John Ellerman Foundation

John Ellerman is a core costs funder for national changemaking charities. If most of your work fits its priorities, you can apply for unrestricted core funding of up to £180,000 and decide for yourself where it goes, including digital.

It isn’t for local-only organisations, so check the fit before you invest time in it.

• What they fund: Unrestricted core funding. The Foundation says charities whose work mostly fits its criteria can apply for core funding and choose how to direct the money during the grant, without specifying in advance, and its eligibility page lists communications and digital innovation among the core costs it covers. What it won’t fund is capital developments or the purchase of individual equipment items.
• Typical grants: Up to £180,000 over as much as five years, capped at £60,000 a year, so the full amount needs at least three.
• Who can apply: UK-registered charities with an income between £100,000 and £10 million whose work has impact at national level, meaning at least one UK nation. Your work needs to fit the 2025-2030 priorities:
  • climate and nature
  • trust and political participation
  • fairer economic systems
  • equity and justice for communities affected by these
• The angle: This is a narrow fit and worth being honest with yourself about. It backs changemaking and campaigning organisations, not local service delivery, and the Foundation is explicit that local-only organisations won’t succeed and that it won’t be your main funder. Go in as one part of a funding mix.
• Worth knowing: Applications are rolling, so there’s no deadline pressure. There’s a monthly online Q&A on the first Monday of the month at 3pm, which is worth an hour before you write anything given how specific the priorities are.