Stavros Niarchos Foundation

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation was established by Stavros S. Niarchos to support and promote his vision and interests in education, social welfare, health and medicine, and arts and culture. Since 1996, the SNF has made grant commitments of €1.5 billion, through 3,526 grants to nonprofit organizations in 111 nations around the world.

In 2006 the foundation announced its commitment to provide full funding for the creation of The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens (www.SNFCC.org), which will include the new buildings for the National Library of Greece, the Greek National Opera, and a 170,000 m² (42 acres) cultural park. The project’s cost exceeds €450 million ($630,000,000), making it one of the largest individual gifts ever made by a foundation.

Mission

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation, an international philanthropic organisation, makes grants in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. While prominent in its support of Greek-related initiatives, the foundation’s activities are worldwide in scope. The foundation funds institutions and projects that exhibit strong leadership and sound management and that are expected to achieve broad, lasting, and positive social impact. The foundation encourages grantees to collaborate, and works closely with them to monitor their progress. In addition, the foundation actively seeks to support projects that facilitate the formation of public-private partnerships as effective means for serving public welfare.

Geographic Focus

Greece, Europe, Africa, America, South Asia, Australia, International

Programme Areas

The foundation is active in the following areas:

• Arts and Culture
• Education
• Health and Sports
• Social Welfare

Arts and culture
Provides funds and grants to cultural and art organisations, institutions and museums for cultural or art programmes and projects, performances, publications, exhibitions, events, related campaigns, renovations and conservation initiatives, infrastructure and equipment needs.

Education
Provides funds and grants to universities, schools, educational institutions and non-profit organisations for courses and lectures, educational and research programmes, publications, expeditions, facilities and equipment, operating support and field staff costs.

Health and Sports
Provides funds and grants to medical centres, hospitals, foundations, associations and institutions for medical research, specialised healthcare and treatment programmes, equipment and operating support.

Social welfare
Provides funds and grants to associations, community institutions, foundations and public benefit organisations for disaster relief efforts, water, hygiene and sanitation projects, infrastructure, equipment and vehicles, operating support; several of these projects address handicapped people, children and/or women in need.