Epic Foundation Uk Limited

Charity Number: 1163753

Annual Expenditure: £1.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,516,338 (charitable activities expenditure)
  • Decision Time: Highly selective, rigorous multi-stage 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

Organisations 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, who created Epic in 2014, the foundation has backed 57 nonprofits and social enterprises worldwide, mobilising $100 million since 2015. The foundation operates a distinctive venture capital-inspired model, providing multi-year unrestricted funding to rigorously vetted organisations. Epic's board covers all operational costs, ensuring 100% of donations go directly to portfolio organisations. With total income of £2,001,678, 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 Programmes

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 organisational 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:

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

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Registered nonprofit organisation (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

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

Trustees:

  • Alexandre Mars - Chair and Founder. Serial entrepreneur and philanthropist who created Epic in 2014. Mars emphasises 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

No trustees receive remuneration, and Epic's board covers all operational costs on a pro bono basis.

How to Apply to Epic Foundation Uk Limited

How to Apply

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

How Organisations Are Identified:

  • Epic connects with key partners who are experts in the field
  • Conducts independent research
  • Reviews all registered organisations in their database at every selection round
  • Encourages eligible organisations 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: Multi-stage process involving rigorous due diligence

Process Structure:

  • 4-step selection process
  • Multiple rounds of due diligence
  • Expert network consultation
  • On-the-ground analysis

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

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

Success Rates

Highly competitive: Epic has selected 57 organisations from over 3,500 reviewed since 2015. Alexandre Mars emphasises it is “very hard to become part of the Epic portfolio.”

Reapplication Policy

Organisations remain in Epic's database and are reviewed at every selection round. If organisational circumstances change or Epic's selection focus shifts to better align with an organisation'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.
  1. Strong Governance and Leadership: Organisations must demonstrate robust governance structures and effective leadership.
  1. Strategic Alignment: Direct contribution to Epic's core priorities in either Children & Youth or Environment & Climate portfolios.
  1. Right-Sized Organisations: 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 organisations 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 emphasises 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 organisation 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 organisations, 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 organisations through expert partners. Build relationships with recognised leaders and organisations in your field who may recommend you.
  • Accept the Odds: With highly selective acceptance rates, this is one of the most competitive funders globally. Don't rely on Epic as a primary funding strategy.

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