Exodus Travels Foundation

Charity Number: 1182265

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Registered Charity: 1182265 (UK)
  • Established: 2019
  • Annual Giving: £75,000-£152,000
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £22,000 (typical Community Kickstart grants smaller)
  • Geographic Focus: Global (100+ countries)
  • Application Method: Invitation only / internal network
  • Accepts Unsolicited Applications: No

Contact Details

Address:

Exodus Travels

Platinum House

St. Mark's Hill

Surbiton, Surrey KT6 4BH

Phone: 020 3131 6076

Website: www.exodus.co.uk/foundation

Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation was established in 2019 by adventure travel company Exodus Travels to formalize decades of community support work. The Foundation is a UK registered charity (1182265) with annual expenditure ranging from £69,000 to £152,000. The Foundation's mission is to “invest in innovative, sustainable, tourism-related projects which support our destination communities to protect and regenerate nature, and harness nature to empower communities.” Under the leadership of Chair Diana Tickell, a charity sector veteran with experience at Barnardo's and NABS, the Foundation focuses on achieving long-lasting transformation across three pillars: people, places, and planet. Notably, Exodus covers all administrative costs, meaning 100% of donations support projects on the ground. The Foundation contributes £2.50 to projects for each customer trip booked with Exodus.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Kickstart Grants

These grants enable Exodus tour leaders and operators to fund grassroots initiatives that support nature and local communities to thrive. Typical grant amounts are smaller scale (specific amounts not publicly disclosed). The Foundation supported 14 Kickstart initiatives in recent years, with projects ranging from anti-poaching support to permaculture training for young people.

Exploration Without Boundaries Grant (Partnership with The Explorers Club)

Awards of $4,000 USD support expeditions advancing global understanding through cultural, scientific, and conservation fieldwork. Open to researchers 18+ of all skill levels, with particular interest in indigenous explorers. Applications submitted through The Explorers Club website.

Strategic Partnership Projects

Larger, multi-year projects typically £5,000-£22,000, including:

  • Mountain Lioness Project (Tanzania): Training female guides for Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Himalayan Community Project (Nepal/India): Infrastructure, education, and conservation support
  • Free to Roam (Kenya): Elephant conservation with Tsavo Trust

Disaster Relief

Emergency response funding (past examples: £270,000 for Nepal earthquake relief)

Priority Areas

  • Community Empowerment: Women's economic development, entrepreneurship training, educational opportunities
  • Conservation: Wildlife protection, reforestation, carbon sink expansion, marine ecosystem restoration
  • Sustainable Tourism: Projects that create harmony between nature and communities
  • Infrastructure: Water systems, renewable energy, school construction
  • Healthcare: Medical outreach, nutrition programs, sanitation projects

Geographic focus spans Asia (Nepal, India, Laos, Sri Lanka), Africa (Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia, Uganda, Namibia, Zimbabwe), Europe (Finland, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Italy), and the Americas (Peru, Costa Rica).

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation does not fund:

  • Projects unrelated to tourism-affected communities
  • Organizations outside their tour destination network
  • Projects without clear environmental or community benefit
  • General operating costs for large organizations
  • Political or religious activities
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Diana Tickell (Chairperson): Extensive charity sector experience including senior positions at Barnardo's and NABS. Background in tourism industry and volunteer work in Sierra Leone. Appointed to enhance the Foundation's brand presence and fundraising capacity.
  • Richard Isaacs (Treasurer): Finance Director with travel industry background
  • Hilary Thomas (Trustee): Corporate partnerships specialist
  • Giles Totterdell (Trustee): Financial management expert

All trustees serve without remuneration. The Foundation operates with 20 volunteers and maintains comprehensive policies including safeguarding, risk management, and financial controls.

Leadership Priorities:

According to Rochelle Turner (commenting on Diana Tickell's appointment): “I am delighted to have Diana join the Foundation and I am looking forward to seeing her spearhead its growth.” Tickell's focus includes enhancing brand presence, raising funds for conservation and social impact projects, and supporting community-based initiatives worldwide.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Foundation's grant programs operate through two distinct channels:

  1. Community Kickstart Grants: Available exclusively to Exodus tour leaders, operators, drivers, porters, and other members of their global network who work directly with the company in destination communities. Applications are handled through internal channels.
  1. Exploration Without Boundaries Grant: Applications submitted through The Explorers Club website (not directly to Exodus Foundation). Open call for researchers globally.
  1. Strategic Partnerships: Established through existing relationships with organizations in Exodus tour destinations. Not open to unsolicited applications.

The Foundation identifies projects through its network of 100+ countries where Exodus operates tours, leveraging on-the-ground knowledge of local leaders and established relationships with community organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

Become Part of the Exodus Network: The most direct pathway is establishing a relationship with Exodus Travels as a tour operator, guide, or service provider in destinations where they run tours. Review their tour offerings to understand where they operate.

Attend Tourism and Conservation Events: The Foundation operates at the intersection of adventure travel and conservation. Engagement in forums where tourism meets community development may provide networking opportunities, though specific events attended by Foundation trustees are not publicly documented.

Partner Organizations: Several funded projects work with established NGOs (Nepal Youth Foundation, Tsavo Trust, S.A.L.V.E. International, WildOulanka Foundation). Partnerships with these organizations working in Exodus destinations may create visibility.

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines are not publicly disclosed. Based on the Foundation's operational model and financial reporting (annual expenditure varies significantly year-to-year), funding decisions appear to be made on an ongoing basis rather than fixed annual cycles, likely aligned with project identification by Exodus leaders and trustees.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Given the invitation-only model and internal network application process, success rates are not comparable to open grant programs.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for public applicants. Internal network members presumably can submit multiple project proposals over time, as evidenced by ongoing multi-year partnerships (e.g., Himalayan Community Project).

Application Success Factors

Since this Foundation operates through invitation and internal networks rather than open applications, traditional “success factors” differ from public grant programs:

For Exodus Network Members (Leaders/Operators):

  • Direct Community Impact: Projects that “uplift women, encourage entrepreneurship, engage young people in conservation or regeneration of our natural world, or provide help in times of need” align with stated Kickstart priorities
  • Tourism Connection: Projects must relate to communities affected by or involved in tourism
  • Sustainability Focus: Emphasis on long-term transformational change rather than short-term relief
  • Nature-Community Harmony: The Foundation's vision centers on travel and tourism supporting “nature and communities to thrive in harmony”

Funded Project Examples:

  • Mountain Lioness trained 30 female guides for Kilimanjaro treks (gender equity + economic empowerment)
  • Solitaire School Food Clinic in Namibia increased meals from 3 to 5 times weekly for 150 children (community welfare)
  • Whale shark research in Maldives (conservation science)
  • Anti-poaching support in Zimbabwe (wildlife protection)

Strategic Alignment:

The Foundation uses language emphasizing:

  • “Innovative, sustainable, tourism-related projects”
  • “Protect and regenerate nature”
  • “Empower communities”
  • “Grassroots initiatives”

Multi-Year Commitment: Several projects (Himalayan Community Project, Mountain Lioness) show the Foundation values ongoing relationships with proven partners, committing to 3-5 year support cycles.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not an open-application funder: Do not submit unsolicited proposals. The Foundation works exclusively through its tourism network and strategic partnerships.
  • Tourism-destination connection is essential: All funded projects operate in locations where Exodus runs tours, supporting communities directly affected by their business.
  • Small-scale, high-impact projects succeed: Community Kickstart grants focus on grassroots initiatives rather than large institutional funding. Past projects range £5,000-£22,000.
  • 100% of donations reach projects: Exodus covers all administrative costs, making this attractive to donors and demonstrating commitment to efficiency.
  • Long-term relationships matter: Multi-year partnerships with proven organizations (Nepal Youth Foundation, Tsavo Trust) suggest the Foundation values sustained engagement over one-off grants.
  • For Exploration Without Boundaries: Apply through The Explorers Club, not directly to Exodus. Focus on alternative-route explorers and indigenous-led research.
  • Network strategically: If working in adventure tourism destinations, building relationships with Exodus tour operations may create future funding pathways through their leader/operator network.

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References

Official Sources:

Program Information:

Leadership and Governance:

Grant Recipients: