markou Drakou 5, 40 capacity), with the Foundation covering event running costs. Over 150 charities use this service annually.
• University Scholarship Programme Scholarships for postgraduate students at LSE, Cass Business School, and other academic institutions from the UK, Greece, Cyprus, and Europe. Approximately €8.8 million has funded about 300 scholarships since 2005.
• Greek Islands Doctor Support Initiative €10 million initiative (2026) supporting retention of 80 doctors on 47 small Greek islands through €1,500 monthly allowance over seven years, addressing healthcare staffing challenges in remote island communities.
• Direct Charitable Donations to Partner NGOs Direct donations to established charities in education, entrepreneurship, disability support, and environmental sustainability, including partnerships with Cancer Research UK, The King's Trust, WWF, UNICEF, Earthshot Prize, Trussell, and the British Red Cross.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over €122 million donated to the Foundation since 2010
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Greek Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2026€10 million, 7-year donation agreement signed with the Greek Ministry of Health to support the retention of 80 doctors on 47 small Greek islands. The Ministry handles implementation including announcement of positions, selection of doctors, and payment of funds to beneficiaries.
• Co-operation IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2025Official partner for the North-South Business Cooperation Awards for the island of Ireland. Co-operation Ireland champions the awards and provides expertise on cross-community diplomacy and relationships to build a better future through economic cooperation.
• Trussell TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership for the Food From the Heart programme in the UK. The Foundation has donated over £1 million in food (chilli con carne tins, 550,000 cans of tomato soup) to Trussell food banks across the UK. Distribution coordinated via Trussell's partner Food and Community Trust (FCT).
• Leonard CheshirecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Long-term partnership since 2007 delivering the Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK. Leonard Cheshire is a leading disability charity that co-delivers the awards programme with the Foundation. The Foundation also donates £50,000 annually to Leonard Cheshire to support the running of the awards.
• London School of Economics (LSE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 200620-year partnership providing the LSE Stelios Scholarship programme for postgraduate students from the UK, Greece, Cyprus and Europe. Sir Stelios is an alumnus, having graduated with a BSc in Economics from LSE (1984-1987). The Foundation funds approximately 10 students per annum to study for postgraduate degrees.
• Cancer Research UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partnership supporting Cancer Research UK's mission of world-class cancer research, influence, and information. The Foundation's support strengthens capacity to prevent cancer, detect it earlier, and accelerate progress towards more effective treatments.
• The King's TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership for more than a decade. Sir Stelios is an Enterprise Fellow of the Trust. The Foundation supports the Trust's enterprise programme helping disadvantaged young people build confidence, develop skills and turn entrepreneurial ideas into reality. Sir Stelios hosted a 50th anniversary lunch at Monaco conference hall.
• UNICEF UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2024, the Foundation contributed generously to UNICEF's State of Palestine appeal, standing by children in Gaza at a pivotal time and helping deliver life-saving support to children affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
• Earthshot PrizemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Earthshot Prize (founded by Prince William and Prince Albert II of Monaco). The Foundation's support helps advance the Prize's mission to find and grow innovative solutions to environmental challenges.
• WWFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental funding partnership with WWF as part of the Foundation's broader environmental sustainability work. The Foundation has contributed €2.5 million to environmental initiatives working with WWF and the Prince Albert II Foundation.
• British Red CrossmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian aid partner. In 2022, the Foundation donated £20,000 to the British Red Cross Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Crisis Appeal.
• Capuchin Day Centre (Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIreland partner for Food From the Heart programme. The Foundation donated 200,000 tins of beans with a retail value of €300,000 to support one of Ireland's largest charities working with people experiencing homelessness, poverty and family hardship.
• Restos du CoeurcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench partner for Food From the Heart programme. Partnership announced to supply tins of mixed vegetables to this major French charity that provides free food and support to those in need.
• Food and Community Trust (FCT)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDistribution partner for UK food donations via the Trussell community. FCT supplies food to more than 80 food banks within the Trussell community across the UK, including Sheffield S6 Foodbank.
• Cass Business School (City, University of London)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner receiving scholarship funding from the Foundation. The Foundation funds approximately 10 students per annum to study at Cass Business School. Cass hosted donor recognition events for scholarship supporters.
• Prince Albert II FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partner. The Foundation works with the Prince Albert II Foundation (alongside WWF) on environmental sustainability initiatives. Prince Albert II was present at the Monaco Solar & Energy Boat Challenge organised by Yacht Club de Monaco.
• Sea CadetsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity supported by the Foundation as part of its 20-year anniversary of supporting UK charities. Sea Cadets is one of the organisations the Foundation has partnered with over the past two decades.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fondation Carmignac: Corporate-funded French foundation supporting environmental and humanitarian causes. Comparable as a European private foundation with environmental programme focus and corporate-funding lineage similar to Stelios.
• The Prince's Trust / King's Trust: A major UK youth and entrepreneurship charity with which the Stelios Foundation has had a decade-plus partnership. Comparable as a programme operator serving young/disabled entrepreneurs with award-style funding models.
• Fondation de Luxembourg: Luxembourg-based philanthropic foundation supporting cross-border charitable initiatives across Europe. Comparable to Stelios as a European private foundation with cross-border giving, although structurally more endowment-based.
• Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco: Monaco-based environmental foundation explicitly partnered with Stelios on environmental initiatives and based in the same operating geography. Highly comparable mission focus on climate/environment and Monaco presence.
• Fondation Air Liquide (Air Liquide Foundation): Corporate-funded French foundation supporting entrepreneurship, education, and community programmes. Comparable to Stelios's corporate-profit-funded model and pan-European entrepreneur award programmes.
• Schwarzkopf Foundation (Stiftung): German private foundation with a strong focus on young entrepreneurship and pan-European grants. Directly comparable to Stelios's Young Entrepreneur Awards programme and cross-country European footprint.
• Sylff Association (Sasakawa Peace Foundation): Foundation providing scholarships and fellowships to students across multiple countries. Directly comparable to the Stelios LSE/Cass scholarship programme in structure and cross-border educational mission.
• King Baudouin Foundation: Belgium-based private foundation operating across multiple European countries with entrepreneur awards, scholarships, and social-purpose programmes. Closely comparable to Stelios in operating model, multi-country footprint, and mix of entrepreneurship and social inclusion focus.

Broad incumbents

• Wellcome Trust: One of the world's largest charitable foundations, focused on health research and education. Highly comparable to Stelios as a UK-registered private foundation with multi-decade programmatic giving and international reach, though at vastly greater scale.

Emerging players

• Fondation Philanthropia: Swiss-based philanthropic foundation supporting education, culture, and humanitarian causes. Comparable as a European grantmaking foundation with cross-border focus, though smaller and less brand-led than Stelios.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/@SteliosPhilFdn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAEEfLMU5Pdj1DnslWU7LWg?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Stelios-Philanthropic-Foundation/314587634344?ref=ts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stelios-philanthropic-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/stelios_foundation
• Pinterestpinterest.com/steliosfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Stelios Philanthropic Foundation