EA Foundation

Overview

Funding is open to UK-registered charities for projects, both internationally and in the UK, which align to at least one of their 4 funding priorities as follows:

• provide educational opportunities, particularly for disadvantaged individuals and communities
• improve access to basic services and infrastructure to disadvantaged communities, including but not limited to healthcare, clean water and electricity
• support people in reduced circumstances, without sufficient means, or those who are experiencing times of need thereby providing important support for the relief of poverty or other forms of disadvantage such as disability
• address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development, both and through the pursuit of the other key areas of focus listed here

They also make contributions to emergency response appeals. Please note that this aspect of their funding is by invitation only.

Priorities

Although they do not prohibit applications relating to other issues, they would strongly encourage organisations to only apply for funding for projects that align to one or more of their strategic pillars as outlined above and where they can clearly demonstrate how the activities will bring about tangible change in the lives of its target communities.

In the application form, you are asked to identify which priority area(s) you will be addressing. Each proposal will be assessed on its quality and intended impact, and whilst they expect that some projects will meet several priority areas, there is no requirement for you to address more than one.

Who can apply

They are open to applications from a diverse range of organisations, irrespective of turnover, especially in relation to our support of emergency response appeals.

Primarily, they fund UK-based charitable entities. The following types of organisations are eligible to apply for funding:

• Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
• Charitable company, limited by guarantee
• Other UK Registered Charity
• Community Interest Company (CIC), limited by guarantee

Currently they only routinely fund through UK-based organisations. If you are based overseas or are a private company, please contact them to discuss your work and proposal before applying. All eligible companies (as outlined above) must have an asset lock in their constitution which ensures that funds and any profit are ploughed back into the organisation.

Supporting information

You will be required to upload the following documents with your application:

• A copy of the audited/independently examined accounts for your organisation for the more recent full financial period
• A summary budget for the project or activity that is the subject of this grant application
• A copy of the Safeguarding policy for your organisation and your partner(s) as applicable
• Any supporting material you think will help us assess your application (please aim to limit the volume of material you send in for review alongside your application)
• You will also be required to provide details for 2 References, that is organisations which can validate your application and work.

What they are looking for in a funded partner

Whilst theyare keen not to be too prescriptive about the type of work they will support, they would like to collaborate with organisations that:

• Place people at the core of their work
• Can demonstrate that they have a strong and equal relationship with their in-country partner(s)
• Support community-led initiatives that are inclusive and address root causes of poverty to drive systems change. Whilst they will not fund activities that should be the responsibility of the government, they will consider work that adds value to the lives of marginalised communities and where it is clear that the work is being carried out in parallel to addressing systems change.
• Has a learning culture and actively monitor the impact of their work in the lives of their target communities
• Shine a light on unpopular or under-exposed issues in over-looked geographies

Project vs unrestricted funding

They have largely provided project funding to date. They fully appreciate the importance of core funding to an organisation’s sustainability and to this end, they take the approach of nurturing long-term partnerships, starting with smaller funding and graduating to more strategic partnerships and potentially the provision of core funding.

However, they would encourage all applicants to operate a full cost recovery mode by including all relevant costs of your project in the budget, including proportionate costs of overheads related to the effective delivery of the project.

They would like to nurture long-term partnerships, starting with smaller funding and graduating to more strategic partnerships for tried and tested solutions.

However, they are equally keen to support innovative approaches by creating space for partners to experiment, learn and adapt.

Amount you can apply for

They have not specified any upper or lower limits to the budget, as they would like a realistic picture of the true costs of the work.

However, based on their current giving trends to date, the grants approved have averaged between £20,000 - £50,000 for an average duration of 12-24 months.