Michael Shanly: Building Communities Through Business and Philanthropy

Born in December 1945 in High Wycombe, Michael James Shanly's approach to business has always been inseparable from his commitment to community. Raised by a single mother in Eastcote, Middlesex, Shanly left school at 14 with no qualifications but an entrepreneurial spirit that would eventually transform not just the property landscape of South East England, but the lives of countless individuals through his pioneering philanthropic work.

After working as a welder by day and casino croupier by night, Shanly founded his property empire in 1969 at age 23, purchasing and refurbishing a house in Pinner. This modest beginning grew into the Shanly Group, which by 2019 had built over 12,000 homes and supported more than 1,300 commercial tenants. However, what truly distinguishes Shanly is how he has woven charitable giving into the very fabric of his business philosophy from the earliest days.

Even as his companies prospered during the 1970s, Shanly began regularly donating to local charities. This informal giving evolved into something far more systematic and transformative. In 1994, recognising the need for a more structured approach, he established the Shanly Foundation, personally chairing its board of trustees and reviewing grant applications with the same meticulous attention to detail that characterised his property developments.

Since its inception, the Shanly Foundation has contributed over £26 million to hundreds of local charities, community projects, and environmental initiatives, primarily across South East England. Shanly's philanthropic philosophy mirrors his business approach: identifying concrete needs and addressing them in sustainable, lasting ways rather than pursuing flashy, short-term gestures.

One of the foundation's most significant achievements exemplifies this approach. In 2013, Shanly fully funded the launch of Beech Lodge School in Berkshire, a special needs institution founded by his wife Daniela to provide alternative education for children with social and learning difficulties. Beginning in a converted barn with just a handful of students—including Shanly's own son—the school has grown to educate over 90 students in a purpose-built facility that the foundation helped finance in 2017.

The foundation's work extends across diverse causes. It has contributed £100,000 to Alexander Devine Children's Hospice and £400,000 to Thames Hospice for a therapy wing. Through partnerships with environmental organisations like the Woodland Trust, Shanly has funded the planting of over 20,000 trees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation demonstrated remarkable agility, distributing nearly £185,000 to over 100 local charities supporting those most affected by the crisis.

Shanly's most innovative philanthropic initiative involves his business legacy itself. In 2024, he finalised plans for the Shanly Foundation to assume ownership of Shanly Homes, Sorbon Estates, and his other companies. This pioneering model ensures that business profits will be reinvested into charitable work in perpetuity, securing his philanthropic legacy beyond his lifetime.

Ranked 122nd in the Charities Aid Foundation's Top 200 UK Donors list in 2015, Shanly embodies a philosophy that transcends traditional business success. As he puts it: "It's not about profit… it's about fighting for quality, enjoying what we do, and giving back." His story demonstrates how entrepreneurial success and community commitment can create a virtuous cycle that strengthens society for generations.

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