Nesta

Nesta is a leading UK innovation charity, established in 1998 as the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts and becoming fully independent in 2012, endowed initially by £250 million from the National Lottery. Its mission is to design, test, and scale evidence-based solutions to society's biggest challenges, focusing on three ambitious goals: reducing UK household carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, halving obesity and narrowing health inequalities through food environment reforms and tackling loneliness, and eliminating the school readiness gap for low-income children to achieve equal educational outcomes. Nesta's distinctive approach emphasizes bold experimentation, data-driven insights, cross-sector collaboration, and systemic change via policy, markets, and public sector shifts, often through specialist units like the Behavioural Insights Team and Challenge Works.

It funds research, pilots, scaling innovations, challenge prizes, digital/data projects, and applied behavioural science targeting disadvantaged groups, public health, early years education, and green technology. Beneficiaries include UK charities, social enterprises, academic institutions, community groups, local authorities, NHS bodies, businesses, and researchers delivering UK-wide impact, with examples like school readiness initiatives in deprived areas, obesity-fighting food reforms, and household decarbonisation pilots.

Eligible applicants must be UK-registered entities based in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), typically medium-to-large organisations with strong governance and capacity for £30,000+ budgets; no religious restrictions. Does not accept unsolicited applications—opportunities arise via targeted programme calls with EOI webinars, shortlisting to full applications, and decisions in 2-3 months; check website for live deadlines (4-8 week windows, no rolling).

Grants range £30,000-£120,000 (mostly £30,000-£50,000) for innovative projects, not core costs, capital, emergencies, or standard service delivery. Nesta stands out for its analytical rigour, open-access impact reports, and pursuit of population-level, scalable transformations over incremental aid.