The John Ellerman Foundation

Multi-year core funding grants (up to 5 years) totalling £180,000 are available to UK registered charities and Community Interest Companies with an asset lock that can create change and advance the well-being of people, society and the natural world.

The John Ellerman Foundation has recently published a new 5-year Strategy for the period 2025-2030, detailing the following 4 priorities for its grant-making:

 Advancing equity and justice for marginalised communities impacted by these issues.

• Building greater trust and connection, reducing polarisation within society and increasing the levels of participation and influence in the political process.
• Promoting the development and adoption of economic models and systems that support people and planet, and reduce wealth inequalities, and
• Tackling the triple planetary crisis by mitigating and adapting to climate impacts, reducing pollution, and protecting and restoring nature.

Grants can be for between 1 and 5 years.  The maximum grant per year is £60,000 ie to a total grant award of £180,000 for a period of 3-5 years.

Grants can be used to cover core costs, including:

• Daily running/operational costs.
• ICT and communications.
• Monitoring and evaluation.
• Research.
• Salaries, and
• Training.

All applicants will be expected to evidence the following:

Collaborative and cross-sectional: eg organisations that are well connected, understand how they fit within their world, and work well with others relevant to the work being done.

Effective financial management: understanding and oversight of finances across the Board and leadership team.

Effectiveness and impact: this could mean:

• a good understanding of the needs being met and how best to tackle them
• an awareness of how the project adds value and relates to/complements the work of others
• effective systems to monitor and review progress
• a culture of learning, reflection and improvement
• being alert to opportunities to widen impact.

Strong governance and management, including:

• a diverse and representative organisation with a well-qualified and engaged board and strong and inspiring leadership
• a thorough understanding and oversight of finances across the Board and leadership team; and
• awareness of the organisation’s strengths and weaknesses.

The application process is as follows:

Stage 1 - applicants should create an online account and apply via the portal at the website.

Stage 2 – applicants should submit a description of what it is seeking funding for, on no more than two ides of A4, including:

• A brief summary of the organisation and relevant track record
• An outline of the approach to changemaking and advancing justice through the active involvement of individuals and communities with personal or direct experience of the issues, and
• What the funding is for and why the group is well placed to do the work.

Applicants should include a copy of their most recent annual report and financial statements from the previous financial year.  If the accounts show a significant surplus or deficit, high or low reserves, these should be explained briefly.  Additionally, management accounts (including a full year income and expenditure budget) for the current financial year should be submitted.

Stage 3 – applicants that pass the outline application stage (Stage 2) will be invited to submit a Full Application.

Further information and guidance is available on the Foundation’s website.  Outline applications (Stage 2) may be made at any time.