The Julia Rausing Trust, set up after the British philanthropist died in April this year, will merge with a charitable foundation she founded with her husband Hans.
It will merge with the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust next year, with the merged organisation to be named the Julia Rausing Trust.
The merger was announced at a memorial for Julia Rausing in London, which was attended by Charity Commission chair Orlando Fraser.
£100m pledge
The merged organisation plans to honour the previous Julia Rausing Trust’s commitment to give out £100m to UK charities and organisations in its first year.
It had extended this pledge to give out £100m-worth of funds every year, which is roughly double the average annual amount the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust gave in grants.
The increased funding comes at a time when several funding streams have closed or been paused due to overwhelming demand or strategic reviews.
Hans Rausing chose to continue his giving under his late wife’s name to honour her memory and build on her philanthropic legacy.
Julia Rausing Trust was launched in July 2024 in memory of Julia who passed away in April the same year after an extended illness.
Hans and Julia founded the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust in 2014. The trust has made over 2,000 grants worth over £410m since.
Fraser: ‘Incredible philanthropic legacy’
Simon Fourmy, Julia Rausing Trust director, said: “Uniting these two trust funds under Julia Rausing’s name acknowledges the leading role she played in directing our philanthropic giving over many years.
“The increase in annual giving will benefit many charities in the years to come, building on Julia’s significant contribution to UK society and continuing to honour her memory.”
Fraser, the Charity Commission chair, said: “Julia leaves a literally incredible philanthropic legacy, having conducted with Hans a massive campaign of giving to British charities since 2014 that places these Rausing heirs to Tetrapak on a par with the philanthropy of Carnegie or Frick in their heyday.
“Julia understood the unique and hugely important role philanthropy can make to society.
“And she lived that principle by giving generously, publicly, and with pride, not only of her family’s wealth, but of her passion and expertise, which is seen in a number of ways.”
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