Sigrid Rausing

Sigrid Rausing is a remarkable leading philanthropist who, from an early age, has worked hard to bring about social change. She has set up a major foundation with her own wealth, the Sigrid Rausing Trust, which is now one of the top donors in the UK. Under Sigrid's guidance and leadership, it has given away over £50 million in bold and innovative ways, setting an example for others.

Sigrid has a PhD in Anthropology and was an early member of the Network for Social Change. In the early 1990's she set up her first charitable trust and by the mid '90's created a major trust, the Sigrid Rausing Trust. Sigrid chose to support a limited number of causes in which she profoundly believes and which often find it hard to raise funds, including human rights, women's rights, minority and indigenous rights, and social and environmental advocacy.

Sigrid is directly involved in her trust, chairing its meetings and, with her trustees, deciding which groups to support and at what level. The trust aims to give away £12.5 million in 2005. The hallmark of the trust's work is its interest in social change and innovative ideas. The trust's grants are offered in as flexible a way as possible and renewed on a yearly basis. Sigrid recognises that change takes time and that advocacy groups need long-term support in order to prosper.

The Sigrid Rausing Trust is currently Europe's largest private donor to groups that support women. It has been critical to the success of WOMANKIND, which campaigns for women's rights to be recognised in countries like South Africa and Afghanistan, and also of Rainbo, which works to prevent female genital mutilation in Africa. The trust has enabled The Hestia Fund to be set up in the UK. This organisation supports the development of women's advocacy centres, working to help families who are victims of domestic violence to stay in their own homes, instead of being forced out.

Sigrid's trust has contributed generously to Human Rights Watch, for which she has been a board member since 1996. She has also been the single largest donor to Amnesty International's new UK Human Rights Centre. The trust enabled the Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture, in London, to fund the world's first purpose-built centre and was the founding funder of the world's first flexible loan fund for slum and shack dwellers, set up by the International Institute for Environment and Development.

"She is a leading, respected philanthropist and one whom many wish to emulate."

Maggie Baxter Executive Director of WOMANKIND

"Sigrid combines extraordinary generosity with vigorous intellectual engagement and a firm moral compass. As an active member of the Board of Human Rights Watch, she deserves much credit for the strength and direction of the organization, especially its emphasis on those most in need."

Kenneth Roth, Executive Director, Human Rights Watch

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