About
The Ethos Foundation is a UK-based charity established in 2016.
Vision | A society where individuals and communities thrive. |
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Mission | To promote the security and well-being of society. |
Values | Fairness – striving for greater equity and justice. Good citizenship – putting our responsibility to society first. Reflectiveness – building our knowledge and challenging ourselves. |
SDGs
Our overarching goal is to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular:
Currently, the Ethos Foundation is focused exclusively on projects within the UK.
Grant making
Charity partners
We have developed a portfolio of principal charity partners:
The Cabrach Trust has a vision to regenerate the Cabrach as a thriving, sustainable community with its history, heritage and place in Scottish history celebrated and shared by all. To achieve this goal, the Trust plans to build the Cabrach Distillery & Heritage Centre to inspire, educate and engage visitors and to revitalise the Cabrach, giving it a renewed sense of place, pride and community.
The Childhood Trust is London’s child poverty charity, founded with a simple vision: to support vulnerable children living in poverty in London. The Trust works across three thematic areas meeting children’s practical, emotional and inspirational needs. The Trust funds grassroots children’s charities, runs volunteer programmes, and advocates for disadvantaged children.
Thrive at Five has a vision for a society that cherishes children’s development in the early years, and where every child can thrive and achieve their full potential though reaching a ‘good level of development’ at five. The collective impact initiative supports programmes and people that work with these children and their families in their local communities.
Applications
The Ethos Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or proposals for funding.
Governance
The Ethos Foundation is a Registered Charity in England and Wales (number 1166697).
Trustees
The Foundation is governed by a board of trustees. There are no staff members.
Grant Gordon OBE (chair)
Grant Gordon OBE is a philanthropist and social entrepreneur. He is a member of the Philanthropy Workshop (TPW) and a fellow of the RSA. He has founded and built up a small portfolio of charities including the Childhood Trust and the Cabrach Trust, and chairs both these organisations. He is a member of the Beacon Collaborative Advisory Council and chairs the Distillers’ Charity.
Brigitte Gordon
Brigitte Gordon is the wife of Grant Gordon, and mother to their three daughters. She is a member of The Philanthropy Workshop (TPW).
Lucy Blythe
Lucy Blythe is Founder/Director of Philia International, a board and leadership consultancy assisting in succession and strategic planning, and philanthropy advisory. Earlier in her career she was Kew Foundation CEO, partner in an international search firm, and led major fundraising campaigns.
Luka Gakic
Luka is Grant and Brigitte’s son-in-law. A former refugee and ‘scholarship kid’, he is committed to upholding and advancing social mobility and compassion in British society. Beyond his family and charitable commitments, Luka is Head of UK Wealth at Ruffer LLP.
Memberships
The Ethos Foundation is a member of the following organisations:

The Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) is the membership body for UK foundations and grant-making charities. Driven by a belief that foundations are a vital source for social good, its mission is to support them to be ambitious and effective in the way that they use their resources.
The European Foundation Centre (EFC) is a leading platform for philanthropy in Europe, working to strengthen the sector and make the case for institutional philanthropy as a formidable means of effecting change.
Reports
You can view the Ethos Foundation’s annual reports and accounts on the Charity Commission website.