Kaleidoscope Diversity Trust

Charity Number: 1146274

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: £1,268,033 (2023/24, government grants received)
  • Geographic Focus: Commonwealth countries (primarily Africa, Asia, Caribbean)
  • Grant Range: £3,000 - £10,000 (typical small grants); £5,000 - £10,000 (Accelerator Grants)
  • Focus: LGBTI+ human rights organizations in Commonwealth countries
  • Application Method: Mixed (specific grant programs with fixed deadlines)

Contact Details

Website: www.kaleidoscopetrust.com

Email: info@kaleidoscopetrust.com

Programme enquiries: programmes@kaleidoscopetrust.com

Phone: 020 8133 6460

Overview

Founded in 2011 and registered as a charity in 2012 (Charity Number: 1146274), Kaleidoscope Trust is a UK-based international charity campaigning for the human rights of LGBTI+ people across the Commonwealth and beyond. The organization works as a catalyst for meaningful change to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in countries where LGBTI+ people lack equal rights. Kaleidoscope Trust delivers funding, resources, and support to ensure the long-term sustainability of organizations defending the human rights of LGBTI+ people. Over the past decade, they have provided funding, training, and platforms to over 120 LGBTI+ organizations delivering work in challenging environments globally. The organization currently operates in over 25 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Kaleidoscope Trust hosts the Secretariat of The Commonwealth Equality Network, which brings together representatives from LGBTI+ rights organizations in 46 Commonwealth countries.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

SuRGE Programme (Supporting LGBTI+ Rights and Growth Efforts)

The organization's flagship programme, running until 2028, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This is their first multi-year funding agreement of this length.

Accelerator Grants: £5,000 - £10,000

  • Targeted initiative under the S.U.R.G.E. Project
  • Aims to strengthen LGBTI+ organizations and movements through capacity building and collective advocacy
  • Total budget approximately £126,000 for up to 20 grants
  • Designed for Commonwealth-based LGBTI+ rights organizations that completed Capacity Development Interventions

Small Advocacy Grants: £3,000 - £10,000

  • Available for civil society organizations in the Eastern Caribbean
  • Focus on intersectional advocacy interventions
  • Supports work in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Commonwealth Equality Project Grants

Co-led with Westminster Foundation for Democracy, funded by UK Government, supporting advocacy and capacity building initiatives.

Priority Areas

  • LGBTI+ human rights advocacy in Commonwealth countries
  • Intersectional approaches linking LGBTI+ rights with women's and girls' equality
  • Capacity building for grassroots LGBTI+ organizations
  • Long-term sustainability and resilience of LGBTI+ rights organizations
  • Collective advocacy and movement building
  • Responding to emerging threats and rollback of LGBTI+ rights
  • Work in challenging environments where LGBTI+ people are criminalized or face discrimination

Geographic Priorities

Africa: Botswana, Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, Uganda

Asia: Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Caribbean: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago

Other: Armenia, Ukraine (some countries remain unlisted due to sensitivities)

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual support (cannot provide assistance to individuals seeking help in the UK or overseas)
  • Organizations outside Commonwealth countries (with limited exceptions)
  • Work not focused on LGBTI+ rights or intersectional advocacy
  • Organizations without previous engagement with Kaleidoscope Trust's capacity development programs (for certain grant streams like Accelerator Grants)
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Governance and Leadership

President

The Rt Hon. the Lord Fowler

Chief Executive Officer

Alex Farrow (appointed June 2024)

Alex is a seasoned campaigner and civil society leader with extensive experience in international development and UK advocacy. He previously served as Director of Influencing and Engagement at NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations). Alex brings significant expertise in working with grassroots LGBTI+ rights campaigners across the world, particularly in the Global South and East, as well as advocacy, fundraising, and engagement in the UK.

Board of Trustees

Chair: Simon Millson (Trustee since 2016, Chair since June 2021)

Vice Chair: Beth Dowling-Jones (first-ever Vice Chair, appointed June 2021). Prior to joining Kaleidoscope Trust, Beth was Chief Operating Officer of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).

Other Trustees include:

  • Matthew: Former UK diplomat with over two decades in international affairs; most recent posting as UK Ambassador to Paraguay
  • Tobi: Senior international arbitration lawyer advising sovereign states and investors; pro bono practice focuses on human rights including LGBTQ+ equality litigation
  • David Bholat: Director of Financial Services at Faculty (AI company); previously led analytical functions at Barclays and Bank of England
  • Adam Barriball: Over 25 years' experience in international corporate affairs; Director of Business Development & Brand for Tata group across UK and Europe
  • Krisha: Multilingual educational leader and consultant

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Former Leadership

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah served as Executive Director from 2019 to December 2023, becoming the first Black woman to head a leading LGBT+ organisation in the UK. Under her leadership, the organization's team more than doubled in size. She now serves as a Patron of Kaleidoscope Trust.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted via email to programmes@kaleidoscopetrust.com

Subject Line Format: "Proposal for [Grant Programme Name] – [Your Organisation's Name]"

Application Requirements: Completed proposal documents as specified in the call for proposals

Pre-Application Support: Kaleidoscope Trust occasionally offers Q&A sessions for organizations interested in specific grant programs

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. Timeline details vary by grant programme and are communicated in individual calls for proposals.

Eligibility Considerations

For Accelerator Grants specifically, eligibility is limited to Commonwealth-based LGBTI+ rights organizations that completed a Capacity Development Intervention in the 2024/2025 cycle, indicating a preference for organizations with established relationships with Kaleidoscope Trust.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy information is publicly available. Organizations should contact programmes@kaleidoscopetrust.com for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors

Intersectional Approaches: Priority is given to proposals that are intersectional in nature, linking LGBTI+ rights with other equality issues such as women's and girls' rights.

Long-term Impact: Proposals that seek to establish practices, tools, or solutions that can live beyond the project's lifetime are favored.

Capacity Building Focus: Proposals focusing on developing capacities to carry out long-term work for the benefit of LGBTI+ people are prioritized.

Local Leadership: The organization emphasizes working with grassroots activists and local LGBTI+ organizations, suggesting strong local leadership and community connections are valued.

Commonwealth Focus: Organizations working within Commonwealth countries, particularly in challenging environments where LGBTI+ people face criminalization or discrimination, are the primary target.

Movement Building: Proposals that contribute to collective advocacy and strengthen the broader LGBTI+ movement are preferred.

Strategic Alignment

Organizations should demonstrate understanding of the SuRGE programme goals: ensuring LGBTI+ organizations are better resourced, connected, and empowered to advocate for rights, particularly in response to emerging threats and rollback of rights.

Network Engagement

Given that Kaleidoscope Trust hosts the Commonwealth Equality Network Secretariat and works with organizations in 46 Commonwealth countries, engagement with these networks may strengthen applications.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic specificity matters: Kaleidoscope Trust has clear geographic priorities focused on Commonwealth countries in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Organizations must be based in and working within these regions.
  • Build relationships first: The Accelerator Grants model suggests a preference for organizations with existing relationships through capacity development programs. Consider engaging with Kaleidoscope Trust's network and programs before applying for funding.
  • Think intersectionally: Proposals should explicitly address how LGBTI+ rights intersect with other equality issues, particularly women's and girls' rights. This is a stated priority across their grant programs.
  • Emphasize sustainability: Focus your proposal on long-term impact, capacity building, and creating solutions that will endure beyond the grant period.
  • Grant sizes are relatively small: Most grants range from £3,000-£10,000, so organizations should plan accordingly and ensure proposed activities are appropriately scaled.
  • Engage with Commonwealth Equality Network: As the Secretariat host, Kaleidoscope Trust values organizations that contribute to collective advocacy and movement building across the Commonwealth.
  • Understand the political context: The organization works in challenging environments where LGBTI+ people face criminalization. Applications should demonstrate awareness of security considerations and appropriate risk management strategies.

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