Pelorus Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~£155,000-£257,000 (based on recent expenditure figures)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified (minimum £5,000 for philanthropy advice projects)
• Geographic Focus: International - Africa (Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, DRC), Asia (Indonesia, Mongolia, East Timor), Central America (Nicaragua), Antarctica

Contact Details

• Website: https://pelorusfoundation.org
• Email: info@pelorusfoundation.com / support@pelorusfoundation.com
• Phone UK: +44 203 848 5424
• Phone US: +1 800 659 0217
• Address: 126 New Kings Road, London SW6 4LZ
• Head of Foundation: Justine Williams (support@pelorusfoundation.com)

Overview

The Pelorus Foundation is a UK-registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), established on 16 June 2020 (charity number 1189966). The foundation operates as the charitable arm of Pelorus, a luxury travel group that includes Pelorus Travel, Pelorus Yachting, and Pelorus Aviation, all of which are B Corp certified.

The foundation's mission is to "champion innovation and act as a catalyst, empowering individuals and local communities to preserve and protect the world's wildlife and wild places." With annual expenditure of approximately £155,000-£257,000, the foundation supports grassroots conservation organisations across Africa, Asia, and beyond through grants, knowledge-sharing, and amplifying conservation stories to global audiences.

The organisation was founded by travellers who witnessed environmental destruction globally and were inspired by resilient conservation communities, from herding families in Mongolia to field rangers combating poaching in Africa.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation organises its work around three primary areas:

1. Regenerating Land and Forests

• Sequestering Soil Carbon in Mongolia
• Mangrove Blue Carbon in Kenya
• Scaling Agroforestry initiatives
• Enhanced Rock Weathering projects
• Tree Planting in Timor-Leste

2. Fighting Wildlife Crime

• Botswana's Elephant Sanctuary (Elephant Havens, Wild Entrust)
• Pangolin Protection in Southern Africa (PCRF partnership)
• Tackling Africa's Poaching Crisis (Frontier partnership)
• Training Rangers in the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Supporting Female Rangers in Kenya
• Protecting Kenya's Centennial Forest

3. Restoring Oceans

• Community-managed Marine Protected Areas (Oceans Alive Kenya)
• Citizen-Led Coastal Conservation
• Coral reef protection in Mesoamerica
• Marine research in Mozambique (WIORI)

Climate Investment Fund

A carbon credit portfolio investing in innovative carbon removal projects, including partnerships with Running Tide (marine carbon removal) and World Land Trust's Carbon Balanced Programme.

Priority Areas

• Community-led conservation initiatives
• Projects that empower local communities and indigenous peoples
• Innovative approaches to carbon removal and climate solutions
• Anti-poaching and wildlife crime prevention
• Marine and coastal conservation
• Endangered species protection (elephants, pangolins, rhinos, Javan rhinos)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation's focus is specifically on environmental conservation and wildlife protection. Based on their stated priorities, they are unlikely to fund:

• Projects without a clear conservation or environmental focus
• Initiatives that do not involve local community participation
• Organisations operating outside their geographic areas of focus
• Projects lacking transparency in governance and financial management

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• George Mungo Pyne Mackay-Lewis (Chair, appointed June 2020) - Co-founder of Pelorus, former British Army Captain with two deployments to Afghanistan
• Duncan Howard Grossart (Trustee, appointed June 2020)
• Lord Hemeage James Daniel Guernsey (Trustee, appointed June 2020)
• Mark Call (Trustee, appointed February 2024)
• Elisabeth Laura Lewis-Jones (Trustee, appointed August 2025)

Senior Staff

• Justine Williams - Head of Pelorus Foundation
• Jimmy Carroll - Ambassador and Co-founder of Pelorus Travel
• Hannah Cornforth - Director of Marketing (seconded)
• Luis Zafra - Marketing & Communications Executive
• John Lucas - Fundraising Executive

Advisory Board

• John Bee
• Julie Church
• Andrew Crichton
• Kirsty Scott

The team includes “expert conservationists, marine biologists and environmental researchers” dedicated to protecting the planet.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process for conservation organisations seeking grants.

The Pelorus Foundation operates through a proactive partnership model rather than accepting unsolicited grant applications. They identify and approach potential partner organisations directly based on their strategic priorities and due diligence processes.

For organisations interested in becoming partners, the recommended approach is:

• Email support@pelorusfoundation.com to express interest
• A member of the team will discuss ideas and potential alignment

Getting on Their Radar

Funder-Specific Opportunities:

1. Contact Justine Williams directly - As Head of Foundation, she is the primary point of contact for partnership discussions (support@pelorusfoundation.com)

1. Align with their geographic and thematic priorities - The foundation works specifically in Africa (Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, DRC), Asia (Indonesia, Mongolia), and marine environments. Projects must demonstrate strong community involvement.

1. Connect through existing partner networks - Current partners include Frontier Collective, Oceans Alive Kenya, PCRF, Elephant Havens, Wild Entrust Africa, and WIORI. Relationships with these organisations may provide introduction opportunities.

1. Engage with Pelorus Travel's experiential offerings - The foundation is closely connected with Pelorus Travel's conservation-focused experiences. Organisations offering genuine conservation engagement opportunities for luxury travellers may have additional pathways.

Due Diligence Process

The foundation conducts rigorous due diligence on all potential project partners, including:

• Financial assessments
• Governance reviews
• Evaluation of initiatives' success in delivering promised outcomes
• Assessment of transparency and accountability standards
• Verification that projects place local communities at the heart of their work

Philanthropy Advice Service

For donors (not grant-seekers), the foundation offers a bespoke philanthropy advice service with:

• Minimum investment: £5,000 project donation required
• Comprehensive project identification and research
• Tailored project selection matching donor criteria
• Streamlined donation logistics
• Impact tracking and detailed reporting

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented approach and partner selection criteria:

Community-Centred Approach

The foundation explicitly supports “the view that project success depends on the long-term involvement of local people, on their own terms, on their own lands.” Projects must demonstrate genuine community empowerment and participation.

Examples of Funded Projects:

• Elephant Havens in Botswana - the country's only elephant orphanage providing tailored care to orphaned elephants
• Oceans Alive Kenya - development of Kenya's first community-managed Marine Protected Area
• PCRF in Namibia - groundbreaking research protecting pangolins
• Frontier Collective - training over 100 rangers during the pandemic to tackle poaching in South Africa's transfrontier region

Innovation and Scalability

The Climate Investment Fund specifically invests in projects that “push the boundaries of carbon removal” and support “some of the most innovative carbon removal solutions.” They value technology-nature intersections.

Transparency and Governance

Partner organisations must meet “high standards of transparency, governance, and effectiveness.”

Plan Vivo Standard

For carbon-related projects, alignment with Plan Vivo Standard certification is valued as it “places the local population at the heart of restoration projects.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No public application process - The foundation identifies and approaches partners directly. Proactive relationship-building is essential rather than waiting for application opportunities.

1. Community empowerment is non-negotiable - Projects must demonstrate meaningful local community involvement and benefits, not just conservation outcomes.

1. Geographic focus is specific - Priority regions are Africa (particularly Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique), Indonesia, Mongolia, and marine environments.

1. Contact the Head of Foundation - Justine Williams is the appropriate point of contact for partnership discussions at support@pelorusfoundation.com.

1. Leverage the Pelorus Travel connection - The foundation's integration with luxury experiential travel creates unique opportunities for organisations that can offer meaningful conservation engagement experiences.

1. Demonstrate governance excellence - Rigorous due diligence means strong financial management and transparent governance are prerequisites.

1. Think long-term - The foundation builds “long-standing partnerships” rather than making one-off grants. Be prepared to demonstrate sustainability and ongoing impact.

References

• Pelorus Foundation Official Website: https://pelorusfoundation.org
• Pelorus Foundation About/Team Page: https://pelorusfoundation.org/about/team
• Pelorus Foundation Philanthropy Advice: https://pelorusfoundation.org/services/philanthropy-advice
• Pelorus Foundation Company Giving: https://pelorusfoundation.org/support/company-giving
• Charity Commission Register - Pelorus Foundation: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5157716/full-print
• Pelorus Travel - Pelorus Foundation: https://pelorustravel.com/about/pelorus-foundation
• Find That Charity - GB-CHC-1189966: https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1189966
• SuperyachtNews - Yacht Conservation Initiatives: https://www.superyachtnews.com/owner/yacht-conservation-initiatives-with-the-pelorus-foundation