Unlocking change
Effervescent
We aim to improve our natural world, secure a fairer future and strengthen the bonds in communities in the UK
We do this by contributing all that we can to unlock change by people and organisations with brilliant ideas who share our goals.
You can explore our impact goals and priorities for the first five years for each aim below.
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Our Natural World
We want to ensure that our natural world is restored and protected and that people benefit from that recovery. Through our work, we want to make a significant difference on climate change.
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A Fairer Future
We want to contribute to a just and anti-racist society, where those who need it most have their rights protected, the opportunity to speak and be heard, and the freedom to express their creativity.
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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.
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Using all our tools
Working in collaboration with others, we use all our tools to achieve our goals. So, in addition to funding brilliant organisations through grants and social investment, we are taking a more active role ourselves: brokering alliances, using our influence and removing barriers.
Our support
In partnership
Using our experience and expertise, we work in partnership with other funders and organisations to co-design solutions and influence larger initiatives so that we can effect broader change. This includes exploring new approaches to funding to increase our reach and share learning. Examples include our funding partnerships such as the Act for Change Fund, Local Motion and Arts and Culture Impact Fund.
Funding partnershipsLearn more about our work
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Our funding data
We publish all our grants and social investments on 360Giving, an initiative that aims to help UK funders share their data in an open and standard format online.
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Insights and learning
We share insights from our work along with research and evaluation we've commissioned, and key publications from work we fund.
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You might be interested in
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07 July 2026Dame Caroline Mason to step down as Chief Executive of Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
After 13 years leading the Foundation as our Chief Executive, Dame Caroline Mason will be stepping down from her role in early 2027. Caroline has developed and strengthened the Foundation’s work in lasting ways and her influence has spread far beyond Esmée.
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Supporting wellbeing across funded organisations
This year, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is committing an additional £200k in Funding Plus support to help prevent burnout and improve wellbeing for the people we fund.
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Pre-application Q&A webinar: 3 June 2026
Watch a pre-application Q&A webinar we held on 3 June for organisations interested in applying to Esmée for support who have questions about our application process or guidance.
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New Connections – challenging the way we fund
New Connections is supporting 20 organisations working for racial or migrant justice in the UK arts, community, environment and social justice sectors. As the learning Network comes to a close, we are sharing useful insights for funders who want to support grassroots and founder-led organisations, and for organisations that need their support but are frustrated with the funding system.
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