Mitsubishi Corporation Fund For Europe And Africa

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £300,000-£310,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 2-3 months review period (decisions typically July/August)
• Grant Range: £15,000 - £150,000 (estimated based on 20 organizations sharing £300,000)
• Geographic Focus: Europe and Africa (including UK, Romania, Bulgaria, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Africa, Zambia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar)
• Application Window: October to March annually

Contact Details

Address: MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6BA

Phone: 020 7025 3000

Website: www.mitsubishicorp.com/gb/en/csr/mcfea/

Charity Number: 1014621

Note: In 2024, MCFEA transitioned to become the Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for EMEA (charity number 1209271), expanding its geographic scope to include the Middle East.

Overview

The Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa (MCFEA) was established in 1992 by Mitsubishi Corporation and its UK-based subsidiary, Mitsubishi Corporation International (Europe) Plc. With an annual grant-making budget of approximately £300,000, the fund has been supporting innovative environmental and development projects across Europe and Africa for over three decades. The fund works with a small portfolio of around 20 partner organizations at any given time, reflecting its commitment to long-term, meaningful partnerships rather than short-term transactional funding. In 2024, the fund evolved into the Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for EMEA, broadening its focus to include the Middle East while maintaining its core charitable objectives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

MCFEA operates a single grant program with an annual funding cycle:

• Annual Grant Programme: Awards range from approximately £15,000 to £150,000
• Grant Duration: Typically one year
• Total Annual Distribution: £300,000 across approximately 20 organizations
• Application Method: Annual application window (October to March), with fixed deadline

Priority Areas

The fund has three central aims:

1. Environmental Conservation: Support for biodiversity conservation, landscape restoration, and sustainable natural resource management. Projects have included coffee agroforestry in Ethiopia's Bale-Eco region, forest restoration in the Mt. Kenya region, and conservation initiatives across multiple African countries.

1. Environmental Education and Research: Funding for educational institutions and research programs focused on environmental issues. This includes support for the African Leadership Academy's scholarship programme and Design & Innovation Challenge, and the Acumen Fellows programme in West Africa.

1. Poverty Alleviation: Particularly focused on projects that integrate economic and social development with environmental goals. Special priority is given to projects that combine conservation with the economic and social development of local communities.

The fund explicitly states: “A special priority is projects that combine conservation with the economic and social development of local communities.”

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals: No grants to individuals
• Religious purposes: No funding for religious activities
• Political or lobbying activities: No support for political campaigns or lobbying
• Discriminatory organizations: No support for any organization that discriminates on the basis of race, colour, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, or handicap
• Non-charitable entities: Only makes direct grants to registered charitable or non-profit organizations or academic institutions

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (6 trustees, no remuneration):

• Julie Rogers (Chair)
• Koji Hora
• Tetsuo Kawate
• Tsunehiro Makabe
• Plus two additional trustees

Organizational Structure:

• 2 volunteers
• No employees with benefits over £60,000
• No trading subsidiaries
• Solely funded by Mitsubishi Corporation

Financial Year End: 31 March

Philosophy on Partnerships: The fund explicitly states that it “recognizes the importance of long-term partnerships with the organizations they support, and seeks to adopt a forward thinking long-term engagement strategy to fully understand issues on the ground and provide sponsorship that can occasion enduring change.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through an online application form available on the MCFEA website during the application period.

Application Period: October to March annually

Applicants should visit the official website at www.mitsubishicorp.com/gb/en/csr/mcfea/ to access the application form when the funding round opens. The fund typically announces its funding programme through press releases and PDF documents published on the website.

Decision Timeline

• Application Period: October to March
• Review Period: 2-3 months leading up to the Annual Trustee Meeting
• Decision Meeting: Trustees' Annual Meeting typically held in July or August
• Total Timeline: Approximately 8-10 months from application submission to final decision
• Notification Method: Not publicly specified, but likely through direct communication to applicants

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, with approximately 20 active partnerships at any time and an emphasis on long-term relationships, the fund appears to be highly selective. Many partnerships extend across multiple years, suggesting that successful applicants may receive renewed funding.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated. However, the fund's emphasis on “long-term partnerships” and “long-term engagement strategy” suggests that successful grantees are encouraged to reapply and that multi-year relationships are common. Evidence from partner profiles shows organizations receiving support for multiple years (e.g., African Leadership Academy since 2022, Acumen Academy since 2019/2020).

Application Success Factors

Based on the fund's stated priorities and partnership examples, successful applications should demonstrate:

1. Integration of Conservation and Community Development: The fund gives special priority to projects that combine environmental conservation with economic and social development. Applications should clearly articulate how environmental goals support community livelihoods. For example, their support for Farm Africa in Ethiopia combines coffee farmer livelihoods with biodiversity conservation through agroforestry.

1. Long-term Vision and Sustainability: The fund explicitly seeks “partnerships that can occasion enduring change” rather than short-term interventions. Applications should demonstrate how the project creates lasting impact beyond the funding period.

1. On-the-Ground Presence and Understanding: The fund values organizations with deep understanding of local issues. Their statement about seeking to “fully understand issues on the ground” suggests they favor organizations with established local presence and expertise.

1. Innovation Within Established Frameworks: The fund seeks “innovative projects” but works with established, credible organizations. Successful applicants balance fresh approaches with organizational credibility and track record.

1. Geographic Alignment: Projects must be based in Europe or Africa. The fund has funded initiatives in Romania, Bulgaria, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Africa, Zambia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, and other countries in these regions.

1. Organizational Scale and Capacity: Partner organizations include major international NGOs (WaterAid, Fauna & Flora International, Rainforest Alliance, BirdLife International, World Resources Institute) as well as regional institutions (African Leadership Academy). This suggests they fund organizations with proven capacity for significant impact.

1. Alignment with Multiple Objectives: Projects that address two or more of their central aims (conservation, education/research, poverty alleviation) appear particularly well-suited to their priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focus on integration: Strongly emphasize how your project combines environmental conservation with community economic development, as this is explicitly stated as a “special priority”

• Think long-term partnerships, not one-off grants: Frame your application as the beginning of a potential long-term relationship. The fund values “forward thinking long-term engagement strategy”

• Apply during the narrow window: With applications only accepted October to March, plan ahead and ensure you submit well before the March deadline

• Be patient with decision timelines: Expect an 8-10 month process from application to decision. Budget planning should account for this extended timeline

• Demonstrate local understanding: Show deep knowledge of on-the-ground issues in your project area, as the fund explicitly values understanding local contexts

• Highlight organizational credibility: The fund works with approximately 20 organizations at a time and partners with established, credible NGOs and academic institutions

• Consider the transition to EMEA foundation: While this research focuses on MCFEA (charity 1014621), be aware that in 2024 the fund transitioned to the Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for EMEA (charity 1209271) with expanded geographic scope and refined focus areas: “Realizing an Inclusive Society,” “Empowering the Next Generation,” and “Conserving the Environment”

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Kilroot Foundation
• Halcrow Foundation
• EA Foundation
• Ida Davis Family Foundation
• Society of the Holy Child Jesus CIO
• AMREF Health Africa UK
• THE GENESIS CHARITABLE TRUST (GenEM Foundation)
• Anglo American Foundation
• FIFTYFOUR TWO FOUNDATION (54:2 FOUNDATION)
• James Percy Foundation

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: MITSUBISHI CORPORATION FUND FOR EUROPE AND AFRICA (1014621), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/1014621

• The Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa (MCFEA) Official Website, https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/gb/en/csr/mcfea/

• About the MCFEA, Mitsubishi Corporation, https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/gb/en/csr/mcfea/about.html

• Partners, The Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa, https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/gb/en/csr/mcfea/partners/

• TripleFunds: Grants from Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa (MCFEA), https://triple-funds.com/tf-entry/grants-from-mitsubishi-corporation-fund-for-europe-and-africa-mcfea/

• The Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for EMEA, https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/gb/en/mcf-for-emea/

• fundsforNGOs: Mitsubishi Corporation Fund for Europe and Africa: Supporting Research focused on Environment and Alleviation of Poverty, https://www2.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/mitsubishi-corporation-fund-europe-africa-supporting-research-focused-environment-alleviation-poverty-2/