The A Team Foundation Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,429,949 (expenditure FY 2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-based partnerships)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (no open application process)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Primarily UK-based, with selective international funding

Contact Details

Website: www.ateamfoundation.org

Email: info@ateamfoundation.org

Phone: 020 3011 1100

Address: 61 Grosvenor Street, London W1K 3JE

Note: Organizations with strong links to the Foundation's objectives are encouraged to contact the Foundation via its website before submitting a proposal.

Overview

THE A TEAM FOUNDATION LIMITED was established as a registered charity (number 1077094) and has been making grants since 2009. For the financial year ending April 5, 2023, the foundation had total income of £458,425 and total expenditure of £1,429,949, with 4 employees and 3 trustees. The foundation transforms the food system in support of human wellbeing and the responsible custodianship of our biosphere. Operating through a strategic, invitation-based approach, the foundation works closely with carefully selected partners who share their commitment to enlightened agriculture and social justice. The foundation values long-term partnerships and opportunities for mutual learning. The majority of their partners are UK-based, though they fund select international organizations whose work evidences unique or innovative approaches to their areas of interest. The foundation is a signatory to the Funder Commitment for Climate Change and provides annual climate change reporting.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate distinct grant programs with specified amounts. Instead, they work through strategic partnerships with carefully selected organizations. The application method is invitation-based only – the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Priority Areas

Inspiring Nutrition

• Encouraging authentic and enlightened food production and consumption
• Engaging communities with food to form meaningful connections to people and the land
• Disseminating the true value and interconnectivity of food and farming

Environmental Stewardship

• Endorsing responsible land management that works in harmony with nature
• Supporting regenerative farming practices
• Promoting agroecology and biodiversity preservation
• Advancing seed sovereignty initiatives

Equity & Social Justice

• Supporting rights for people to work and live in dignity
• Providing assistance for marginalized food growing communities
• Promoting equitable access to authentic food

Community Cohesion

• Supporting Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) models
• Funding grassroots food system transformation initiatives

Education

• Advancing knowledge and practice of sustainable agriculture
• Supporting research on food systems transformation

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited applications are not accepted
• Organizations without demonstrated alignment with their mission in sustainable food systems and social justice
• The foundation takes a highly selective, strategic approach to partnerships

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• Benjamin Arbib (Trustee/Director since November 1999)
• Marina Arbib (Trustee/Director since June 2021)
• Paul Reynolds (Trustee)

Staff

• Anna Van Der Hurd, Chief Executive (joined summer 2009 to assist trustees in design and development of the organization)
• Sarah Davenport, Grants and Partnerships Manager

The foundation is led by a small, focused team that emphasizes strategic partnerships and long-term relationships with organizations working toward food systems transformation.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The A Team Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation works exclusively through carefully selected partnerships.

Organizations that identify strong links to the Foundation's objectives are encouraged to:

1. Review the foundation's mission and funded organizations on their website
2. Contact the foundation via www.ateamfoundation.org before submitting any proposal
3. Demonstrate clear alignment with enlightened agriculture and social justice priorities

Decision Timeline

No public information is available regarding decision timelines, as the foundation operates through an invitation-based partnership model rather than standard application cycles.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The foundation's selective, invitation-based approach means they work with a limited number of carefully chosen partners rather than processing large volumes of applications.

Reapplication Policy

According to the foundation's privacy policy, information from unsuccessful engagement is retained for six months from the closure of the campaign. However, specific reapplication guidelines are not publicly available given the invitation-based nature of their funding model.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Critical

Organizations must demonstrate:

• Clear mission alignment with food systems transformation, sustainable agriculture, and social justice
• Evidence of ecological, economic, and social consciousness in their approach
• Commitment to enlightened agriculture that works in harmony with nature
• Support for marginalized communities in the food and farming sector

Recent Funded Organizations (Examples from 2022-2024)

• Beyond GM - Funded research on “Establishing Criteria for Agroecologically Appropriate Technology”
• Black Mountains College - Supporting alternative education in sustainable practices
• Ecological Land Cooperative - Facilitating land access for sustainable farming
• Granville Community Kitchen - Community food initiatives
• Six Inches of Soil - Film project on regenerative agriculture
• Soil Association - Advancing organic and sustainable farming
• Sustainable Food Trust - Systems-level food transformation
• Landworkers' Alliance - Supporting small-scale farmers and growers
• CSA Network UK - Promoting community supported agriculture (founding support in 2013)
• Oxford Real Farming Conference - Convening sustainable agriculture leaders
• FairWild Foundation - Sustainable wild plant harvesting
• Fibreshed SW - Regional textile and farming systems

Key Themes in Funded Work

Organizations they support typically work on:

• Agroecology and regenerative farming
• Seed sovereignty and biodiversity
• Community Supported Agriculture models
• Food systems research and advocacy
• Grassroots food justice initiatives
• Land access for ecological farmers
• Organic farming advancement
• Food waste reduction
• Building connections between consumers and producers

Building Relationships

Given the invitation-based model, potential partners should:

• Engage with the foundation's existing network and events
• Demonstrate innovative or unique approaches to food systems work
• Show evidence of impact and effectiveness in their field
• Build relationships over time rather than expecting immediate funding
• Be prepared for long-term partnership rather than one-off grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No open applications: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Do not invest time in a full application without first making contact and receiving encouragement to proceed.

• Relationship-driven funding: Success depends on building strategic relationships and demonstrating alignment with the foundation's vision over time.

• Focus on food systems transformation: Your work must clearly contribute to transforming food systems toward sustainability, ecological responsibility, and social justice.

• Evidence unique or innovative approaches: Particularly for international organizations, demonstrate what makes your approach distinctive or pioneering in addressing food and farming challenges.

• Think long-term partnerships: The foundation values ongoing relationships and mutual learning, not transactional one-off grants.

• UK focus with selective international work: Priority is given to UK-based organizations, though exceptional international work that aligns with current priorities may be considered.

• Small, strategic grantmaker: With annual expenditure around £1.4 million and a selective approach, this is a highly competitive funding source that supports a focused portfolio of partners.

References

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales. (2024). “THE A TEAM FOUNDATION LIMITED - Charity 1077094.” Retrieved from: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3963507

1. The A Team Foundation. (2024). “Funding.” Retrieved from: https://www.ateamfoundation.org/funding

1. The A Team Foundation. (2024). “Grants.” Retrieved from: https://www.ateamfoundation.org/grants

1. The A Team Foundation. (2024). “Our A Team.” Retrieved from: https://www.ateamfoundation.org/our-a-team

1. 360Giving GrantNav. (2024). “THE A TEAM FOUNDATION LIMITED.” Retrieved from: https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1077094

1. The A Team Foundation. (2024). “Community Supported Agriculture.” Retrieved from: https://www.ateamfoundation.org/features/2017/2/1/community-supported-agriculture

All websites accessed: 2025-10-13