Their new strategy for 2025 to 2030, which can be read in full by clicking here, continues to commit to their existing aim to advance wellbeing for people, society and the natural world. However, their approach to grantmaking will change.
They will focus grantmaking on supporting changemaking organisations with a clear understanding of their role within existing and/or new systems, that have a clear strategy on how they intend to make change, are rooted in practical experience alongside their changemaking work, and are committed to advancing justice through the active involvement of individuals and communities with personal or direct experience of the issues they tackle.
They will fund well-run organisations that demonstrate a track record of effectiveness and impact, strong governance and management, effective financial management, and are collaborative and cross-sectoral in their approach.
Applicants are no longer required to submit applications under specific, restrictive criteria related to their previous funding categories: Arts, Social Action and the Environment. Instead, as a grantmaker with direct experience of funding work through these previous categories, they seek to advance their aim by supporting work that acts on:
- 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 (which is sometimes referred to as political equality).
- 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 the issues above.
Funding UK registered charities with an annual income of between £100,000 and £10,000,000 only, organisations can be based in any part of the UK. But they must be working at a national level (impact across Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland or England only) or UK level (impact across two or more of the nations).
Eligible organisations can apply for multi-year funding for core costs for a maximum of £180k over up to five years, i.e., grants up to a maximum of £60k per year, so organisations applying for £180k would need to request this funding over a minimum of three years.
Core funding costs could include staff salaries, training and expenses, day-to-day running costs and operations, monitoring and evaluation, including research, and/or communications and digital innovation.
Further changes to their grantmaking include no longer committing to a dedicated Museums and Galleries Fund, but a wish to retain a leadership role in encouraging environmental funders and others to support environmental work in the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs). They hope to launch future rounds of the UKOTs Fund from 2025/26 onwards and are actively fundraising for this currently.
Q&A Sessions
They are running weekly Q&A sessions on the funding guidelines throughout the Summer. If you have questions about the new guidelines, they strongly suggest booking onto a webinar as they anticipate a high volume of enquiries with the launch of the new Strategy.
Book onto the webinars using the following links:
- Wednesday 25th June, 3-4pm – Click here
- Tuesday 1st July, 10-11am – Click here
- Monday 7th July, 3-4pm – Click here
- Monday 14th July, 3-4pm – Click here
- Tuesday 22nd July, 10-11am – Click here
- Monday 28th July, 3-4pm – Click here
- Thursday 7th August, 3-4pm – Click here
- Tuesday 12th August, 10-11am – Click here
If you attend a Q&A session, but still have unanswered questions, they will be happy to help via email or telephone call.
To read more, visit the John Ellerman Foundation.
