Mad Foundation Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £160,195 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified - trustee discretion
• Grant Range: Not specified - varies by project type
• Geographic Focus: International (Africa, South America, South East Asia, Eastern Europe)

Contact Details

• Website: www.madfoundation.com
• Email: accounts@madfoundation.com
• Phone: 07795 122727
• Charity Number: 1111805
• Founded: 1999

Overview

The MAD Foundation (originally Mottey African Development, now Make A Difference Foundation) was established in 1999 by John Lawler following his gap year teaching in Ghana. With total income of £160,195 in the financial year ending September 2024, the foundation advances education and aids in the relief of poverty internationally. The charity is managed by 6 trustees and supported by 38 volunteers, with a full-time manager/fundraiser whose salary is covered by key sponsors. To date, the foundation has funded over 300 community projects across Africa, South America, South East Asia, and more recently Eastern Europe through Operation SafeDrop supporting Ukrainian refugees. Every penny raised from public donations goes directly to development projects, with all UK and overseas running costs absorbed by sponsors and trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The MAD Foundation provides three primary types of funding:

• Community Project Grants: Funding for infrastructure projects including schools, clinics, water and sanitation systems, and other community facilities
• Educational Scholarships: Scholarships for children and young people from developing countries to further their education
• Business Start-up Grants: Grants to individuals from indigenous communities to establish small businesses

Priority Areas

• Education and building/renovating schools and pre-schools
• Child welfare and orphanages
• Primary healthcare facilities and HIV clinics
• Health education
• Employment skills development
• Water and sanitation systems
• Emergency and disaster relief appeals
• Refugee assistance and support services (currently focused on Poland and Ukraine)

Geographic Focus

Active in: Ghana, Togo, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Peru, Fiji, Thailand, Vietnam, India, South Africa, Trinidad, Venezuela, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Tonga, Poland, and Ukraine

What They've Funded

Historical projects include:

• 128 classrooms
• 80 toilet blocks and pit latrines
• 12 pre-schools
• 1 HIV clinic
• 1 greenhouse
• 1 kitchen with bread oven
• 100 sinks and wash stations
• 1 technical block
• 8 permanent family houses
• 20 fishing boats (replacing those destroyed by the 2004 Tsunami)
• 13 water tanks for schools
• 8 playgrounds
• 5 bridges
• 5 storm-drains
• 2 bakeries
• 1 fish farm and guinea pig shed

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Governance and Leadership

Founder: John Lawler established the foundation in 1998 after teaching in Ghana during his gap year. Due to his extensive community development work, he was enstooled as a Ghanaian Chief (Chief Torgbui Mottey I). Lawler holds a BEng in Environmental and Ecological Engineering from Newcastle University and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Structure: The charity is managed by a board of 6 trustees with support from 38 volunteers. All trustees serve without remuneration, and key sponsors cover all operational costs.

Philosophy: “Developing Together” - for every volunteer taken to a project location, the foundation employs one local person (skilled mason, carpenter, driver, or cook), supporting local employment and capacity building.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The MAD Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation identifies and selects projects through its own networks, volunteer programs, and relationships in communities where they work. According to their website, “trustees meet regularly to review proposed projects and funding applications ensuring that what funds they do have available go to assist those communities with the greatest need and where they can help make the biggest difference.”

Grants are awarded through:

• Trustee discretion based on identified community needs
• Relationships developed through their volunteer programs (Madventure International)
• Direct community engagement in regions where they operate
• Emergency appeals for disaster relief

Getting on Their Radar

The MAD Foundation's funding model is relationship-based rather than application-based. Projects are typically identified through:

• Volunteer Programs: The foundation works closely with Madventure International, which organizes volunteer expeditions. Communities where volunteers work often become beneficiaries of foundation grants for infrastructure and development
• Direct Community Engagement: The foundation maintains ongoing relationships with communities in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, and other countries where they have previously worked
• Founder's Networks: John Lawler's position as a Ghanaian Chief and his extensive work in developing countries provides direct access to communities in need
• Partnership Approach: The foundation employs local workers at each project location, creating embedded relationships within communities

Organizations working in their priority countries and focus areas might consider reaching out via accounts@madfoundation.com to introduce their work, though there is no guarantee of response or funding consideration.

Decision Timeline

Trustees meet regularly to review proposed projects, but specific timelines are not published. Decisions appear to be made on a rolling basis depending on available funds and identified needs.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation operates on a selective, relationship-based model rather than an open competition.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a formal application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the MAD Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on their documented funding history and priorities, projects that align with their mission share these characteristics:

Focus on Sustainable Infrastructure: The foundation strongly emphasizes building permanent facilities - schools, clinics, sanitation systems - that will serve communities long-term. According to their mission, they “enable sustainable projects and facilities, focusing on key areas such as education, child welfare, primary healthcare, health education, and employment skills.”

Community Development Approach: Projects that employ local workers and build local capacity align with their “Developing Together” philosophy. The foundation states that “on average for every volunteer we take out we also employ one local person at each Project location.”

Emphasis on Children and Education: The majority of funded infrastructure relates to education (128 classrooms, 12 pre-schools, water and sanitation for schools), reflecting their core objective to “advance education.”

Poverty Alleviation Focus: All work ties back to their charitable objective “to aid in the relief of poverty in any part of the world.”

Cost-Effectiveness: With the principle that “every penny raised for the MAD Foundation directly benefits communities in the developing world,” projects must demonstrate efficient use of funds for maximum community impact.

Geographic Alignment: Priority appears given to countries where the foundation has established relationships through previous work or volunteer programs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This funder does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Funding is allocated through trustee discretion and existing relationships.
• Volunteer-Led Model: The foundation's funding is closely tied to their volunteer programs through Madventure International. Communities hosting volunteers often become grant recipients.
• Infrastructure Focus: The overwhelming majority of funding goes to building permanent community facilities - schools, clinics, water systems - rather than programmatic or operational support.
• 100% Direct Funding: All public donations go directly to projects, with operational costs covered by sponsors - an efficient model but one that requires strong donor relationships rather than grant-seeking.
• Relationship-Based: With 300+ funded projects over 25 years, the foundation operates through long-term community relationships rather than competitive grant rounds.
• Current Emergency Focus: Recent work includes Operation SafeDrop supporting Ukrainian refugees, showing responsiveness to urgent humanitarian needs.
• Limited Financial Scale: With annual income around £160,000-£350,000 in recent years, this is a small foundation making targeted investments rather than large-scale grant distributions.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Halcrow Foundation
• Zarina Foundation
• Christadelphian Meal A Day Fund
• Palle Moeller Foundation
• The Breadsticks Foundation
• The Kitchen Table Charities Trust
• Ida Davis Family Foundation
• Tanzania Development Trust
• Ipsos Foundation
• The Monsoon Accessorize Trust

References

1. Charity Commission Register - MAD Foundation Limited (Charity No. 1111805)

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1111805&subid=0

Accessed: December 8, 2024

1. MAD Foundation Official Website - About MAD

https://www.madfoundation.com/about-mad

Accessed: December 8, 2024

1. MAD Foundation Official Website - Homepage

https://www.madfoundation.com/

Accessed: December 8, 2024

1. Companies House - MAD Foundation Limited Filing History

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03942052

Accessed: December 8, 2024

1. International Newcastle - MAD Foundation Directory Entry

https://internationalnewcastle.org.uk/directory/mad-foundation

Accessed: December 8, 2024