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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£1,020.5m
Total grants made since 1961
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£48.8m
Funding spend in 2024
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£60m
Allocation to social investment
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66%
Grants for core or unrestricted costs in 2024
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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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24 September 2025Pre-application Q&A Webinar: 17 September 2025
Watch a pre-application Q&A webinar we held on 17 September 2025 for organisations interested in applying to Esmée for support who have questions about our application process or guidance.
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Gender Justice Portfolio Review 2025: Invitation to tender
We are looking to work with an external consultant to carry out a short review of our Gender Justice portfolio, to inform the future delivery of our strategy.
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Business action on nature in the UK: Webinar on 8 October
We're pleased to share a new report by Will McDonald for Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, which explores how business in the UK is taking action on nature and the drivers behind it. Join us for a webinar to discuss the findings and what's needed to make progress.
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Funding women’s access to justice
A new report from the Corston Independent Funders’ Coalition aims to map their collective funding towards women’s access to justice.
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