Al Madad Foundation

Charity Number: 1101574

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £279,596 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (competitive - many more submissions than can be funded)
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months (two-stage process)
  • Grant Range: £20,000 - £250,000
  • Geographic Focus: Middle East (Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt) and selected European countries

Contact Details

Address: 52 Mount Street, London W1K 2SF

Website: www.almadadfoundation.org

Email: contact@almadadfoundation.org

Phone: +44 (0)20 7408 7896

Applications acknowledged within 48 hours. Application guidance and Grant Seeker FAQs available on website.

Overview

Al Madad Foundation (AMF) was established in 2001 to realize its founder's vision of universal access to basic education. As a UK registered charity (1101574), AMF is committed to promoting literacy and education for disadvantaged and refugee children across the Middle East. With annual giving of approximately £280,000, the foundation takes a “whole child” approach to education, designing interventions that remove obstacles preventing children and young people from achieving their full potential. AMF is strictly non-political and non-religious, describing itself as responsive, dynamic, and flexible. The foundation works as a “hands-on” partner with outstanding organizations, actively participating in project creation rather than simply providing funding. Recent projects funded by AMF have received prestigious recognition, including the 2024 Zero Project Award.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Spring/Autumn Grant Calls: £20,000 - £250,000 for projects up to three years duration

  • Two-stage application process (Concept Note, then Full Application)
  • Open calls issued regularly (typically spring and autumn)
  • Online application via foundation website
  • Recent calls have offered grants at £20,000, £50,000, and £100,000 levels

Small Grants Program: For smaller initiatives testing innovative approaches

  • Focused on creative solutions to specific problems
  • Trialing new approaches to ensure education is safe, accessible, and resilient in emergencies

Priority Areas

Core Focus: Education for refugee and displaced children affected by the Syria Crisis and other Middle Eastern conflicts

Thematic Priorities:

  • Innovative and sustainable approaches to make education (particularly non-formal education) safe, accessible, and resilient in emergencies
  • Identification and introduction of wellbeing schemes into existing support structures for refugee and displaced children
  • Identification of gaps in existing systems supporting unaccompanied refugee children and addressing these needs
  • Arts-based programs promoting development and empowerment of refugee children
  • Child protection and safeguarding within educational contexts
  • Healthcare provision for children and adolescents in refugee settings

Specific Interventions AMF Supports:

  • Children's Learning Centres
  • Scholarship Programs
  • START program
  • Audio-visual disability screenings and provision of spectacles/hearing aids
  • First Aid Training
  • Emergency relief responses

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects with aims to promote one religion or faith
  • Work that duplicates existing efforts already in practice in the field
  • Projects where AMF would be one of multiple donors for new initiatives (AMF should be the exclusive donor for the innovation/new project, though existing programs may involve other donors)
  • Individuals (unless applying in conjunction with a registered organization)
  • Organizations without child protection policies
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Governance and Leadership

Al Madad Foundation is governed by trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Specific names of trustees are not publicly disclosed on readily available materials.

The foundation describes its organizational philosophy as follows: “We can offer children the opportunity to be defined not by their circumstances but by their ambitions.”

AMF emphasizes that education and healing are mechanisms for breaking cycles of violence in regions affected by conflict and hardship.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Two-Stage Process:

  1. Stage 1 - Concept Note: Submit online via foundation website during open calls
  2. Stage 2 - Full Application: Invited applicants only (typically 1-2 months after concept note deadline)

Application Schedule: AMF regularly issues calls for proposals (typically spring and autumn). Concept notes are typically open for one month.

Application Acknowledgement: All applications acknowledged within 48 hours (Mon-Fri), or by 9am the working day after deadline for submissions within 48 hours of closing.

Decision Timeline

  • Concept Note to Invitation: Approximately 4-6 weeks
  • Full Application to Decision: Approximately 6-8 weeks
  • Total Process: 2-3 months from initial concept note to final decision

Successful concept note applicants are notified and invited to submit full applications. Final decisions communicated directly to applicants.

Success Rates

AMF acknowledges receiving “many more submissions than they are able to fund.” Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. Meeting all eligibility criteria does not automatically determine success. The foundation emphasizes competitive selection based on creativity and ability to add value.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Organizations are encouraged to contact AMF directly regarding reapplication after unsuccessful submissions.

Application Success Factors

Eligibility Requirements (Essential)

  • Must be a registered charity in the country where headquartered
  • Must have a Child Protection Policy conforming to local laws with clear, consistently applied methodology
  • Must demonstrate community knowledge and operational efficiency
  • Preference for charities with annual income between £5,000-£750,000 and at least three years' continuous accounts (for some calls)
  • Ability to meet AMF's reporting and acknowledgement requirements

What AMF Values in Applications

Creativity and Innovation: AMF specifically looks for “creative and innovative solutions to problems facing refugee children.” They seek approaches that trial new methods and fill identified gaps.

Strategic Alignment: Successful applications demonstrate ability to “add value to the efforts of Al Madad Foundation in providing the best possible foundation from which refugee and displaced children can begin to rebuild their futures.”

Practical Problem-Solving: AMF has funded projects addressing concrete barriers such as:

  • “Classroom on a Bus” in Lebanon (bringing education where children need to stay close to home)
  • “Twinning Project” connecting UK/European children with children in Lebanon as pen pals
  • STEPS Project providing screenings, spectacles, and hearing aids for audio-visual disabilities in refugee camps (1,900 screenings, 548 pairs of spectacles, 90 hearing aids delivered)

Whole Child Approach: Interventions should consider barriers beyond just curriculum, including wellbeing, protection, healthcare, and access challenges.

Local Expertise: AMF seeks partners who “know their communities” and can work efficiently, applying knowledge and experience to actively participate in creating new projects.

Flexibility and Adaptive Management: Organizations must be prepared for “constant communication throughout” and real-time adjustments in volatile environments.

Proper Safeguarding: Child protection must be adequately resourced and fit for purpose relative to project activities.

Key Terminology Used by AMF

  • “Whole child approach”
  • “Safe, accessible, and resilient education”
  • “Refugee and displaced children and youth”
  • “Creative and innovative solutions”
  • “Building positive futures”
  • “Opportunities to heal, learn, and grow”
  • “Non-political and non-religious”
  • “Hands-on partners”

Red Flags to Avoid

  • Duplicating existing work in the field
  • Religious promotion objectives
  • Inadequate or absent child protection measures
  • Proposals that don't demonstrate community knowledge
  • Generic applications not tailored to AMF's specific focus areas
  • Requesting AMF as one of multiple funders for a new initiative

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on innovation: AMF explicitly seeks creative approaches and new solutions, not replication of existing programs. Demonstrate what makes your approach unique and how it fills an identified gap.
  • Two-stage process requires strategic planning: The concept note is a critical gateway. Ensure it's compelling and clearly articulates innovation, need, and strategic fit before investing time in a full application.
  • Child protection is non-negotiable: Have a robust, demonstrable Child Protection Policy in place that's actively implemented, not just documented. Be prepared to describe methodology.
  • Emphasize “whole child” thinking: Don't just focus on curriculum. Address wellbeing, protection, access barriers, healthcare, and other factors that enable children to learn and thrive.
  • Be specific about the Syria Crisis context: AMF's core focus is children affected by conflict in the Middle East, particularly the Syria Crisis. Clearly articulate how your work serves this population.
  • Demonstrate community expertise: AMF values partners who deeply know their communities and can work efficiently in complex environments. Highlight local knowledge and established presence.
  • Expect active partnership: AMF describes itself as “hands-on” and expects “constant communication throughout.” Show readiness for collaborative project development and adaptive management.
  • Geographic focus matters: Projects should be implemented in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, or selected European countries. Clearly state where work will take place.

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