The Lee Kum Kee Family Foundation follows a structured vetting procedure designed to identify and support high-impact projects that align with our Vision, Mission, and Strategic Focus. We prioritize evidence-based initiatives that address the root causes of family challenges.
Before moving forward, organizations interested in applying for the grant should study our Vision, Mission, and Strategic Focus and our Integrated Model.
This allows organizations to gauge whether their prospective project aligns with our Foundation’s high-level goals of building healthy, harmonious family relationships across generations.
If both parties’ vision and mission are aligned, potential partners should submit a concise Concept Note (maximum two pages) in English to us through email. This document should outline:
Program background (Why, Theory of Change, preferably in graphical format for easy understanding)
Goals/Objectives (What)
Program idea & content (How)
Expected output, outcome/deliverables (How to measure)
Estimated budget amount
Organization background and past experience
We will review the Concept Note and provide feedback within 14 working days. If the project shows strong potential, we will invite the organization to submit a detailed proposal in English with the following details. At this stage, organizations must also complete an Organization Information Google Form to provide necessary information for our internal records.
Program background (Why, Theory of Change in graphical format)
Goals/Objectives
Period of project and expected scale (When)
Target audiences (Who)
Program contents (What, How)
Expected output
Outcome/Deliverables (How to measure)
Sustainability
Estimated budget
Organization background and past experience
The Foundation team will review the full project application. The final granting result is subject to the decision of our Board, based on the following criteria:
The relevance of the project theme to our vision and mission.
Social needs with evidence e.g. research, survey, study, reports
Project feasibility
The social impact and the measurement methodology
Experience and track record of the organization
Potential partners may be invited to pitch their project idea directly to our Board of Directors. This presentation allows the Board to engage with the partner organization’s leadership, ask clarifying questions, and evaluate the project’s long-term sustainability and potential social impact.
The Board of Directors makes the final decision to approve or reject the application. The Foundation team will inform potential partners of the final result within 3 months.
Once a project is approved, the journey moves into implementation. The partner organization will need to submit the following items to us.
Nurturing the resilience of the next generation requires strengthening the multi-generational family dynamics surrounding them, moving from a child-only focus to a holistic family support network.
The Research Foundation:
Our youth strategies are grounded in evidence-based research by Hong Kong Shue Yan University regarding child-focused in-law relationship enhancement in multi-generational families. The study demonstrates that a child’s psychological and emotional wellbeing is highly related to their interaction with family members, particularly parents and grandparents.
It is crucial for children to learn positive family values at a young age.
Since 2016, the Foundation has established an annual family value theme, directly responding to the core pillars proposed by the Hong Kong Family Council: “Love and Care”, “Responsibility and Respect”, and “Communication and Harmony”.
To translate these values into daily action, the Foundation integrates Dr. Gary Chapman’s “Five Love Languages” framework (Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch). LKKFF specifically champions the promotion of Quality Time and Words of Affirmation to encourage family members to express love through action:
Quality Time (Active Togetherness):
Concentration: Giving undivided attention to family members during interactions and conversations.
Get Together: Enjoying precious moments by bringing the family together to engage in activities of mutual interest.
Quality Dialogue: Paying close attention to body language and emotional expressions when listening to family members.
Be Expressive: Creating a safe environment that allows family members to confidently express their personal thoughts, feelings, and expectations.
Words of Affirmation (Positive Reinforcement):
Appreciation: Expressing clear gratitude to family members when they do something for the household.
Encouragement: Developing empathy by understanding the needs of family members from their perspectives, and offering vocal support whenever necessary.
Kindness: Learning to express deep care, empathy, and condolences within the household.
Humility: Communicating needs and requests with a humble, polite, and respectful attitude rather than demands.
Our framework recognizes that a family’s health depends on its capacity to perform essential functions, satisfy the diverse needs of its members, and interact constructively with its environment.
The Research Foundation:
Our approach adapts the conceptual framework of the Hong Kong Family Wellbeing Index (HKFWI) study conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong. To systematically elevate family wellbeing, the Foundation prioritizes initiatives that focus on improving the following six key domains derived from the index:
Family Solidarity: Enhancing mutual trust, appreciation, and emotional support, while fostering family harmony and quality time to build long-term resilience among members.
Family Resources: Fostering the growth of psychological capital, essential life skills, and safe home environments.
Family Health: Safeguarding and tracking both the physical and mental health conditions of the family unit.
Social Connection: Encouraging social involvement and empowering the family to contribute positively to the broader community.
Social Resources: Improving the accessibility of both informal support networks and formal institutional help.
Work-Life Balance: Creating strategies that mitigate the friction where work interferes with home life or home interferes with work.
(Note to Applicants: Funded projects are not required to apply all six domains simultaneously but must explicitly target and measure impact in at least one specific domain, and we would prioritize projects addressing the domains of the overlapping areas).
For further details of each domain, please browse at https://www.hkfws.org.hk/hkfwi/hkfwi-report (pp 41-43)