Uggla Family Scholarship: Opening Doors to Education

The Uggla Family Scholarship is designed to reduce financial and other barriers students face when accessing post-secondary education. This scholarship aims to foster academic achievement, ensure a successful transition to university learning and life, build confidence and develop life skills, and position students for career and leadership success. Moreover, it seeks to build a life-long international community in partnership with the Uggla Family Scholars program at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and graduates of the Shitima School in Kabwe, Zambia, and foster networks for life through a dynamic alumni cohort.

Scholarship Objectives

The Uggla Family Scholarship was created in perpetuity to:

Reduce financial and other barriers students face when accessing post-secondary education.
Foster academic achievement.
Ensure successful transition to university learning and life.
Build confidence and develop life skills.
Position students for career and leadership success.
Build a life-long international community in partnership with the Uggla Family Scholars program at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and graduates of the Shitima School in Kabwe, Zambia.
Foster networks for life through a dynamic alumni cohort.

Eligibility Criteria

Ten scholarships are awarded each year to students who face significant financial barriers to participation in post-secondary education. This may include students who identify as Indigenous, Black, or a person of colour, students living with disabilities, LGBTQIA2S+ students, and students of all gender identities. The intent of the Uggla Family Scholarship is to promote equity and remove historical and existing discrimination, including barriers to full participation in social, cultural, economic and political life.

Other eligibility criteria include:

Being admitted to SFU as a domestic applicant.
Demonstrated academic excellence and outstanding potential to be a future leader through personal achievements or contributions to their school or community.
Available to domestic (Canadian) students admitted for the fall term to any undergraduate degree.

How to Apply

The application period for Fall 2024 is now open! Please see below for an overview of what to expect, and advice for completing your scholarship application. You must submit an application to be considered for this scholarship.

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Uggla Family Foundation

The Uggla Family Foundation, established in 2021 by Lance Uggla, founder of IHS Markit, operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Representing a first-generation family philanthropy, the foundation has a history of over 15 years of collective philanthropic experience and has committed over $34 million across its charitable initiatives.

Foundation's Approach

The foundation adopts a strategic, long-term approach to philanthropy, aiming to create transformational change through sustained partnerships rather than one-off grants. It is known for major endowments, including £25.2 million to the London School of Economics and C$34.1 million to Simon Fraser University, both establishing perpetual scholarship programs for underrepresented students. The foundation is managed by the Uggla family with 5 trustees and supported by 40 volunteers.

Funding Priorities

The foundation does not operate open grant programs but rather develops strategic partnerships. Known funding includes:

Education Scholarships: Multi-million pound endowments creating perpetual scholarship programs (LSE: £25.2m; SFU: C$34.1m).
Arts & Culture: Major institutional partnerships (BFI: £1 million for digital platform development).
Health & Reproductive Medicine: Support for specialist medical institutes.
Animal Welfare: International animal welfare projects, particularly in Thailand.
Climate: Supporting pathways to net zero.

Priority Areas

The foundation works across five key pillars:

Education: Endowing tertiary education with focus on removing barriers for underrepresented students; scholarships emphasize academic excellence, leadership potential, and financial need.
Creative Arts: Supporting universal access to arts and culture; interest in digital innovation and workforce development for young people from underrepresented communities.
Health: Enabling better healthcare outcomes, including reproductive medicine.
Climate: Supporting transition to net zero.
Animal Welfare: Providing care and wellbeing for animals in need.

Geographic Priorities

While UK-registered, the foundation operates internationally with documented activities in Canada, USA, and Thailand.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly disclosed, but the foundation's approach suggests they:

Do not accept unsolicited applications.
Focus on causes "close to the family's hearts."
Prefer transformational, long-term partnerships over small one-off grants.
Seek opportunities for sustained, generational impact.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:
- Lance Uggla - Founder, alumnus of Simon Fraser University and London School of Economics, founder of IHS Markit.
- Cassidy Uggla - Foundation Trustee, active spokesperson for foundation initiatives.
- Riley Uggla - Trustee
Key Staff & Advisors:
- Roslyn Taylor - Manages Uggla Family Office; 25+ years financial industry experience.
- Will Meldrum - Consultant and board adviser.
- Matthew Uggla - Works in Uggla Family Office.
- Kendall Uggla - Manages ESG strategies.

Leadership Philosophy

Lance Uggla has stated: “I feel fortunate every single day that I have benefited from an excellent university education, and by enabling these scholarships in perpetuity it is my way of saying thank you to Simon Fraser University and LSE for giving me such a strong foundation for my career.”

The family's approach centers on belief in “the positive return that results when doors are opened for those who have traditionally faced barriers to higher education.”

Application Process for Uggla Family Foundation

No public application process is available. The foundation develops strategic partnerships through direct engagement. Based on their operational model:

The foundation identifies causes aligned with their values and charitable pillars.
Family members work together to identify causes where they can create lasting impact.
Focus is on commitments that last and benefit future generations.
Partnerships appear to be invitation-based or relationship-driven.

Organizations interested in partnership may consider:

Reaching out via the contact details provided to introduce alignment with foundation priorities.
Demonstrating potential for transformational, long-term impact.
Showing how partnership could create generational benefit.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the scale of commitments (multi-million pound, multi-year partnerships), expect extended relationship-building and due diligence periods.

Success Rates

Not applicable-the foundation does not operate an open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the partnership-based model.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not accept open applications, insights from their funded partnerships suggest they value:

Alignment with Family Values: Projects must resonate with causes "close to the family's hearts."
Strong emphasis on equity and removing historical barriers: Focus on underrepresented and underserved communities.
Transformational Scale: The foundation favors significant, paradigm-shifting commitments.
Interest in perpetual impact (endowments, sustained programs).
Innovation & Future-Focused: Digital innovation (BFI+ streaming platform transformation).
Workforce development and skills for young people: Projects positioned to benefit future generations.
Evidence of Impact Potential: Partnership with BFI emphasizes that commercial profits will be reinvested into charitable activities.
Focus on measurable outcomes: scholarships specify “10 full-ride scholarships annually.”
Strong governance and sustainability models.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

BFI (2024): £1 million for digital platform evolution, workforce development for underrepresented youth.
LSE (2020): £25.2 million endowment for 10 annual undergraduate scholarships for financially disadvantaged students showing academic excellence and leadership.
SFU (2020): C$34.1 million endowment for 10 annual scholarships for students facing significant financial barriers, including Indigenous, Black, persons of colour, disabled, and LGBTQIA2S+ students.
International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine: Health sector support.
Al-Khoei Benevolent Foundation: Humanitarian work.
Soho House Foundation: Creative arts sector.
Explore Foundation: Youth development.
Young Tongues: Arts/culture for young people.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Relationship-based funding model: This is not a foundation that accepts cold applications. Building a relationship or securing an introduction would be essential for any partnership consideration.
Think generational impact: The foundation is explicitly focused on commitments “that last and will benefit future generations to come.” One-off projects are unlikely to align.
Scale matters: With individual commitments ranging from £1 million to £25+ million, the foundation is oriented toward major institutional partnerships, not small grants.
Family-centered decision making: The Uggla family works together to identify causes, suggesting decisions are highly personal and values-driven rather than process-driven.
Equity and access are core values: Nearly all identified funding relates to removing barriers for underrepresented, underserved, or disadvantaged communities.
Strategic pillars are genuine priorities: Education, Creative Arts, Health, Animal Welfare, and Climate are not general themes-they reflect the family's authentic interests with documented major investments in each area.
Innovation attracts attention: The BFI partnership specifically focused on digital transformation and next-generation delivery, suggesting appetite for forward-thinking approaches.

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