Be The Earth Foundation

Charity Number: 1189626

Annual Expenditure: £0.9M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £925,770 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program
  • Grant Range: Micro-grants to £2m (includes impact investments)
  • Geographic Focus: UK, Brazil, South Africa (with international reach)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.betheearth.foundation/

Email: seth@42acres.com

Phone: 07775536653

Note: Be The Earth Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited grant requests. However, they maintain an open approach and actively seek connections to organically expand relationships.

Overview

Be The Earth Foundation was established in 2019 by Seth Tabatznik, co-founder of 42 Acres regenerative farm and retreat. Registered as UK Charity 1189626, the foundation had annual expenditure of £925,770 in 2023. Their mission is to help manifest harmony on earth for all beings by supporting holistic, regenerative, and diverse economic systems. The foundation operates as a hybrid organization, combining traditional grant-making with impact investments ranging from £200k-£2m. They work primarily through three strategic areas: earth protection, regenerative agriculture, and wellbeing. Distinctively, they prioritize trust-based, relationship-driven funding guided by feminine principles, with decision-making power distributed to advisors with lived experience in the sectors they support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Flow Funding Programme: Trust-based model where selected changemakers receive funds directly and have full discretion to allocate grants to individuals, groups, or organizations in their networks. Focuses on micro-grants that traditional philanthropy overlooks. Flow Funders receive personal stipends and join group sessions throughout the year. Selection by invitation only, prioritizing: food, farming, environmental regeneration, women, and indigenous peoples.

Blooming Initiative: Four-year cycle of unrestricted long-term grant-giving combined with capacity building and storytelling. Supports grassroots communities prototyping regenerative economies based on care for people and planet. Began in 2020 as experimental grant-giving. Currently invitation-only with plans to expand future cohorts.

Gift Grants: In 2023, awarded 13 gift grants as micro-donations to individuals, groups, and organizations, primarily focusing on indigenous causes, food system regeneration, and alternative education.

Pooled Funds: Participates in collaborative funding arrangements where decisions are made by advisors with lived experience, including partnerships with Agroecology Fund and Earth Funding Lab (formerly Philanthropy Lab).

Impact Investments: £200k-£2m for mission-driven organizations in pre-seed through Series B stages. Recently shifting from traditional equity to revenue-based financing models to support grassroots ownership and decentralization.

Priority Areas

  • Regenerative Agriculture & Food Systems: Agroecology, seed sovereignty, local and regenerative food systems
  • Earth Protection: Environmental regeneration, rewilding, nature-based practices
  • Wellbeing: Mental health, slow movement, healthy human-nature connections
  • Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous-led initiatives and causes
  • Women: Women-led projects and feminine leadership
  • Systemic Change: Alternative economic systems, taxation reform, wealth redistribution
  • Community-Led Projects: Grassroots, community-led, and nature-based initiatives

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All partnerships and grants are by invitation only, based on existing relationships and networks.

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Governance and Leadership

Seth Tabatznik - Founder and Funder: Co-founder of 42 Acres regenerative farm and retreat. Established Be The Earth Foundation in 2019 to merge impact investing and philanthropy with focus on regenerative food systems. Active in agriwilding and philanthropy innovation.

Renata Minerbo - Head of Philanthropy (also referenced as Head of Community & Partnerships): Focuses on feminine leadership principles in building a better future. Works closely with Seth on strategic direction and partnership development.

Trustees: Play pivotal role in shaping overarching vision and strategic elements as outlined in the foundation's manifesto.

Leadership Philosophy: “Our role extends beyond funding and investing — it is a call for collective action.” The foundation emphasizes that “Changing the system is not just about what we do; how we do things matters too.”

Guiding Principles: Inspired by Satish Kumar's quote: “We cannot predict results and outcomes, we can only choose to keep acting.” The foundation is “inspired by fungal networks, we observe the paradigm of reciprocity in all relationships, knowing that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

No Open Applications: Be The Earth Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. The selection of partners and fellows is a deliberate and invitation-only process.

Building Relationships: Despite the closed application process, they “maintain an open approach, actively seeking connections to organically expand and deepen relationships.” Organizations interested in partnership should focus on building authentic relationships with the foundation's network.

How They Select Partners: They work through trust and relationships, guided by feminine principles, and build partnerships by invitation only. They first decide if an opportunity aligns with their vision, then determine what type of funding would best support the organization—ranging from unrestricted grants to equity investments.

Geographic Focus: Works primarily in the United Kingdom, Brazil, and South Africa.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary significantly depending on the program and relationship development. As a relationship-based funder, there is no standard application-to-decision timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The invitation-only model means traditional success rates don't apply. Selection is relationship-based rather than competitive application-based.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. Relationships are ongoing rather than application-based.

Application Success Factors

Building Relationships is Key

Since Be The Earth operates exclusively through invitation and relationships, potential partners should:

  • Network Strategically: Connect with existing Be The Earth partners, Flow Funders, or Blooming Initiative participants
  • Attend Events: Participate in events where Be The Earth is present (e.g., Oxford Real Farming Conference)
  • Join Collaborative Funds: Consider joining initiatives like the Agroecology Fund or Earth Funding Lab where Be The Earth participates
  • Demonstrate Alignment: Show clear alignment with regenerative agriculture, earth protection, and wellbeing priorities

Examples of Recent Funded Projects (2024)

  • The Gaia Foundation: Seed Sovereignty Programme supporting biodiverse, ecologically sustainable seed systems in UK and Ireland
  • Young Visionaries: Retreats helping young people develop healthy connections to themselves, communities, and the Earth
  • Instituto Desacelera (Brazil): Non-profit promoting wellbeing, mental health, and the slow movement
  • Advaya: Educational and training services (latest investment October 2024)

Language and Terminology They Use

  • Regenerative systems and economies
  • Care for people and planet
  • Trust-based philanthropy
  • Lived experience and grassroots wisdom
  • Systemic change and decentralization
  • Fungal networks and reciprocity
  • Feminine principles and leadership
  • Human health and planetary health as one

Foundation Philosophy

“Our commitment to listen deeply to the wisdom of nature, to our ally funders and to our partners on the ground, have led us to a constant refinement of our work.” They prioritize:

  • Trust over bureaucracy
  • Relationships over transactions
  • Grassroots wisdom over top-down expertise
  • Unrestricted funding over restricted grants
  • Long-term partnerships over one-off grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-Only: Traditional grant applications are not accepted. Focus on relationship-building and networking within regenerative agriculture, food systems, and environmental spaces.
  • Trust-Based Model: The foundation's entire approach is built on trust and relationships rather than formal applications, monitoring, and reporting requirements.
  • Alignment is Critical: Projects must demonstrate deep alignment with regenerative systems, earth protection, and wellbeing—particularly food systems, indigenous peoples, and women-led initiatives.
  • Think Micro and Grassroots: They specifically seek to fund projects “overlooked by traditional philanthropy” where small amounts can create significant hyper-local impact.
  • Hybrid Approach: Be aware they offer both grants and impact investments (£200k-£2m). They determine the appropriate funding type based on organizational needs.
  • Geographic Priorities: While UK-based, they work primarily in UK, Brazil, and South Africa, with particular interest in indigenous and grassroots movements.
  • Network with Existing Partners: Connect with organizations like The Gaia Foundation, Agroecology Fund, Earth Funding Lab, Young Visionaries, and other known partners to enter their network.

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