John Ellerman Foundation commits to funding in perpetuity and other funding news
Howard Lake | 3 June 2025 | News
A decision about the John Ellerman Foundation’s future is announced, along with funding announcements and deadlines from Rosa, Art Explora, Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Fellowship, Essentia Foundation, Ford Britain Trust and others.
John Ellerman Foundation
The John Ellerman Foundation has confirmed that it is committed to continue its funding into the future, with no plans to spend out its funding by a certain date.
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Its trustees had committed to take a decision on how long it should exist for as part of the charity’s strategy for 2022 to 2025. They considered the various options, as have other grantmakers, and the need for their funding, and made a clear decision to continue operating into the future. “This is the option that allows us to make the most meaningful impact on the issues we care about”, a statement from the foundation explained.
Indeed, the Foundation has been considering the topic of whether to set a date to close and complete its work since 2012. The decision then was to move from existing in perpetuity to existing “in the long term”, which was defined as “in excess of 30 years”.
Externally facilitated meetings in 2022 and 2023, supported by data and research on the topic, helped in the decision announced this week.
Whilst making the statement of continuing, the trustees did recognise that the foundation has the right to review this decision again as part of all future strategy review processes.
STV Children’s appeal’s new Ignite Fund
The STV Children’s Appeal has announced 11 charity partners that will receive multi-year funding and support through its newly created Ignite Fund. The charities will receive a share of over £1 million this year, delivering impact on the lives of children, young people and families in Scotland.
The Ignite Fund aims to break the cycle of child poverty in Scotland “by providing multi-year, sustained financial and development support to charities across the country”. Since it was created in 2011 STV Children’s Appeal has invested in long-term projects with charitable organisations. Four existing long-term partners are joined by a further seven under the new Ignite Fund umbrella.
The charity partners are: Flexible Childcare Services Scotland (FCSS), Dundee Bairns, Thrive at Five, One Community Scotland, Scran Academy, The Yard, Why Not? Trust, Community Volunteers Enabling You (COVEY), Glasgow Kelvin College, Place2Be & Youth Scotland, and Who Cares? Scotland.
Paul Reynolds, STV Children’s Appeal’s Chair of Trustees, said:
“The creation of the Ignite Fund sees us extend our work with long-term partners to give a voice to – and crucially, help make a lasting difference for – children, young people and families in Scotland. Our eleven charity partners do incredible work and know best how to support the communities they serve. We’re proud to stand beside them in our quest to both deliver immediate impact and find ways to build better futures.”
The Ignite Fund is just one part of the STV Children’s Appeal. The Appeal also contributes to local grassroot charities and organisations via a small grants programme, which is delivered in partnership with other funders and supports community-led efforts. Additionally, through a long-standing relationship with the Wood Foundation’s Youth and Philanthropy Initiative, young people are empowered to make a positive difference in their communities.
Last year the Appeal raised £2.4 million for charities.
Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Fellowship
Journalists in the early stages of their career (two to five years of experience) are invited to apply for a nine-month opportunity to pursue a major investigative project.
The Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Fellowship is run by Durham University and Reuters.
Applications from professionals working in related fields such as human rights and documentary-making will also be considered.
The Fellowship has a monthly salary of £4,444 plus a £1,250 per month living stipend, and a one-off payment of £1,800 for travel and related expenses.
Applications for the 2026 Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Fellowship close on Wednesday 18th June 2025.
Alessandra Galloni, Reuters Editor-in-Chief, said of the journalist and writer:
“Sir Harry Evans was a giant of journalism and an inspiration to those who worked with him. We hope that, through this initiative, Reuters can help support a diverse new generation of investigative journalists and newsroom leaders. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Durham University to champion independent journalism, nurture emerging talent and celebrate Sir Harry’s remarkable legacy”.
Art Explora to fund museum school trips for UK children
Art Explora, the foundation set up by French philanthropist Frédéric Jousset, has committed £1 million for the next four years to enable schoolchildren from across the UK to visit cultural venues such as the British Museum in London.
According to The Art Newspaper, the project is designed to tackle cultural inequality in the UK, following Art Explora’s findings that more than 60% of teachers have not taken their class to a museum in the past year. The foundation expects to support over 100,000 children on a cultural school trip.
Rosa’s Rise Fund 2025
Rosa’s second round of grants from the Rise Fund this year offers two-year organisational development grants of up to £40,000 to organisations led by and for Black and racially minoritised women and girls.
Rise was developed alongside women with experience of racial injustice. It supports powerful organisations that change and save lives. It is within them that future leaders of feminist and anti-racist movements grow. It aims to “make the UK a fairer, safer place for women and girls”.
Applications to Rosa’s Rise Fund close at 4pm on Monday 23 June 2025.
Essentia Foundation
The Essentia Foundation provides financial support to charities and community groups to help achieve improved health and social welfare of children and young people up to the age of 25 years old.
Grants of £50,000 only are available to medium sized charitable organisations that align with the Essentia Foundation’s objectives.
The fund is looking for projects that:
- Support the participation in mainstream society for individuals with learning disabilities or long-term life limiting health conditions
- Support young people who face long-term challenges living in poverty and inequality.
- Support those who have been excluded from school to access or return to education or training opportunities
- Provide skills and training to those who are furthest from the labour market
- Aim to improve the health and welfare of children and young people (being those under 25)
This current funding round has around £1 million for grant distribution, meaning that only 20 applicants will be successful.
Applications to the Essentia Foundation close on 6 June 2025.
Funding for Chelmsford young people and culture
A £250,000 investment from Arts Council England to Spark! will support their Young Cultural Changemakers Programme in Chelmsford, Essex, “putting 13-25-year-olds at the heart of shaping [the city’s] create future”.
It is the largest strategic cultural grant ever awarded to the district.
It is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, plus Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford City Council, Chelmsford College and Chelmsford For You.
Ford Britain Trust
The Ford Britain Trust is offering grants of up to £3,000 to support local communities. This can include schools (primary and secondary), PTAs, non-profits supporting vulnerable people and/or the environment, and youth organisations.
The trust was founded in April 1975 and is “committed to supporting the communities that we work and live in”. It therefore particularly encourages applications supported by Ford employees. That said, it is open to all, provided that the qualifying organisations meet their selection criteria.
It has five cycles each year for grant donations.
Small grant applications, up to £250, are invited three times a year during:
- 1st April to 30th June for review in July
- 1st August to 31st October for review in November
- 1st December to 28th February for review in April
Large grant applications, up to £3,000, are welcomed twice a year during:
- 1st March to 31st July for review by our Board of Trustees in September/October
- 1st September to 31st January for review by our Board of Trustees in March
The trust commits to informed all applicants of the outcome following the review.
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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.