Evolution Education Trust

The Evolution Education Trust (EET), established in 2010 by Dr Jonathan Milner, founder of Abcam plc, is a UK-based grant-making charity dedicated to advancing the public understanding and application of evolutionary science to tackle challenges in life sciences, nature conservation, and human health. Guided by scientific rigour, catalytic impact, and long-term partnerships, EET proactively identifies grantees through its network, emphasising proof-of-concept projects that unlock further investment—£24 million in grants since inception has reportedly leveraged £92 million more. Its distinctive ethos views evolutionary theory as an underutilised framework for innovative solutions, fostering strategic relationships with organisations demonstrating strong leadership and scalable ambition.

EET funds life-sciences research and evolution education (public and formal teaching), nature conservation initiatives building research capacity or delivering novel interventions, and evolutionary applications in healthcare and therapeutics. Beneficiaries include UK universities, conservation bodies like Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, educational charities such as Cambridge Science Centre, and early-career researchers, with examples spanning seed funding for Sir David Attenborough’s 'A Life on Our Planet' documentary via WWF-UK, Milner Therapeutics Institute programmes, and international biodiversity education in the Galapagos or Cape Verde tied to UK expertise.

Eligible entities are UK-registered charities or academic institutions, favouring medium-to-large organisations with robust track records; no strict income thresholds apply, but grassroots groups are unlikely without consortia involvement. Typical grants range from £50,000 to £1,000,000 (averaging £100,000–£500,000) for seed funding, projects, or capacity building. Applications are invite-only—no unsolicited proposals, forms, or deadlines—with ad hoc board decisions. EET excludes general operational support unrelated to its mission, prioritising evolutionary-focused, evidence-driven interventions that catalyse system-level change and differentiate it as a specialist, partnership-driven funder.