Our funding

What do you support?
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve the quality of life throughout the UK. We do this by funding the charitable activities of organisations that have the ideas and ability to achieve change for the better. We take pride in supporting work that might otherwise be considered difficult to fund.

We channel our funding through two routes.

Main Fund
Our Main Fund distributes about two-thirds of our funding. Responsive to shifts in demand, it supports work that focuses on the UK’s cultural life, education, the natural environment and enabling people who are disadvantaged to participate more fully in society. More information about the Main Fund.

Strands
We will also allocate funds to specific strands of work. These will change over time, but overall they express our desire to make a contribution in particular areas of interest. More information about the Strands.

Who can apply? Do we need to be a registered charity?
We support registered charities and not-for-profit organisations. The purpose for which you are applying to us must be legally charitable and your constitution must allow you to carry out the work that you propose.

If your organisation is not a registered charity, we will need to see a copy of your constitution or set of rules, which should set out:

• your organisation's name and objectives
• how the governing body is elected or appointed
• what will happen to the assets if your organisation closes down
• the date your constitution or set of rules was adopted
• the signature, name and position of your Chair or other senior office holder.

What don't you support?
Read a full list of exclusions: what we will not fund. It is important to check these before applying to the Foundation.

Where do we send the completed application? Can it be e-mailed?
The Foundation has a two stage application process. First read the Guidance for Applicants before applying to the Foundation. Completed first stage applications can be posted to us at Grant Applications, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, 11 Park Place, London SW1A 1LP or emailed to applications@esmeefairbairn.org.uk. Always keep a copy of everything that you send us. If you have communication needs that make it difficult for you to send us your application, please contact us.

What are the terms and conditions and what will you ask from us if we receive a grant?
Read our terms and conditons. Sometimes additional conditions will be added to take account of a particular aspect of a grant. These will be outlined by letter if you are offered a grant.

What do you ask in terms of monitoring and evaluation?
The Foundation has a monitoring and evaluation policy that includes grant recipients completing a progress report at the end of each year of funding. Further details about this can be found under the receiving a grant section of this website.

Will you come and visit us?
We don't have the resources to visit all organisations that apply to us, or that receive a grant from us. We do visit some projects, e.g. to find out how the work is going, what is being achieved and any lessons resulting from it. We will contact you if we would like to visit your work.

What do I need to do if I don't have an annual income and expenditure budget?
If you are applying to us for funding for a project which is your only work in the financial year (and you have no other core costs) then we just need the budget for that project. If it is one of a number of projects you will be doing in a financial year, but you have no other core costs then we will need to see a summary of all the budgets.

If I am a new organisation and don't yet have a full set of accounts, what do I need to submit?
If your organisation is new and has no financial history (i.e. this is your first project or first year of activity) you do not need to send any additional financial information. If your organisation does not have accounts but has a financial history (even if you are less than a year old or have only completed one project) then you should send the final budget figures either for the first year of your work, or the most recent projects.

My project may generate income, do you have advice on writing a business plan?
Yes, please see Business planning guidance.

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