Becht Foundation

Charity Number: 1116657

Annual Expenditure: £2.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Registered Charity: 1116657 (England & Wales)
  • Founded: 2006
  • Annual Income: ??2.5 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: ??4,000 - ??1,600,000 (US$5,000 - $2,000,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Global (UK, USA, Europe, and worldwide)
  • Application Method: Email introduction only (no unsolicited applications)

Contact Details

Overview

The Becht Foundation was established in 2006 by Ann and Bart Becht as a UK-based global funder dedicated to protecting and restoring planetary biodiversity through marine conservation and climate communications. In 2019, the foundation underwent a strategic reassessment, shifting from a broader humanitarian focus to concentrate specifically on biodiversity protection, recognizing that resource exploitation was damaging the world and would lead to increased human suffering. The foundation takes a science-based approach to grantmaking, supporting initiatives that demonstrate measurable impact in halting or reversing negative impacts on the natural environment. The foundation participates in major collaborative funding initiatives, including a $51.7 million commitment with other philanthropies to accelerate marine protected areas in the high seas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Becht Foundation operates a selective grantmaking program with grants ranging from under ??4,000 to ??1.6 million, depending on project scope and alignment with strategic priorities. Applications are by invitation only following an email introduction.

Priority Areas

Marine Conservation (Primary Focus):

  • Establishing highly or fully protected marine protected areas (MPAs), particularly supporting the goal of protecting 30% of oceans by 2030
  • Combating overfishing and destructive fishing practices, including bottom trawling
  • Protecting and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems, particularly mangroves
  • Science-based fisheries management
  • Marine habitat restoration
  • Coastal community empowerment for sustainable resource management

Climate Communications (Secondary Focus):

  • Strategic, data-driven climate change communication campaigns
  • Campaigns generating public support for climate action

Educational Programs:

  • Programs supporting the key focus areas above

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual scholarships
  • One-off events or conferences
  • Academic research without direct policy impact
  • Projects not directly aligned with marine conservation or climate communications
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Lambertus Johannes Hermanus (Bart) Becht - Chairman and former CEO of Reckitt Benckiser, Senior Partner at Bansk Group
  • Ann Becht - Medical technology background, led humanitarian projects with institutions like Save the Children since 2006
  • Kevin Becht - Focuses on managing the foundation's investments
  • Natalie Becht - Specializes in digital marketing and climate communications
  • Sebastian Becht - Focuses on marine conservation initiatives targeting biodiversity loss and climate resiliency
  • David Poulter - Senior Advisor at Bansk Group, former Reckitt Benckiser finance executive
  • Chris Hawley - Partner at Rawlinson & Hunter, director of R&H Trust Co (UK) Limited

Key Staff:

  • Mastak Pal Kaur - Programme Director
  • Clare Brilliant - Programme Manager, formerly with Nobel Prize Outreach

Key Quote from Founders:

“We have always believed we can and should live in full harmony with nature. We also know that the marine space has been chronically underfunded, which is another reason it has become our focus.” - Ann and Bart Becht
"Protecting and restoring our planet's biodiversity through marine conservation is central to our foundation's mission, and safeguarding the high seas is critical to achieving the global goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030." - Ann and Bart Becht

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Becht Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

The application process requires:

  1. Email a brief introduction to info@bechtfoundation.org
  2. If the project aligns with their priorities, the foundation will request further information
  3. Invited applicants will be asked to provide a complete application

Note: Due to high volume of enquiries, the foundation will not respond if a project does not meet their outlined requirements.

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publish specific decision timelines. Applicants can expect:

  • Initial response (if invited to apply) following the brief introduction
  • Further assessment if a complete application is requested

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available. Given the invitation-only approach and highly focused priorities, the foundation operates a selective grantmaking model.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Organizations whose projects do not align with current priorities may consider reapplying if their work evolves to better match the foundation's focus areas.

Application Success Factors

Essential Alignment Criteria

To be considered for funding, projects must demonstrate:

  1. Clear and Direct Alignment: Projects must directly focus on marine conservation or climate communications and align with the foundation's strategic mission of protecting biodiversity
  1. Measurable KPIs: Applications must include specific, measurable outcomes that represent a clear step forward in marine conservation
  1. Phased Budget and Timeline: Proposals must include a realistic, phased budget alongside a timetable for achieving KPIs
  1. Direct Policy Impact: The foundation prioritizes projects that lead to tangible environmental outcomes rather than pure research

Recent Projects Funded

Examples of the foundation's funded work include:

  • Empowering grassroots communities through Rare's Fish Forever programme in the Mesoamerican Reef (Honduras and Guatemala)
  • Partnership with Oceana since 2020, including an anchor grant in 2021 that enabled Oceana to expand UK campaigns and open a London office
  • Creating over 4 million km?? of protected marine ecosystems in the eastern Pacific Ocean
  • Supporting the Tristan da Cunha Marine Protection Zone (~690,000 sq km)
  • Accelerating mangrove conservation and restoration in Colombia
  • Supporting Mangrove Action Project's Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration
  • Revival of tropical fisheries in East Africa and Southeast Asia through Blue Ventures
  • Restoring Dogger Bank in the North Sea
  • Accelerating bottom trawling bans in UK inshore waters
  • Expanding coastal marine protection in Honduras

Strategic Language and Priorities

The foundation uses terminology around:

  • “Halting, reversing, or materially mitigating negative impacts”
  • “Biodiversity loss and climate resiliency”
  • “Science-based” approaches
  • “Measurable outcomes” and “step forward in marine conservation”
  • “Living in full harmony with nature”

What Makes Applications Stand Out

  • Strategic Impact: Projects that contribute to the 30% ocean protection by 2030 goal
  • Community Empowerment: Initiatives that work with grassroots communities and small-scale fishers
  • Policy Change Potential: Projects with clear pathways to policy impact
  • Collaborative Approach: The foundation participates in multi-funder initiatives
  • Rapid Recovery Potential: Initiatives demonstrating potential for rapid ecosystem recovery

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Do Not Apply Unless Invited: This is an invitation-only funder. Start with a brief email introduction rather than a full proposal. Do not invest significant time in application materials unless specifically requested.
  1. Marine Conservation is Primary: While the foundation supports climate communications, marine conservation is the dominant focus. Ensure your project directly addresses marine biodiversity, MPAs, overfishing, or coastal ecosystems.
  1. Demonstrate Measurable Impact: The foundation requires specific KPIs and quantifiable outcomes. Vague or aspirational goals will not succeed. Show how your project represents a “clear step forward.”
  1. Think Big and Strategic: With grants up to ??1.6 million, the foundation supports significant initiatives. Frame your work in the context of global goals like 30% ocean protection by 2030.
  1. Policy Impact Over Pure Research: Academic research without direct policy outcomes is explicitly excluded. Demonstrate clear pathways from your work to environmental protection.
  1. Prepare for Selectivity: The invitation-only model means very few organizations receive funding. The foundation recognizes the marine space is “chronically underfunded,” suggesting they are strategic rather than broad in their giving.
  1. Align with Foundation Values: The founders' philosophy of “living in full harmony with nature” and addressing the root causes of human suffering through environmental protection should resonate through your application.

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