Project Possible

Charity Number: 1069608

Annual Expenditure: £0.6M

Geographic Focus: Buckinghamshire, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cameroon, Chad, Congo (Democratic Republic), Ecuador, India ... [7 more]

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £642,474 (2024 expenditure)
Annual Income: £399,797 (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (pilot project approach)
Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
Geographic Focus: Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and South America
Number of Partners: 17 partners across 11 countries

Contact Details

Address: 3 Manor Courtyard, Hughenden Avenue, High Wycombe, HP13 5RE

Phone: 01494 433170

Email: info@projectpossible.org.uk

Website: www.projectpossible.org.uk

Registered Charity Number: 1069608

Overview

Project Possible is a Christian international development charity with over 30 years of experience (originally founded as ROPE - Relief for Oppressed People Everywhere, rebranded to Project Possible in June 2021). The charity invests in a small network of locally-led Christian organizations and churches seeking to bring transformational change for those in poverty. They currently work with 17 partners across 11 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and South America. Their approach focuses on providing “the spark” for overlooked people to get their poverty-fighting ventures off the ground through funds, mentoring, skills training, and education. In 2024, their impact included 129 families/individuals improving livelihoods, 884 individuals building confidence through new skills, and 24 communities strengthening local resource resilience. The charity emphasizes sustainability over short-term relief, helping communities become self-sustaining.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Project Possible works through two main approaches:

Small Spark Projects: Provide funds and mentoring to help local visionaries turn their poverty-fighting ideas into reality
Early-Stage Nurturing Projects: Hands-on skills training and education programs

All donations are project-focused with no deductions for fundraising or UK administrative costs.

Priority Areas

Christian-led community development: Working exclusively with local Christian individuals, churches, or non-government organizations
Sustainable poverty alleviation: Long-term community transformation rather than short-term relief
Skills development and education: Building capacity within communities
Livelihood improvement: Supporting entrepreneurial ventures and economic development
Community resilience: Strengthening communities to help themselves

Geographic Focus

Sub-Saharan Africa
South Asia
South America

What They Don't Fund

Non-Christian organizations (they work exclusively with Christian-led partners)
Short-term relief projects (focus is on sustainable, long-term transformation)
Projects with staff based in-country (they believe in working through local partners)
Large-scale institutional projects (they focus on small, sustainable initiatives)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Jonathan Goldthorpe (Chair): Chartered accountant with experience in insurance and investment management
Tony Houghton: Marketing and communications professional, works as external expert to the European Commission
Kaye Lillycrop: Retired GP, trustee for 5 years
Illia Djadi: From Niger, Senior Analyst for Freedom of Religion and Belief in Sub-Saharan Africa at Open Doors International
Andrew Patterson: Works for an Anglican church
Ruth Hampton: Former social worker with international experience, retired in 2024
Kate Forbes: Retired GP with international healthcare experience

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

Staff Team

Dave Pepper (CEO): Lived in Southern Sudan in his 20s, joined Project Possible in May 2022, passionate about cross-cultural ministry
Debbie Thompson (Programmes Manager): Grew up in Peru, fluent in Spanish, experience in education, discipleship, and micro-enterprise
Amos Oumounabidji (Partnership Manager): From Chad, fluent in French and seven Chadian languages, background in Bible Translation, literacy, and community health
Wendy Baxter (Operations and Data Manager): Over 10 years with the charity, expertise in administration
Natasha Thomsit (Finance Manager): Qualified accountant, ensures funds are used for long-term sustainability
Jess Osborn (Trusts and Communications Manager): Background in Sociology, manages storytelling and fundraising
Marina Petrovic (Communications and Individual Giving Coordinator): Lived in four countries as a refugee, former teacher

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Project Possible does not have a public grant application process. They work with a carefully selected network of local Christian-led organizations that they identify and develop relationships with over time.

According to their FAQ, they are “always keen to find new partners and communities to invest in,” but new partnerships begin with pilot projects to test whether a relationship can be developed. Interested organizations should contact Project Possible directly to discuss potential partnership opportunities.

Getting on Their Radar

Direct Contact Approach: Organizations interested in partnering should reach out directly to Project Possible via:

Email: info@projectpossible.org.uk
Phone: 01494 433170

Partnership Requirements:

Must be a local Christian-led organization (individual, church, or NGO)
Must demonstrate commitment to sustainability
Must share Project Possible's vision of “lives lived in fullness and hope with lasting transformation”
Must be based in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, or South America

Pilot Project Model: Project Possible uses pilot projects as a way to test new partnerships before committing to longer-term relationships. This suggests they take a cautious, relationship-based approach to partner selection.

Network Connections: With staff and trustees having extensive international experience and connections in development work, particularly:

Amos Oumounabidji (Partnership Manager) has strong connections in Chad and French-speaking Africa
Debbie Thompson (Programmes Manager) has connections in Peru and Spanish-speaking Latin America
Illia Djadi (Trustee) works with Open Doors International and has expertise in Sub-Saharan Africa

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The pilot project approach suggests a gradual relationship-building process rather than fixed decision timelines.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to lack of formal application process.

Application Success Factors

Since Project Possible works through a selective partnership model rather than an open application process, success in becoming a partner depends on:

Christian Foundation: All partners must be Christian-led organizations, individuals, or churches. The charity's website emphasizes working with “local Christian visionaries.”

Sustainability Focus: Project Possible states they are interested in partners who demonstrate “commitment to sustainability.” They focus on long-term transformation rather than short-term relief.

Local Leadership: They prioritize locally-led initiatives. As stated in their materials, they believe it is “much more cost effective to work with skilled local Christian partners” rather than having expatriate staff in-country.

Small-Scale Projects: They focus on “small spark projects” where they “know the individuals involved” - suggesting they prefer intimate, community-level initiatives over large institutional programs.

Community Transformation Vision: Partners must share their vision of “lives lived in fullness and hope with lasting transformation in their communities.”

Geographic Location: Partners must be based in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, or South America.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Not an Open Application Funder: This is not a funder you can simply apply to - they work with a closed network of 17 partners selected through pilot projects and relationship building
Christian Focus Essential: Only Christian-led organizations are eligible - this is non-negotiable
Relationship-Based Funding: Success requires building a relationship with Project Possible staff, particularly the Partnership Manager (Amos Oumounabidji) or Programmes Manager (Debbie Thompson)
Sustainability is Key: Demonstrate how your project will create long-term, sustainable change rather than providing short-term relief
Small and Personal: They prefer small-scale projects where they can know the individuals involved - large institutional proposals unlikely to fit their model
Direct Contact Required: If your organization fits their criteria, reach out directly via email or phone to initiate a conversation
Pilot Project Approach: Be prepared for a pilot project phase to test the partnership before any long-term commitment