Radical funder Edge Fund raises £250k
Howard Lake | 3 July 2014 | News
Edge Fund, the new funder which supports grassroots groups aiming at radical social change, has raised its first £250,000.
Set up in December 2012, its motto is ‘radical funding for radical change’, and it aims to support groups that are considered ‘too radical’ by most other funders. So far it has made grants of £120,000 to groups such as Disabled People Against Cuts, Million Women Rise, Tottenham Rights, Lesbian Immigration Support Group, Coal Action Network, Europe Roma Network and Residents Action on Fylde Fracking.
Even its grantmaking decision process is different to that of many traditional funders. Funding decisions are put in the hands of “those most affected by inequality and oppression”. It has just one part-time staff member, with the 125 Edge members running the organisation, deciding on strategy and choosing which applications to receive funding.
Stephen Pittam, former trust secretary of Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and current trustee of Global Greengrants Fund said:
“Edge Fund is a breath of fresh air in the philanthropy sector. Engaging funders and activists together in deciding how to allocate funds offers a new and radical approach. It shows a way for how philanthropy can move beyond paternalism and doing good to become a real force for social change.”
Next funding round is open
Edge Fund‘s fourth funding round has now opened for applications. It is offering grants of up to £5,000 available to support work run by – and for – communities most affected by discrimination, inequality and injustice, and work that aims to create systemic change.
The application is straightforward, consisting of five questions, which can be answered over the phone or by email.
The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 8 September 2014.
The Fund is also seeking donations to make a fifth funding round possible.
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.