Nuffield Foundation

Who we are

The Nuffield Foundation is an independent charitable foundation with a founding purpose to advance social well-being.  

We achieve this by funding and undertaking rigorous research, encouraging innovation, and supporting the use of sound evidence to improve people’s lives. We tackle pressing, complex questions. Our aim is to open up opportunities and to improve lives for individuals, families and communities, within a just and inclusive society. Our work addresses the inequalities, disadvantage, discrimination and vulnerabilities that people face, and considers the social and ethical implications of scientific and technological advances.   

We are the founder and co-funder of Nuffield Council on Bioethics, Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and the Ada Lovelace Institute.   

Our culture and values

• Independence: Our financial and political independence gives us the freedom to be open and objective in our approach, and to focus on the power of evidence.

• Rigour: We have high standards in all that we do, achieving a quality that gives us influence and impact.

• Inclusivity: We will further diversity and work to ensure that everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered.

• Collaboration: We convene and connect with individuals and organisations to maximise our collective impact, recognising that we will not bring about change on our own.

• Curiosity: We foster a spirit of exploration, encouraging our staff and those we fund to pursue new ideas and challenge old assumptions.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

We are committed to addressing inequality and building a more inclusive organisation and research environment. This commitment is central to the work we fund, the people we work with, and the culture we foster.

Our EDI action plan includes three priorities:

1. Embedding EDI in our funded work
   • Keeping inequality and inclusion central to our funding priorities and wider work, and ensuring diverse voices are present in our events and discussions
2. Diversifying who we fund and work with
   • Engaging underrepresented groups, supporting early-career researchers, and building inclusive partnerships
3. Building an inclusive workplace
   • Recruiting from diverse backgrounds, supporting staff wellbeing, and holding leadership accountable for a culture of respect and inclusion

We will take an evidence-led approach to our progress, using data, learning from experience, and seeking continuous improvement.

Further information on the Foundation’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work can be found on our website.