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.
Find out more
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.
Find out more
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
-
£1,020.5m
Total grants made since 1961
-
£48.8m
Funding spend in 2024
-
£60m
Allocation to social investment
-
66%
Grants for core or unrestricted costs in 2024
-
About Esmée
Learn about our people, our governance and history as well as our approach to investment and see our annual reports.
Find out more -
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.
Find out more -
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.
Find out more
-
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).
Find out more -
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.
Find out more
You might be interested in
-
20 February 2025Funder Commitment on Climate Change: 2024
As a signatory, we recognise that the growing climate emergency is a serious risk to the pursuit of our charitable aims and have made six key commitments. This page gives an overview of actions we’ve taken towards the commitments during 2024.
Read more -
The RACE Report 2024: Esmée’s progress
The third annual RACE (Racial Action for the Climate Emergency) Report shares findings on the diversity of environment organisations and funders including Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. We share our initial reflections and plans to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the environment sector.
Read more -
Overview of grant funding 2024
Find an overview of the grants we made in 2024, broken down by type of support, amount awarded, and by aim and funding priority. We also share success rates for applications in 2024.
Read more -
Pre-application Q&A Webinar: 3 February 2025
Watch a pre-application Q&A webinar we held on 3 February 2025 for organisations interested in applying to Esmée for support who have questions about our application process or guidance.
Read more