Baring Foundation

Could Baring Foundation fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £20,000 – £90,000
Where they fund: United Kingdom, Sub-Saharan Africa
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Two-stage application

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

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baringfoundation.org.uk

About Baring Foundation

The Baring Foundation is an independent charitable foundation that works to protect and advance human rights, promote inclusion, and strengthen civil society. It favours rights-based approaches, long-term partnerships, and funding that tackles root causes of injustice. The foundation supports organisations through core funding, capacity building, and convening, with a focus on grantee-led change. Its work is organised around three programme areas: Strengthening Civil Society, International Development, and Arts.

What Baring Foundation funds

The foundation's Strengthening Civil Society programme supports the use of legal tools to hold corporations to account for harms caused by their activities. The International Development programme empowers LGBTI communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Arts programme promotes the role of creativity in the lives of people with mental health problems across the UK. Across these programmes, the foundation funds core costs, capacity building, and convening activities that aim for systemic change. All supported work is rights-based and addresses root causes.

Who can apply

The foundation funds registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations, community interest companies, and social enterprises. They prioritise organisations that take rights-based approaches and work with marginalised communities, including people with mental health problems, LGBTI communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, and those affected by corporate harms. Applicants must operate in the UK or Sub-Saharan Africa, with a geographic priority on England for some programmes.

What Baring Foundation doesn't fund

The foundation does not fund service delivery, individual advice, or short-term projects. They also do not support organisations that are not aligned with their rights-based and systemic change approach.

How they like to fund

The foundation offers multi-year grants and supports organisations through core funding, capacity building, and convening. It favours long-term partnerships and grantee-led change, with funding that tackles root causes of injustice.

How much does Baring Foundation give?

Baring Foundation runs 3 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 20 sourced facts

Arts ProgrammeCurrently closed

£20,000 – £60,000

Expression of interest first
Multi-year funding

International Development ProgrammeBy invitation only

Strengthening Civil Society ProgrammeOpen to applications

Next deadline 7 September 2026

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Baring Foundation funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

Promoting the role of creativity in the lives of people with mental health problems

Where they fund

United KingdomSub-Saharan Africa

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Arts & cultureMental healthEthnic minoritiesOlder people

How to apply to Baring Foundation

Baring Foundation takes applications via two-stage application.

Published programme route: expression of interest first.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What Baring Foundation's application asks

We hold the question from Baring Foundation's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“Write an expression of interest in 2,000 words or less, including: • a short description of your organisation including how it meets our eligibility criteria. • how and when you intend to use the grant, making your plans as clear as possible. For instance, how would you equip yourself with relevant expertise in advance of providing creative activities? Do you have an organisation in mind to work with? How would you attract participants? What activities do you anticipate being on offer? Describe to us where, when and over what period this would be offered. How would you support and safeguard participants? Who do you anticipate attending and how would you support them? How would you support people working on the project? Do you anticipate and risks or challenges and how would you meet them? Is there a way for you to sustain this project after our funding ends?”

Max 2000 words

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Baring Foundation could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Baring Foundation provide?

Baring Foundation runs 3 grant programmes — Arts Programme: £20,000 – £60,000.

Where does Baring Foundation fund charities?

Baring Foundation funds charities operating in United Kingdom, Sub-Saharan Africa.

Does Baring Foundation accept unsolicited applications?

Baring Foundation accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

How do I apply for funding from Baring Foundation?

Baring Foundation takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: expression of interest first.