Elma Foundation (UK)

The foundation funds health systems strengthening, including maternal and newborn health, vaccinations, HIV/AIDS, and neglected tropical diseases. It also supports early childhood development, education access and quality, and safeguarding vulnerable groups such as adolescent girls and youth. Grants cover service delivery, capacity building, advocacy, and policy reform. Geographically, the focus is primarily sub-Saharan Africa, with some support for UK-based programmes serving disadvantaged youth. The foundation favours proven, high-impact models and works with established charities operating at national or regional scale.

Eligible organisations are typically mid-to-large established charities with strong track records, operational capacity, and robust evaluation frameworks. They should operate in sub-Saharan Africa or run UK-based programmes for disadvantaged children and youth. The foundation prefers organisations working at national or regional scale, though no formal income thresholds apply. Beneficiary groups prioritised include disadvantaged children and families, with a focus on adolescent girls and youth. The foundation seeks partners with a proven ability to deliver scalable, evidence-led interventions.

The foundation does not support small-scale or grassroots efforts, one-off projects, or unproven interventions. It avoids funding that lacks a clear evidence base or potential for systemic impact.

The foundation provides multi-year grants, often supporting core costs or unrestricted funding to enable ambitious, risky projects. It works strictly by invitation only, with no open calls or unsolicited applications. Partnerships are typically large-scale and multi-sectoral, leveraging collaboration for long-term transformation.