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.
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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.
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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
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£1,025m
Total grants made since 1961
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£52.9m
Funding spend in 2025
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£14.3m
Approved social investment in 2025
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67%
Grants for core or unrestricted costs in 2025
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About Esmée
Learn about our people, our governance and history as well as our approach to investment and see our annual reports.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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You might be interested in
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14 September 2026The Involving Young People Fund: supporting young people to invest in their communities
From 2024 to 2025, 11 young people from Wakefield and Barnsley co-designed a £90,000 Fund to support projects that address challenges faced by young people in their communities.
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Citizens for Culture: the making of a citizen-led Cultural Plan
A new 16-minute documentary tells the story of the West of England’s Citizens’ Assembly for Culture through the people who took part – and invites more people to be part of what happens next.
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Our time on the Involving Young People Collective: what we've learned
As Dan, Mel, Francesca, Ines, Shirley, Chelbi and Aaliyah from our Involving Young People Collective come to the end of their time as consultants at Esmée, they talk about what they've learnt, what they’ve valued and how their time with the IYPC has influenced them.
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Land truths, when the fires are burning
As devastating fires have spread across parts of the UK this summer, it’s clear we are already feeling the impacts of climate change. In the media, there is a debate about rewilding. Some have blamed it for the severity of the wildfires. Others have said rewilding is a solution. Who is right?
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