LSE’s External Funding Acceptance Policy outlines the School’s approach to external funding acceptance adhering to ethical considerations and managing reputational risk. This is underpinned by the External Funding Acceptance Procedures which sets out the process for ethical review of grants and donations.
LSE only accepts funding when the identity of the funder is known. Ethical checks are conducted prior to approval on all proposed funding:
- Local checks are conducted on proposed donations up to £25,000;
- Initial due diligence is conducted on all proposed funding over £25,000;
- Full due diligence is conducted for proposals over £1,000,000.
All due diligence includes searches designed to identify ethical or reputational risks, this includes searches relating to both primary and secondary subjects to identify any ‘funder behind the funder’ or significant source of a donor’s wealth. Due diligence also includes family and close business associations and searches of a risk database to identify any sanctions, political associations and adverse media.
The School has an established External Funding Ethical Review Board (EFERB) comprised of senior academics who review due diligence and determine whether funding should be accepted for high value cases and cases where ethical concerns have been identified. The External Funding Ethical Review Board (EFERB) is a sub-Committee of the Ethics Management Board.
See the 2025/26 EFERB Terms of Reference (PDF).
Membership
| Name |
Membership |
| Louise Nadal |
Chair (ex-officio - School Secretary) |
| Professor Giles Atkinson |
Academic Member |
| Professor Pauline Barrieu |
Academic Member |
| Professor Amil Dasgupta |
Academic Member |
| Professor Elias Mossialos |
Academic Member |
| Professor Peter Trubowitz |
Academic Member |
| Professor Wim van der Stede |
Academic Member |
| Professor Eric Neumayer |
Academic and School Management Committee Member |
| Shilpen Savani |
Alumni Member |
| Fiona Metcalfe |
Communications Division Member |
| Dr Musimbi Kanyoro |
Independent Council Member |
| Elizabeth Messud |
General Counsel (ex-officio) |
| Advisory (non-voting) Members |
|
| Sophie Hutchinson |
Executive Director of Strategy, Talent and Services, Philathropy and Global Engagement (ex-officio) |
| Katie Crystal |
Governance and Ethics Manager (ex-officio) |
| Rev Dr James Walters |
Director of LSE Faith Centre (ex-officio) |
| Committee Secretary |
|
| Dr Lyndsay Galpin |
Governance Officer |
The dates for the 2022/23 academic year are:
- Wednesday 8 October 2025, 4-5.30pm
- Wendesday 28 January 2026, 4-5.30pm
- Wednesday 29 April 2026, 4-5.30pm
- Wednesday 24 June 2026, 4-5.30pm
Additional meetings may be scheduled as required.
External Funding Acceptance Policy (PDF)
External Funding Acceptance Procedures (PDF)
For advice on due diligence please contact the Donations Acceptance Team advancement.duediligence@lse.ac.uk