Solberga Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £300,000-£365,000 (based on recent accounts)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: UK-based, with support for movements primarily in England and the Global South

Contact Details

• Website: www.solbergafoundation.com
• Email: info@solbergafoundation.com
• Phone: 07846112101
• Address: 353 Liverpool Road, London, N1 1NL
• Charity Number: 1181624

Overview

The Solberga Foundation is an independent family foundation established on 18 January 2019 by Kristina Johansson, a former climate activist. The foundation makes grants to organisations working at the intersection of climate justice, gender equality, and animal welfare. With an annual income ranging from £300,000-£365,000, the foundation takes a grassroots-focused, trust-based approach to philanthropy, prioritising sustained support for social movements led by communities of colour, indigenous peoples, women, and youth. The foundation emphasises long-term partnerships and democratic decision-making models that transform traditional philanthropic power dynamics.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Climate Justice

• Grassroots climate activism and movements
• Indigenous-led climate solutions
• Youth climate organising
• Climate policy advocacy and campaigning
• Climate communications and narrative change

Gender Equality

• Black feminist organisations addressing violence against women and girls
• Women of colour in justice movements
• Trans*, non-binary, and cis women of colour leadership programmes
• Women-led grassroots movements globally

Animal Welfare

• Animal advocacy organisations
• Campaigns for animal rights and welfare

Movement Building & Training

• Campaign training institutes
• Facilitation and organising collectives
• Legal training and communications skills for activists
• Leadership development programmes

Grant-Making Approach

• Direct grants to grassroots groups and individual activists
• Support for re-granting organisations (e.g., Thousand Currents) that resource movements in the Global South
• Unrestricted and project-based funding
• Covers practical costs including conference attendance, speaker fees, accessibility needs, and training

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly documented, though the foundation's focus is clearly on grassroots movements for systemic change rather than service delivery organisations or mainstream charities.

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Governance and Leadership

Founder and Director:

• Kristina Johansson

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

Leadership Philosophy:

Kristina Johansson has stated: “We believe that the social, economic and ecological crisis of our time calls for an unwavering commitment to grassroots social movements” and "Philanthropy can play a critical role in empowering and resourcing grassroots' leadership."

She has also emphasised: “Foundations have the resources, power and authority to influence politicians on climate justice and action, but we should be looking to indigenous communities for the expertise of how we need to steward our land.”

How to Apply to Solberga Foundation

How to Apply

The Solberga Foundation does not advertise a public, open application process. Based on available information, the foundation appears to identify and select grantees proactively rather than through open calls for proposals.

Organisations interested in approaching the foundation should note that they practice “regular and informal discussions with grantees” as part of their trust-based approach, suggesting relationship-building is central to their model.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not provide explicit application guidance, their documented approach and values suggest the following alignment factors:

Mission Alignment

• Grassroots-led and community-centred approach
• Focus on systemic transformation rather than service delivery
• Work at intersections of climate, gender, and animal justice
• Leadership by frontline communities (people of colour, indigenous peoples, low-income communities, women, youth)

Movement Building Orientation

The foundation explicitly supports “activists and social movements essential to transforming the landscape of power and political will,” indicating preference for organising and advocacy work over traditional charity models.

Values Alignment

Organisations should demonstrate commitment to:

• Democratic and participatory decision-making
• Trust-based relationships
• Long-term systemic change
• Challenging traditional power structures

Verified Grant Support Includes:

• Thousand Currents: Above and Beyond Solidarity Fund (supporting grassroots movements in the Global South)
• Support for the Stop Cambo campaign, which successfully mobilised public opposition to UK offshore oil and gas development, shifting investor sentiment regarding North Sea investment

The foundation participated in the Environmental Funders Network's 2020 climate grants mapping exercise, alongside 22 other funders whose collective annual budgets for climate-related work totalled at least £190 million.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This foundation operates through proactive identification of grantees and relationship-based grant-making rather than open calls
• Grassroots focus is paramount: The foundation explicitly prioritises grassroots movements, particularly those led by frontline communities most affected by climate change, gender inequality, and animal welfare issues
• Intersectionality matters: Work at the intersections of climate justice, gender equality, and animal welfare appears particularly aligned with the foundation's mission
• Movement building over service delivery: The foundation supports organising, advocacy, training, and campaign work that builds power for systemic change
• Trust-based approach: The foundation practices informal, regular dialogue with grantees and provides flexible support including unrestricted funding
• Family foundation context: As a recently established (2019) family foundation, decision-making likely happens at trustee level based on alignment with their strategic priorities
• Re-granting organisations: The foundation supports intermediary organisations like Thousand Currents, so organisations in the Global South might consider approaching through such re-granters

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Veronica And Lars Bane Foundation Cio
• Montpelier Foundation Limited
• Hollick Family Foundation
• The Jabbs Foundation
• The London Community Foundation
• Lifelines International Fund For Education
• The Kreitman Foundation
• The Movements Trust Limited
• The Halpin Trust
• Community Foundation Serving Tyne & Wear And Northumberland

References

• Charity Commission - Solberga Foundation Overview
• Active Philanthropy - Solberga Foundation Case Study
• Philea - Why Fund Climate Justice?
• Environmental Funders Network - Where the Climate Grants Went in 2020
• Find that Charity - Solberga Foundation
• Giving is Great - Solberga Foundation Factsheet