Mission44

Could Mission44 fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £5,000 – £500,000
Where they fund: England, UK
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Two-stage application
Decisions: Quarterly

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

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About Mission44

Mission44 is a charitable foundation established by Formula One champion Sir Lewis Hamilton. Its mission is to build a fairer, more inclusive future by addressing educational and structural inequalities faced by young people, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds. The foundation favours long-term, systemic change through grant-making, research, and advocacy, and places young people at the centre of its work. It is distinctive for its focus on anti-racism and youth leadership, including a youth advisory board.

What Mission44 funds

The foundation funds work in education, skills, employment, and youth development across the UK, with a particular focus on England. It supports projects that build inclusive education systems, create STEM and motorsport career pathways, and empower young people to become changemakers. Grants cover project delivery, research, core costs, and training. The foundation favours long-term partnerships, offering development grants lasting up to two years and impact grants for longer-term partnerships. It also match-funds with other funders where strategy and values align.

Who can apply

Mission44 supports registered charities, social enterprises, community interest companies, and schools. Priority beneficiaries are young people of colour, those from low-income backgrounds, care-experienced young people, and those excluded from school. The foundation does not fund statutory bodies such as local authority-run schools or local authorities. Unsolicited applications are welcome.

What Mission44 doesn't fund

The foundation does not fund capital works, one-off or annual events such as galas or festivals, the practice or promotion of religion or any particular belief systems, recoverable VAT, loan repayments, or work that is not legally charitable.

How they like to fund

Mission44 offers both development grants (typically up to two years) and impact grants (longer-term partnerships). It funds core costs, project delivery, research, and training. The foundation match-funds with other funders where strategy and values align. It welcomes unsolicited applications.

How much does Mission44 give?

Mission44 runs 2 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

£5,000 – £500,000

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 32 sourced facts

Diversity in Education FundCurrently closed

Multi-year funding

General Grant-making ProgrammePaused

Two-stage process
Multi-year funding

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 Mission44 funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

Education: build inclusive education systems; Employment: create STEM and motorsport career pathways; Empowerment: enable young people to be changemakers. Target groups: young people of colour, low-income backgrounds, care experienced, excluded from school.

Where they fund

EnglandUK

Costs they'll cover

Project deliveryResearchCore costsTraining

They don't fund

Capital works & buildingsEventsIndividuals

The full exclusions list (6)

This Fund is not open to statutory bodies such as local authority run schools and local authorities
Work that is not legally charitable
One-off or annual events such as galas or festivals
The practice or promotion of religion or any particular belief systems
Recoverable VAT
Loan repayments

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Children & youthEducationEthnic minorities

How to apply to Mission44

Mission44 takes applications via two-stage application.

Published programme route: two-stage process.
Decisions are typically quarterly.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What Mission44's application asks

We hold the 2 questions from Mission44's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“Please tell us about your work and how it aligns with Mission 44’s vision”

Max 200 words

Question 2

“Please tell us how you involve young people in the structure, strategy and evaluation of your organisation”

Max 150 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 Mission44 could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Mission44 provide?

Mission44 typically provides grants of £5,000 - £500,000.

Where does Mission44 fund charities?

Mission44 funds charities operating in England, UK.

Does Mission44 accept unsolicited applications?

Mission44 accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Mission44 not fund?

Their published exclusions include: This Fund is not open to statutory bodies such as local authority run schools and local authorities; Work that is not legally charitable; One-off or annual events such as galas or festivals; The practice or promotion of religion or any particular belief systems; Recoverable VAT. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Mission44?

Mission44 takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: two-stage process.