We aim to improve our natural world, secure a fairer future and strengthen the bonds in communities in the UK.
Turner Contemporary
Our Natural World
We want to ensure that our natural world is restored and protected and that people benefit from that recovery. Working with others, we will contribute to three key impact goals: preserved and improved species health and habitats, clean and healthy freshwater, and sustainable and ethical food.
Find out more
A Fairer Future
We want to contribute to a socially just and anti-racist society, where people have their rights protected, as well as the opportunity to speak and be heard, and the freedom to express their creativity. And across all our work in A Fairer Future, we are keen to support organisations led by the people they serve.
Find out more
Creative, Confident Communities
We want to strengthen the bonds in communities, helping local people to build vibrant, confident places where they can fulfil their creative, human and economic potential. Places where the local economy works better for the people who live there, where there is equality of access to arts and culture, and where communities are at the heart of change.
Find out moreOur impact
-
£1,020.5m
Total grants made since 1961
-
£48.8m
Funding spend in 2024
-
£60m
Allocation to social investment
-
66%
Grants for core or unrestricted costs in 2024
-
About Esmée
Learn about our people, our governance and history as well as our approach to investment and see our annual reports.
Find out more -
Our aims
Learn more about our impact goals and priorities for the next five years. We also share insights and learning as well as information about what we fund.
Find out more -
Our support
Working in collaboration with others, we use all our tools to achieve our shared goals and to effect broader change. Learn more about our range of tools and support.
Find out more
-
Open and trusting grant-making
Learn about our commitments to open and trusting grant-making, which is part of a campaign launched by the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR).
Find out more -
Involving young people
We want to do better at listening to and involving young people more directly with our work so we're working with the Involving Young People Collective to help us design and test ways in which we can do this.
Find out more
You might be interested in
-
10 October 2025Diversity, equity and inclusion support: Funding Plus case studies
We're sharing case studies of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work paid for through Funding Plus to help anyone looking to commission or embark on similar work.
Read more -
Business action on nature in the UK and guide to nature finance
We're pleased to share a new report by Will McDonald for Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, which explores how business in the UK is taking action on nature and the drivers behind it. You can also find a practical guide to the different types of nature finance and watch our webinar where we explore the findings.
Read more -
Seascapes: Restoring the UK marine environment, Webinar on 20 October
We’re excited to share a new report by Pelagos Consulting on how to scale and sustain marine recovery across the UK. Morven Robertson, Esmée’s Funding Manager, reflects on what this means for our future approach. We’ll also be hosting a webinar to discuss the findings and next steps.
Read more -
Consultant to undertake due diligence on Big Nature Impact Fund: Invitation to tender
We are seeking an external consultant (or organisation) to carry out independent due diligence on the Big Nature Impact Fund (BNIF), a new £90m fund being launched by Finance Earth to support nature recovery projects in England.
Read more