Disrupt Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £3,770,390 (2024)
• Total Income: £2,864,484 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified (awarded £90,000+ to mutual aid groups in one programme)
• Geographic Focus: UK and Israel/Palestine

Contact Details

• Website: www.disrupt.org
• Email: contact@disrupt.org (general enquiries)
• Alternative Contact: jonathanbrinsden@bdbpitmans.com
• Phone: 020 7783 3568
• Charity Number: 1198872
• Company Number: 13738626

Overview

Established in 2021, DISRUPT FOUNDATION is the Podjarny family foundation, incorporated and registered in England and Wales. With total income of £2.86 million and charitable expenditure of £3.77 million in 2024, the foundation operates as an independent grant-making charity currently active in the UK and Israel/Palestine. The foundation's mission is to promote a stronger, more connected and more impactful ecosystem of activists and groups, led by and for minoritised communities, in order to disrupt unjust systems, lever strategic long-term processes of change, and pursue social justice. The foundation employs 2 staff members and is governed by 4 trustees who receive no remuneration. The foundation embraces liberatory methods of action which involve challenging and transforming oppressive systems and structures rather than simply working within them, using bold, imaginative, and unconventional strategies that disrupt the status quo.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not advertise open application rounds or fixed grant programmes publicly. Known funding initiatives include:

• Mutual Aid Fund: In partnership with Social Change Nest, awarded over £90,000 to support mutual aid groups across the UK post-pandemic (received 150 applications totalling approximately £670,000 in requests). Funded groups including Balfour Mutual Aid, Hastings HEART, SE15 Community Fund, Byker Mutual Aid, Progress Estate Mutual Aid, St Ann's Food Hub, Newham Solidarity Fund, Chorlton Community Cooperative, Oxford Mutual Aid, Trans Aid Cymru, and others.

Funding Approach

• Core Funding: Prioritises unrestricted core funding for grantee organisations, providing flexibility and autonomy to pursue their mission
• Project Funding: Offers project-specific grants and seed funds for new initiatives, sharing risks through collaborative partnerships
• “Funder Plus” Support: Provides direct funding for strategic development processes including organisational consulting, capacity building, external expert support, and technology projects

Priority Areas

United Kingdom:

• Migrant rights and racial justice
• Social and economic rights
• Grassroots mutual aid and community organising

Israel/Palestine:

• Community organizing initiatives
• The foundation explicitly opposes “the occupation of the Palestinian territories, to measures of apartheid, and to all human rights violations”

Cross-cutting interests:

• Technology solutions for social change with ethical consideration
• Amplifying activist work through technology

Target Grantees

The foundation focuses on grassroots organisations, initiatives and activists from marginalised communities who employ an intersectional sociopolitical and gender approach, prioritising front-line and community-led work.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly specified, but the foundation's focus on grassroots activist organisations led by minoritised communities suggests they likely do not fund:

• Large established institutions
• Work that does not centre marginalised communities
• Organisations without an intersectional approach
• Work that maintains rather than challenges oppressive systems

Ready to write a winning application for Disrupt Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Trustees/Directors

• Guy Podjarny (President and Co-Founder): British entrepreneur, born March 1979. Founder of Snyk (software security startup) and currently Founder and CEO of Tessl. Guy and his wife Gal established the Disrupt Foundation to disrupt the status quo of social injustice by supporting people, local communities, and organisations working for positive change, and by amplifying their impact through technology.

• Dr Gal Podjarny (Trustee): Israeli-Canadian writer and researcher, born January 1979. Co-founder of Disrupt Foundation alongside her husband Guy.

• Einat Podjarny (Director): Israeli, born March 1978, resident in Israel.

• Jonathan Edward Andrew Brinsden (Director): Solicitor, born January 1975. Partner and head of charities at Broadfield Law (now BDB Pitmans) with over 20 years' experience in the charities and not-for-profit sector, supporting organisations and philanthropists on programmatic, governance and regulatory matters. Previously served as one of the four original trustees of Monday Charitable Trust.

Staffing

• 2 employees
• 1 employee earning £100,000-£110,000 (2024)
• No trustees receive remuneration or benefits

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation does not advertise an open application process or public application portal on its website. Funding appears to be largely proactive or through strategic partnerships rather than through open calls for applications.

To enquire about potential funding: Contact the foundation at contact@disrupt.org

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The Mutual Aid Fund received 150 applications and awarded grants to approximately 20-25 organisations, suggesting a competitive application process when open calls are made.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's approach and stated priorities, successful applications are likely to demonstrate:

Strategic Alignment

• Grassroots leadership: Organisations led by and for minoritised communities with lived experience
• Intersectional approach: Demonstrates understanding of how different forms of oppression intersect (race, gender, class, migration status, etc.)
• Liberatory methods: Uses bold, unconventional strategies that challenge oppressive systems rather than working within them
• Community organising: Focus on building power from the ground up

Organisational Profile

• Front-line work: Direct engagement with affected communities
• Activist orientation: Clear commitment to disrupting unjust systems and pursuing social justice
• Strategic development needs: Could benefit from capacity building, consulting, or technology support

Geographic and Thematic Fit

• Based in UK or Israel/Palestine
• Working on migrant rights, racial justice, social and economic rights, or community organizing
• Potential for technology to amplify impact

Examples of Funded Work

The foundation has supported mutual aid groups providing:

• Essential supplies for vulnerable communities
• Warm bank spaces and rental costs for community spaces
• Coordination and staffing for grassroots support networks
• Community-led responses to crisis and systemic injustice

Relational Approach

The foundation emphasises “trust-based support and strategic partnership,” suggesting they value:

• Transparent communication about organisational needs and challenges
• Willingness to engage in collaborative partnerships
• Openness to strategic development support beyond just funding

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Proactive funding model: The foundation does not appear to run open application rounds; most funding is likely proactive or through partnerships. Building relationships and making initial contact via email is essential.

• Grassroots and radical focus: This is a foundation seeking to support bold, disruptive work that challenges oppressive systems—not incremental change or service delivery within existing structures. Applications should clearly articulate transformative goals.

• Intersectionality is essential: The foundation explicitly prioritises intersectional approaches. Applications must demonstrate sophisticated understanding of how different forms of marginalisation intersect.

• Leadership from lived experience: Organisations must be led by and for the communities they serve. Tokenistic involvement of marginalised communities will not meet the foundation's criteria.

• Substantial resources: With nearly £4 million in annual charitable expenditure and only 2 staff, the foundation appears to make relatively large grants to a focused portfolio of grantees rather than many small grants.

• “Funder Plus” opportunity: Beyond grants, the foundation offers significant non-financial support including consulting, capacity building, and technology expertise—articulate how these could strengthen your organisation.

• Technology for social change: Given the founders' background in tech entrepreneurship, organisations with innovative ideas for using technology ethically to amplify activist work may have particular appeal.

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales. (2025). “DISRUPT FOUNDATION - Charity Overview.” Charity Registration 1198872. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1198872&subid=0 []

• DISRUPT FOUNDATION. (2025). Official Website. https://www.disrupt.org []

• NGO Explorer. (2025). “Disrupt Foundation | Charity 1198872.” https://ngoexplorer.org/charity/1198872 []

• Founders Pledge. (2025). "Guy & Gal Podjarny." https://www.founderspledge.com/meet-the-team/guy-and-gal-podjarny []

• The Social Change Agency. (2024). “The Mutual Aid Movement post-pandemic - Updates from The Changing Ideas Mutual Aid Fund.” https://thesocialchangeagency.org/blog/the-mutual-aid-movement-post-pandemic/ []

• Open Collective. (2025). “Disrupt Foundation: Mutual Aid Fund.” https://opencollective.com/disrupt-foundation-maf []

• Companies House. (2025). “DISRUPT FOUNDATION - Company Number 13738626.” https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13738626 []