Alpkit Foundation

Charity Number: 1162585

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £131,000 - £184,000
  • Success Rate: 44% (634 awards from 1,449 applications in 2023)
  • Decision Time: 8-12 weeks (trustees meet every 2 months)
  • Grant Range: £50 - £500
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide

Contact Details

  • Website: www.alpkit.com/foundation
  • Email: akf@alpkit.com
  • Phone: 01773 417007
  • Application Portal: alpkit.com/pages/foundation-apply

Overview

The Alpkit Foundation was established in July 2015 by British outdoor retailer Alpkit to help people overcome obstacles preventing them from experiencing the outdoors. Funded by 1% of all Alpkit sales, the Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025 having awarded over £1 million to more than 3,000 grassroots projects across the UK. With total expenditure of £183,239 in the year ending October 2024, the Foundation focuses exclusively on small grants (£50-£500) to maximize reach and support direct-action community initiatives. The Foundation's motto—“Every Order Opens The Outdoors To Someone New”—reflects its commitment to removing barriers to outdoor access through targeted, grassroots funding. In 2023 alone, the Foundation supported 634 projects with £131,000 in grants, demonstrating consistent year-on-year growth in both applications received and awards made.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Standard Grants: £50 - £500 (rolling applications)
  • Applications accepted year-round via online form
  • Trustees review applications every 2 months
  • Average award approximately £200-£210
  • Special Initiatives: Occasional themed funding rounds (e.g., £10,000 National Parks initiative in 2023)

Priority Areas

The Foundation particularly supports four key themes:

  1. Diversity and Inclusion Projects - Engaging people from underrepresented backgrounds in outdoor activities
  2. Education Projects - First Aid training, Duke of Edinburgh awards, Forest Schools, Mountain Leader qualifications
  3. Environmental Projects - Conservation initiatives, re-wilding projects, community gardens, protecting wild places
  4. Health and Wellbeing Projects - Physical and mental health improvements through outdoor engagement

Specific project types funded include:

  • Discounted equipment for outdoor trips otherwise unaffordable
  • Kayak skills sessions and outdoor activity training
  • Lights for night running groups
  • Volunteer training programs
  • Facilities development for wider community outdoor access

What They Don't Fund

  • Holidays
  • Charity challenges
  • Commercially-led expeditions (non-outdoor focused)
  • Scout Jamborees (though they support Scout Association projects separately)
  • Retrospective applications (applications must be submitted before project start)
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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by 11 volunteer trustees who serve without remuneration. The trustee board comprises:

  • Four Alpkit Directors/Co-founders: Including David Hanney (CEO) and Nick Smith (Managing Director)
  • Two Staff Trustees: Including Naomi (Assistant Manager of Customer Service) and Abby (Manager at Alpkit Keswick)
  • Customer Trustee: Debbie Read (first customer trustee)
  • Independent Trustee: Adge Last (chairs trustee meetings)

Trustees meet every 2 months on Wednesday evenings in the Peak District to review applications. All trustees are passionate about outdoor activities and bring diverse perspectives from retail, customer service, and outdoor sports.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the online application form at alpkit.com/pages/foundation-apply or via email to akf@alpkit.com.

Application Requirements:

  • Complete the detailed online form with thorough answers to assessment questions
  • Apply at least 3 months before project start date to allow time for trustee consideration
  • Demonstrate how the project meets one or more of the four priority themes
  • Show “direct impact,” “long lasting benefits,” and “value for money”

Eligible Applicants:

  • Individuals
  • Community groups
  • Charitable organizations
  • Community Interest Companies (CICs)
  • Schools

Decision Timeline

  • Trustee Meetings: Every 2 months (8-week cycles)
  • Recommended Application Window: At least 3 months before project start
  • Review Volume: Trustees now review 300-400 applications per meeting
  • Notification: All applicants notified after trustee decision

Success Rates

Based on 2023 data:

  • Applications Received: 1,449
  • Projects Funded: 634
  • Success Rate: 44%
  • Total Awarded: £131,000
  • Average Award: £207

The Foundation states: “The only criteria we apply is that the project meets the funding criteria and the Alpkit Foundation has enough money in the pot.”

Reapplication Policy

No restrictions on reapplication. The Foundation explicitly welcomes multiple applications:

  • No limit to the number of times you can apply
  • Each award is assessed on its own merit
  • Organizations can receive multiple awards over time
  • Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to apply again

Application Success Factors

The Foundation has provided specific guidance on what makes applications successful:

Key Criteria (directly from Foundation guidance):

  • Projects that “encourage responsible outdoor activity”
  • Initiatives with “long lasting benefits”
  • Programs that “introduce new people to get outdoors”
  • Proposals demonstrating “value for money”

Critical Success Factors:

  1. Timing: Submit at least 3 months before project start—retrospective applications are automatically rejected
  2. Thoroughness: Complete all detailed questions fully to provide sufficient information for assessment
  3. Alignment: Clearly demonstrate fit with at least one of the four priority themes (diversity & inclusion, education, environment, health & wellbeing)
  4. Grassroots Focus: The Foundation prioritizes “passionate game changers where a positive difference can be made” at community level
  5. Direct Impact: Show how the small grant will directly enable outdoor access that wouldn't otherwise be possible

Examples of Recently Funded Projects:

  • Support for outdoor First Aiders and Mountain Leader training
  • Community gardens and allotment projects
  • Re-wilding woodland initiatives
  • Kayak skills sessions for underrepresented groups
  • Night running group equipment
  • Volunteer training programs
  • Partnership with Mind Over Mountains for mental wellbeing programs

Quote from Beneficiary:

Ian Sansbury, Chief Executive of Mind Over Mountains: "We can't thank you enough for your continued support - our partnership with you enables us to help more people experience the transformative power of nature for mental wellbeing."

What Not to Do:

  • Apply retrospectively (automatic rejection)
  • Request funding for holidays or purely recreational trips
  • Submit incomplete applications without adequate detail
  • Apply too close to project start date (less than 3 months)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Small grants, big reach: With an average award of £207, focus on specific, achievable outcomes rather than large-scale projects—this is about removing specific barriers for specific groups
  • High success rate: At 44%, the Foundation is more accessible than many funders, particularly if your project clearly aligns with their four priority themes
  • No gatekeeping: There's no limit on applications or reapplications—if at first you don't succeed, refine and resubmit
  • Values-driven assessment: The Foundation's simple criteria (“does it meet funding aims and do we have the money?”) means alignment with mission is paramount—demonstrate how you're opening the outdoors to people who face barriers
  • Plan ahead: The 2-month trustee meeting cycle means early application is essential—submit 3+ months before you need funding
  • Community over scale: The Foundation explicitly seeks “grassroots, direct-action projects” and “passionate game changers”—emphasize community-level impact over institutional credentials
  • Be thorough: The Foundation notes that application questions are “quite detailed” by design—comprehensive answers improve assessment accuracy and success likelihood

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