Epic Foundation Uk Limited

Charity Number: 1163753

Annual Expenditure: £1.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,516,338 (2024 charitable activities expenditure)
  • Success Rate: Highly selective (5 organizations selected from 4,000+ applications reviewed)
  • Decision Time: 8+ months (rigorous due diligence process)
  • Grant Range: Minimum £72,000 per year ($100,000 USD) for minimum 3 years
  • Geographic Focus: Global (operates in UK, US, France, Switzerland)

Contact Details

Website: www.epic.foundation

Email: Myriamv@epic.foundation

Phone: 2087421015

Charity Number: 1163753

Company Number: 09614226

Organizations cannot apply directly - Epic operates an invite-only selection process. Interested nonprofits can register via the “Join our portfolio” form on their website to be considered at future selection rounds.

Overview

Epic Foundation UK Limited was registered on 29 September 2015 as a global grant-making foundation that empowers and protects children, youth, and the planet. Founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Alexandre Mars, Epic has backed 57 nonprofits and social enterprises worldwide, mobilizing $91 million since 2014. The foundation operates a distinctive venture capital-inspired model, providing multi-year unrestricted funding to rigorously vetted organizations. Epic's board covers all operational costs, ensuring 100% of donations go directly to portfolio organizations. With total income of £2,001,678 in 2024, Epic operates two flagship portfolios focusing on Children & Youth and Environment & Climate. The foundation employs sophisticated selection methodology leveraging multiple rounds of due diligence, expert networks, and on-the-ground analysis.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Three-Year Unrestricted Grants

  • Minimum commitment: $100,000 USD per year for minimum 3 years (often exceeded)
  • Renewable on two-year rolling basis
  • Fully unrestricted funding to enable organizational innovation and iteration
  • Application method: Invite-only (nonprofits reviewed at each selection round)

Priority Areas

Children & Youth Portfolio:

  • Combatting poverty and its effects on children and families
  • Addressing children and youth mental health
  • Enhancing gender equity for women and girls
  • Preventing violence against children, youth, and women
  • Education and economic empowerment for children and youth

Environment & Climate Portfolio (launched December 2022):

  • Forests
  • Food and agriculture systems
  • Oceans
  • Non-commercial clean energy

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Registered nonprofit organization (registered with Charity Commission in UK, 501(c)(3) in US, etc.)
  • Annual budget between $500,000 and $15 million USD
  • Demonstrated ability to evidence impact on individual lives, ecosystems, or systems/institutions
  • Main activities directly contribute to Epic's core priorities

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations with budgets below $500,000 or above $15 million USD
  • Commercial clean energy projects
  • Organizations outside their two portfolio focus areas
  • Specific time-limited projects (they fund organizations, not projects)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (all appointed 29 May 2015):

  • Alexandre Mars - Chair and Founder. Serial entrepreneur and philanthropist who created Epic in 2014. Mars emphasizes rigorous standards: “The nonprofit world should apply the same rigorous standards as the for-profit world.” He states that Epic addresses three main barriers to giving: “lack of knowledge (about where to give), lack of trust (that the money would be put to good use), and lack of time (to figure it all out).”
  • Myriam Vander Elst - Trustee
  • Charles Henri Prevost - Trustee

Key Quote from Leadership:

"How can I ask you to give money if I'm not able to show you where the money goes?" - Alexandre Mars on transparency and accountability

The foundation employs 3 staff members. No trustees receive remuneration, and Epic's board covers all operational costs on a pro bono basis.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Epic operates an invite-only application process. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications.

How Organizations Are Identified:

  • Epic connects with key partners who are experts in the field
  • Conducts independent research
  • Reviews all registered organizations in their database at every selection round
  • Encourages eligible organizations to register via their website form

Registration Process:

Eligible nonprofits can complete the “Join our portfolio” form at epic.foundation to make themselves known and be considered for future selection rounds.

Decision Timeline

Selection Process: Minimum 8 months from initial review to final selection

Process Structure:

  • 4-step selection process
  • Multiple rounds of due diligence
  • Expert network consultation
  • On-the-ground analysis
  • 45 data points evaluated including impact, governance, and leadership

Annual Focus: Each year Epic chooses a specific selection focus (specific country and/or theme)

Notification: Organizations invited to apply will be contacted directly by Epic

Success Rates

Highly competitive: Epic analyzed more than 4,000 applications from social organizations and NGOs and selected only 5 organizations in their initial selection round. Alexandre Mars emphasizes it is “very hard to become part of the Epic portfolio.”

Reapplication Policy

Organizations remain in Epic's database and are reviewed at every selection round. If organizational circumstances change or Epic's selection focus shifts to better align with an organization's work, they may be invited to apply in future rounds.

Application Success Factors

What Epic Looks For:

  1. Measurable Impact: Ability to evidence impact on individual lives, ecosystems, or systems/institutions that affect them. Epic evaluates impact as a core data point in their 45-point assessment.
  1. Strong Governance and Leadership: Organizations must demonstrate robust governance structures and effective leadership - two of the three key categories Epic assesses alongside impact.
  1. Strategic Alignment: Direct contribution to Epic's core priorities in either Children & Youth or Environment & Climate portfolios.
  1. Right-Sized Organizations: Budget sweet spot of $500,000-$15 million USD - large enough to have proven impact, small enough to benefit from transformational unrestricted funding.
  1. Innovation and Best Practices: Epic seeks organizations that demonstrate “innovations, best practices and leaders across continents and socio-economic boundaries.”

Recent Portfolio Examples:

  • Generation France: Addressing unequal access to employment by reimagining the education-to-employment pathway with tailored training for disadvantaged youth
  • Nightline France: Student-founded mental health support providing nighttime listening services and advocacy
  • Prerana: Works in Mumbai's red light areas to end intergenerational trafficking
  • Blue Ventures: Supports ocean recovery and marine conservation
  • First Graduate (US): Mentors first-generation college students
  • Aangan (India): Strengthening child protection systems
  • M'Lop Tapang (Cambodia): Shelter and support for street children

Strategic Advice from Founder:

Alexandre Mars emphasizes that Epic focuses on “strategic philanthropy” and looks for “impact” with a “cutting-edge selection and monitoring methodology to ensure a certain return on investment.” He stresses the importance of trust and transparency, operating a system that “has to stay pure.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Don't Apply Directly: This is strictly invite-only. Instead, register your organization through their website and focus on building visibility in your sector through partnerships with experts in your field.
  • Build Your Track Record: With budgets between $500K-$15M and proven impact being essential, ensure you have strong evidence of measurable outcomes before seeking Epic's attention.
  • Demonstrate Rigorous Standards: Epic applies VC-level due diligence. Ensure your governance, financial management, and impact measurement systems are exceptionally robust.
  • Focus on Unrestricted Potential: Epic provides unrestricted funding because they invest in organizations, not projects. Demonstrate how flexible funding would enable innovation and iteration in your work.
  • Think Long-Term: Epic commits for minimum 3 years (renewable). Show how sustained, unrestricted support would enable transformational rather than incremental change.
  • Network Strategically: Epic identifies organizations through expert partners. Build relationships with recognized leaders and organizations in your field who may recommend you.
  • Accept the Odds: With fewer than 0.125% of reviewed organizations selected (5 from 4,000+), this is one of the most competitive funders globally. Don't rely on Epic as a primary funding strategy.

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