Arcadia

Could Arcadia be a fit? Check free — then find open funders like them if not.

Typical grants: From £250,000
Applications: Not accepted

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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arcadiafund.org.uk

About Arcadia

Arcadia is a UK-based family philanthropic fund established in 2002 by Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin. Guided by a donor board, expert advisors, and a small London team, it channels resources through family trusts with a strategic, evidence-driven approach. The fund emphasises the irreversible loss of cultural diversity, habitats, and knowledge, and operates globally without geographic restrictions, forming long-term partnerships to drive systemic change via substantive, multi-year grants. Arcadia prioritises three themes: cultural heritage projects digitising threatened languages, archives, and collections; nature conservation strengthening indigenous-led habitat protection and policy; and open access resources like digital libraries and biodiversity data platforms. Funding supports universities, museums, scholarly bodies, and major NGOs delivering scalable, impactful work, including core costs, capacity building, and research, with all outputs required to be freely available online. Eligible entities are typically medium-to-large organisations with proven capacity for large-scale projects; small grassroots groups may access via partner programmes. Arcadia does not accept unsolicited applications, instead identifying grantees through networks. Distinctives include rights-based environmental solutions, aversion to fragmented giving, and mandatory open access, differentiating it as a collaborative force for global preservation.

What Arcadia funds

Arcadia funds work across three interconnected themes: cultural heritage, nature conservation, and open access. In cultural heritage, it supports projects that digitise threatened languages, archives, and collections, helping to preserve irreplaceable knowledge. In nature conservation, it strengthens indigenous-led habitat protection and policy initiatives, focusing on rights-based environmental solutions. For open access, it funds digital libraries and biodiversity data platforms, ensuring research and resources are freely available online. The fund operates globally without geographic restrictions, supporting universities, museums, scholarly bodies, and major NGOs. It covers core costs, capacity building, and research, with a preference for large-scale, systemic work. All funded outputs must be made freely available online, reflecting Arcadia's commitment to open access.

Who can apply

Arcadia typically funds medium-to-large organisations such as universities, museums, scholarly bodies, and major NGOs with proven capacity for large-scale projects. Eligible legal entities include academic institutions and community groups. Small grassroots groups may access funding through partner programmes rather than directly. There are no formal income thresholds, but a preference for established institutions is noted. The fund prioritises organisations working on cultural heritage, nature conservation, or open access, with a focus on indigenous-led and rights-based approaches. Arcadia does not accept unsolicited applications, so potential grantees are identified through networks and partnerships.

What Arcadia doesn't fund

Arcadia does not fund emergency or seed funding, short-term interventions, or fragmented giving. It avoids small, one-off projects that do not align with its strategic, long-term approach. The fund also does not accept unsolicited applications, instead working through established networks to identify grantees.

How they like to fund

Arcadia provides substantive, multi-year grants focusing on core support and capacity building rather than short-term interventions. It forms long-term partnerships to drive systemic change and does not accept unsolicited applications, instead identifying grantees through networks. The fund may work with partners who issue theme-specific calls, but Arcadia itself does not operate public rounds. All funded outputs must be made freely available online.

How much does Arcadia give?

From £250,000

Typical published range. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you would clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is the free fit check.

Deadlines & timelines

When to apply, and how long their decisions take.

Your specific fit

Income, location, legal structure and exactly who they fund — matched to your charity.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

EnvironmentArts & culture

How to apply to Arcadia

Arcadia does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation.

A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
If you cannot apply directly, shortlist open funders with a similar focus instead of writing into a closed door.

What you can do here

1
Check fit. See if your project aligns with Arcadia.
2
Find open funders. Shortlist similar funders you can approach.
3
Save the notes. Keep the fit check if you are later invited to apply.

See if Arcadia could be a fit — then find open funders like them.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Arcadia provide?

Arcadia typically provides grants from £250,000.

Where does Arcadia fund charities?

Arcadia funds charities operating in the UK.

Does Arcadia accept unsolicited applications?

Arcadia does not accept unsolicited applications.

How do I apply for funding from Arcadia?

Arcadia does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation. A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.