14 January 2026
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for people and communities throughout the UK both now and in the future. The Foundation is one of the largest independent grant-makers in the UK and makes grants annually towards a wide range of work within the arts, education and learning and provide funding for organisations and projects considered ‘hard to fund’. They also provide grants to both registered charities and social enterprises/CIC’s.
Esmee Fairbairn offers most of its funding through the Main Fund, which sectors are:
- Arts
- Children & Young People
- Environment
- Food
- Social Change
Each sector features a range of specific areas the Foundation is most interested in supporting, with an emphasis always on helping those people and communities experiencing disadvantage. There are no limits for the amount you can request, but grants are rarely made below £5,000. The Foundation also states that around 80% of the grants are on a multi-year basis, often for three years at a time.