Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Grants
Funding
From £30,000
Deadline
Check with the funder
Location
England
Applications
Rolling applications
Overview
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation offers longer-term grants to organisations that want to change systems for the future. It looks for work with the potential for wider influence or spread, a collaborative approach, and a focus on lived experience, justice and equity. Grants can cover core or project costs, including staff salaries and overheads. The Foundation also provides unrestricted funding for charities. The minimum grant is £30,000 and there is no maximum. Most grants run for three to five years, though there is no minimum or maximum term. The Foundation supports constituted organisations, including charities and non-charities doing charitable work. It makes around 200 grants a year across its 13 funding priorities. You can apply at any time, because applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no deadlines unless the page says otherwise. The Foundation does not fund organisations with a turnover of less than £100,000 in their latest accounts. It also does not fund capital costs such as building work, renovations and equipment, grants to individuals, work without a direct benefit in the UK, or healthcare, among other exclusions. Competition is very high. In 2025, 5% of expressions of interest received through the website went on to be awarded a grant. Before you spend time on an application, read the funding priorities and take the eligibility quiz to see whether your work is a good fit. Extra accessibility support is available if you need it because of a disability. Official source: https://esmeefairbairn.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.
Requirements to check
Who can apply:
Key requirements:
- Minimum grant is £30,000 and there is no maximum
- Organisations must be constituted
- Turnover of at least £100,000 in the latest accounts
- Work must be legally charitable with a direct benefit in the UK
- No capital costs, grants to individuals or healthcare work
- Most grants run for three to five years
You need to be a constituted organisation, including a charity or a non-charity doing charitable work. Your turnover must be at least £100,000 in your latest accounts. Your work must be legally charitable and have a direct benefit in the UK. You need measures to guard against disproportionate personal benefit. The Foundation does not fund individuals, capital costs, healthcare, promotion of religion, independent education, or work that is primarily a statutory responsibility.
This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.
Constituted UK charities and non-charities doing charitable work, with a turnover of at least £100,000, who want longer-term funding for systemic change.
Sectors
Regions
Awards published
1,778
Typical award
£31,500
Most awards
£10,000 to £180,000
Most funded region
London
350 awards in 2025, level with 366 the year before.
Recent awards include The Borders Forest Trust (£100,000, 2026), National Opera Studio (NOS) (£10,000, 2026) and GRANDFRIENDS (£15,000, 2026).
Contains data from 360Giving publishers, used under open licence.
Full details from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation offers grants to constituted organisations, including charities and non-charities doing charitable work, to support work with long-term impact and systemic change. Grants cover core or project costs including staff salaries and overheads, and unrestricted funding for charities. The foundation makes around 200 grants a year across 13 funding priorities, focusing on work that centres lived experience, justice and equity, takes a collaborative approach, and has potential for wider influence. The minimum grant is £30,000 with no maximum, and grants typically run for three to five years.
Read the funding priorities and take the eligibility quiz first. Then watch the short video on the Foundation's page that explains how to apply. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no deadlines, unless specified otherwise. Sample application forms and FAQs are available from the menu on the page.
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Create free accountLast updated: 16 October 2026