Aims/priorities: The Foundation aims to ensure the rights of people, society and the natural world for current and future generations. Applications should address at least one of the following funding criteria:
- Tackling the triple planetary crisis by mitigating and adapting to climate impacts, reducing pollution, and protecting and restoring nature.
- Building greater trust and connection, reducing polarisation within society and increasing the levels of participation and influence in the political process.
- Promoting the development and adoption of economic models and systems that support people and planet, and reduce wealth inequalities.
- Advancing equity and justice for marginalised communities impacted by these issues.
Who can apply? Funding is available to registered, excepted or exempt charities who are doing work that has a national footprint or a wide reach, such as working in more than one country, region or county.
Organisations must fulfil all of the following criteria:
- Have an annual income of between £100,000 and £10 million (and have published accounts).
- Be a UK charity (but a company limited by guarantee, including CICs, with an asset lock or as a fiscally hosted organisation may be supported).
- Have an impact at a national level and be based in the UK.
Groups must demonstrate:
- Effectiveness and impact: this could mean a good understanding of the needs being met and how best to tackle them; awareness of how the project adds value and relates to/complements the work of others; effective systems to monitor and review progress; a culture of learning, reflection and improvement; and being alert to opportunities to widen impact.
- Strong governance and management: a diverse and representative organisation with a well-qualified and engaged board and strong and inspiring leadership; a thorough understanding and oversight of finances across the Board and leadership team; and awareness of the organisation’s strengths and weaknesses.
- Effective financial management: understanding and oversight of finances across the Board and leadership team
- Collaborative and cross-sectional: this could mean organisations that are well connected, understand how they fit within their world, and work well with others relevant to the work being done.
Grant amount: Multi-year funding of up to five years is available.
The maximum annual award is £60,000.
The total maximum available to an organisation is £180,000.
An organisation applying for £180,000 should request this funding over a minimum of three years.
Application process: Applicants should first refer to the guidelines, the eligibility checklist and FAQs before starting the application process.
Applicants must create an online account and apply via the portal at the website.
The first-stage application should include:
- A description of what the organisation is seeking funding for, on no more than two sides of A4, including:
- A brief summary of the organisation and relevant track record.
- An outline of the approach to changemaking and advancing justice through the active involvement of individuals and communities with personal or direct experience of the issues.
- What the funding is for and why the group is well placed to do the work.
- A copy of the organisation's most recent annual report and financial statements from the previous financial year. If the accounts show a significant surplus or deficit, high or low reserves, these should be explained briefly. Additionally, management accounts (including a full year income and expenditure budget) for the current financial year should be submitted.
If the proposal is recommended to the second stage, a more detailed application will be required.
The Foundation will be running weekly Q&A sessions on the funding guidelines from 25 June to 12 August. Details can be found on the Foundation's website 'apply for funding' page
Deadline: Applications are accepted any time.
Contact information: Email: beth@ellerman.org.uk
Website: ellerman.org.uk