Fia Foundation

Charity Number: 1088670

Annual Expenditure: £18.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £18 million (charitable activities expenditure)
  • Total Income: £9.4 million (2023)
  • Funding Model: Strategic partnerships and FIA member grants
  • Geographic Focus: International (80+ countries)
  • Focus Areas: Road safety, sustainable mobility, clean air, climate action

Contact Details

Address: 60 Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DS, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7930 3882

Email: mail@fiafoundation.org

Website: www.fiafoundation.org

Overview

The FIA Foundation is an independent UK-registered charity (No. 1088670) established in 2001 with a $300 million donation from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The Foundation supports an international programme promoting road safety, environmental protection, sustainable mobility, and motor sport safety research. Through its Strategy 2030, the Foundation pursues “safe and healthy journeys for all” aligned with UN Global Goals across road traffic injury prevention, air quality, climate action, and youth empowerment. The Board of Trustees approved a five-year, approximately €100 million programme to 2025, matching resources to significant public policy challenges. The Foundation works through strategic partnerships with organizations like WHO, UNEP, the World Bank Global Road Safety Facility, and provides core funding to Global NCAP and the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The FIA Foundation operates through two distinct funding models:

FIA Grant Programmes (for FIA members only)

  • FIA Sport Grant Programme: Funding for motor sport safety initiatives via FIA National Sporting Authorities
  • FIA Safe and Sustainable Mobility Grants Programme: Up to €25,000-€30,000 for road safety projects by FIA Clubs
  • Application method: Online portal with annual application windows (typically February-March)
  • 540+ initiatives funded in 97 countries, totaling over €9.2 million to date

Strategic Partnership Grants (selected partners)

  • Core funding for Global NCAP and iRAP
  • Partnership grants with WHO, UNEP, World Bank GRSF
  • €15 million Advocacy Hub for 30 km/h speed limits on streets where children walk, live, and play
  • Support for UN Road Safety Fund ($10 million lead donation)

Priority Areas

  • Safe Roads: Vision Zero for road safety, Safe System initiatives, infrastructure safety ratings (iRAP Star Rating for Schools), occupant restraints, helmet laws
  • Climate Action: Electric vehicle transition, Global Fuel Economy Initiative, low-carbon transport systems
  • Clean Air: TRUE Initiative (real urban emissions), Clean Air Fund partnerships
  • Child and Youth Rights: School zone safety, 30 km/h speed limits, youth advocacy at UN forums
  • Liveable Cities: Active mobility, equitable public space, sustainable urban transport
  • Safe Motor Sport: Circuit design, rally safety, marshal training, medical support

What They Don't Fund

The FIA Foundation does not operate an open grant-making programme for unsolicited applications from organizations outside their strategic partnership model or FIA membership network.

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (15 members)

Chair: David Richards CBE (UK) - Appointed 2023, founder of Prodrive. Richards emphasizes: “We are unique in straddling the worlds of motoring and motor sport; high- and low-income nations and experiences; and the responsibilities and rights of road users around the world.”

Ex Officio: Mohammed Ben Sulayem (FIA President, UAE)

Other Trustees: Gerardo Braggiotti (Italy), Wan Heping (China), Elizabeth Perry AM (Australia), Angelo Sticchi Damiani (Italy), Bernard Tay (Singapore), Ken Woodier (UK), H.E. Dr Amani Abou-Zeid (Egypt), Abdelrahman Al-Mannai (Qatar), Werner Kraus (Austria), Andrea Oliver (Dominican Republic), plus three FIA nominees: Gorki Obando (Ecuador), Carmelo Sanz De Barros (Spain), Jan Stovicek (Czech Republic)

Executive Leadership

Executive Director: Saul Billingsley (since 2014)

Key quotes from Billingsley:

  • “We believe it is vitally important to tackle the social and political structures that enable the transport dysfunction and inequity which is the main underlying cause of road death.”
  • “Poor road safety is a symptom of transport dysfunction. By putting in place strategies for low carbon transport we can improve road safety, and vice versa.”
  • At UN High Level Meeting on Road Safety: “Stop talking, start funding” - urging governments to fund proven interventions to meet 2030 targets
  • “There is a fundamental, and often fatal, disconnect when transport efficiency is calculated only according to narrow economic criteria. When it forgets or neglects the human dimension.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The FIA Foundation does not have an open public application process for unsolicited grant applications.

The Foundation operates through two distinct funding mechanisms:

  1. FIA Member Grants: Only available to FIA member clubs and national sporting authorities through online portals (grants.fia.com and roadsafety.fia-grants.com). Applications typically open annually (e.g., February-March window), requiring registration and approval before portal access.
  1. Strategic Partnerships: The Foundation works by “working closely with grant partners to shape projects and advocate to secure change in policy and practice.” Core funding relationships are established with major international organizations (WHO, UNEP, World Bank GRSF) and technical partners (Global NCAP, iRAP). These partnerships appear to be initiated through the Foundation's strategic planning process rather than through open application.

Organizations outside the FIA membership network interested in the Foundation's work may contact them at mail@fiafoundation.org to explore potential collaboration opportunities, though there is no guarantee of funding availability outside their established partnership model.

Decision Timeline (FIA Member Grants)

  • Application window: Typically 4 weeks (e.g., 19 February - 19 March)
  • Assessment process: FIA reviews all applications in depth; independent experts may be involved
  • Decision-making: Democratic process by FIA governing bodies representing the member community
  • Monitoring: Quarterly reporting required for awarded projects
  • Final payment: After submission of summary report including actual costs

Application Success Factors

For FIA Members Applying to Grant Programmes

Alignment with Foundation's Theory of Change:

The Foundation frames its work as “activist philanthropy” addressing transport dysfunction and inequity. Executive Director Saul Billingsley emphasizes: “A vocal and well-connected minority of those that have wealth – measured in terms of access to road space, travel convenience, the keys to a ridiculously large SUV – will fight to keep them” - the Foundation supports projects that challenge this dynamic.

Evidence-Based Approaches:

Projects should utilize proven methodologies like iRAP Star Rating for Schools, Global NCAP safety assessments, or TRUE emissions monitoring. The Foundation's €100 million programme prioritizes “proven road safety solutions” requiring investment, knowledge sharing, and capacity building.

Focus on Vulnerable Populations:

Successful projects address child safety (school zones), youth empowerment, vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists), and low-income communities. The Foundation describes its agenda as “a social justice agenda” targeting “global policy agendas where the quality of state regulation and the attitude towards the poorest and most vulnerable is a matter of life or death.”

Integration Across Themes:

Strong applications demonstrate links between road safety and climate action. As Billingsley notes: “By putting in place strategies for low carbon transport we can improve road safety, and vice versa.”

Detailed Project Plans:

All grants require “submission of a detailed and structured project” formalized in written agreements. Projects must include clear monitoring frameworks with quarterly reporting.

Recent Successful Projects (2024-2025)

  • Automobile Club of Moldova: Prince Michael and Vision Zero Awards
  • ACP Portugal: Audit of Lisbon cycle paths using CycleRAP
  • AMAK Azerbaijan: School zone safety improvements
  • Armenia: School safety improvements
  • Palestine: School safety initiatives
  • EA991 and iRAP: Star Rating for Schools Training in Gaborone, Botswana

For Potential Strategic Partners

The Foundation's partnership approach involves co-creation and long-term commitment. Chair David Richards states: “We succeed or fail together” - emphasizing collaborative relationships. The Foundation seeks partners who can deliver at scale across multiple countries and align with UN Global Goals for 2030.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • FIA membership is typically required for direct grant access - the Foundation primarily funds through its established FIA Club network and strategic partner organizations rather than open competition
  • Strategic alignment with “activist philanthropy” - the Foundation explicitly frames its work as addressing social justice and challenging transport inequity, not just technical road safety improvements
  • Scale and systems change matter - with €100 million committed through 2025 and partnerships operating in 80+ countries, the Foundation prioritizes interventions that can achieve policy change and systemic impact
  • Evidence-based methodologies - utilize proven tools like iRAP, Global NCAP, or TRUE emissions monitoring to strengthen applications
  • Climate-road safety nexus - applications that integrate climate action with road safety align with the Foundation's strategic priorities under Strategy 2030
  • Youth and vulnerable populations - prioritize projects protecting children (especially school journeys), pedestrians, cyclists, and communities in low-income countries
  • Long-term partnership model - the Foundation provides core funding to key partners over multi-year periods; one-off project grants are primarily available through FIA member programmes

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