The Alan And Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £850,000 (based on 130 grants totaling £4.2M over 5 years)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only, no open applications)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: £3,000 - £290,000 (typical grants: £10,000 - £40,000)
• Geographic Focus: UK-focused with international minority world organizations

Contact Details

Address: The Peak, 5 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1AP

Phone: 020 7410 0330

Email: info@sfct.org.uk

Website: https://abscharitablefund.org.uk/

Charity Number: 292930

Important Note: This fund does NOT accept unsolicited applications. Contact is only relevant for organisations invited to apply.

Overview

The Alan & Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund (ABS) is the oldest of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts, established by Lord Alan Sainsbury in 1953 and registered as a charity in 1985. With total funds of approximately £17.2 million (as of April 2023), the fund distributes around £850,000 annually through carefully selected grants. The fund operates through a distinctive proactive grantmaking model, identifying and inviting organisations to apply rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. Between November 2018 and January 2025, the fund made 130 grants totaling £4.2 million. ABS is committed to evidence-based decision-making, trust-based funding principles (including support for non-registered charities with lived experience), transparency through 360Giving data publishing, diversity and inclusion, and ethical investment practices.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The fund operates through invitation-only proactive grantmaking. Grants typically range from £10,000-£40,000, though awards have ranged from £3,000 to £290,000. The fund does not have fixed application deadlines or rounds—instead, staff proactively identify and reach out to organisations throughout the year.

Priority Areas

1. Intercommunity Dialogue: Organizations building bridges between communities through dialogue and education, with particular commitment to promoting understanding between Israeli and Arab citizens to create a united society nationally and internationally.

1. Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Small, grassroots organisations led by refugees and asylum seekers that address access to justice by providing accurate advice in immigration, housing, and benefits matters. The fund is comfortable funding non-registered charities with lived experience of these issues.

1. International: Organizations from the majority world (Global South) addressing climate change and economic injustice. The fund prioritizes organisations led from the majority world rather than UK-based international development organizations.

1. Southwark (London): Arts and education projects helping disadvantaged young people achieve their potential in the borough of Southwark. The fund has historical links with Southwark and works collaboratively with other trusts, foundations, and businesses to support local groups addressing inequalities.

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals or individual sponsorship
• Events
• Anything outside their four focus areas
• Large national or international organizations (preference for small, grassroots groups)
• UK-based international development organizations (for international work, they fund majority world-led organizations)

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Governance and Leadership

The fund operates independently with its own board of trustees/directors. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. All principal officers are employed on a part-time basis. The London office provides shared services across all Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.

Specific trustee names are available through the Charity Commission register (charity number 292930).

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Critical Information: The Alan and Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund does NOT accept unsolicited applications.

The fund states: “We do not accept unsolicited applications. Instead we proactively reach out to organisations through research and networks to identify groups who align with our priorities.”

The fund's staff:

• Conduct proactive research to identify organisations
• Use diverse networks to find potential grantees
• Receive recommendations from grantee-partners and peer funders
• Directly invite organisations to submit proposals

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed, as the fund operates on an invitation-only basis without fixed application rounds.

Success Rates

Not applicable—the fund does not accept open applications. Organizations are selected and invited based on research and alignment with funding priorities.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only model. However, the fund's 360Giving data shows some organisations have received multiple grants over time, suggesting successful grantees may continue to receive support.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Hoping to Be Selected:

Visibility and Profile Building:

• Publish your work and impact publicly
• Engage with networks in your sector
• Build relationships with peer funders and similar grantees
• Contribute to sector conversations around the fund's priority areas

Alignment Indicators:

• Small, grassroots, community-led organizations are strongly preferred
• Lived experience of the issues being addressed is highly valued
• Organizations that collaborate with other funders and partners
• Groups addressing systemic issues through community dialogue and education
• Evidence-based approaches to creating change

The Fund Values:

• Organizations led by people with direct lived experience of the issues
• Non-registered charities are explicitly welcome if they have appropriate lived experience leadership
• Collaborative approaches with other organizations
• Transparency in operations and impact
• Evidence-based practice

Recent Grant Examples:

Published grant data shows support for organizations such as:

• Southwark Refugee Communities Forum (conducting workshops gathering feedback from refugee communities)
• Small grassroots organizations led by refugees and asylum seekers
• Israeli-Arab dialogue organizations
• Southwark-based youth support groups

Key Language and Terminology:

The fund uses specific language that reflects its values:

• “Building bridges between communities”
• “Lived experience”
• “Access to justice”
• “Majority world” (rather than “developing countries”)
• “Grassroots organisations”
• “Evidence-based”
• “Trust-based funding”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• You cannot apply directly: This fund operates entirely by invitation. Focus on building your organization's profile and visibility within relevant networks rather than attempting to apply.

• Small and grassroots is preferred: The fund explicitly favors small, community-led organizations over large national or international entities. Don't be discouraged if your organization is small or unregistered—this may actually be an advantage.

• Lived experience matters profoundly: Organizations led by people with direct experience of the issues (refugees, asylum seekers, community members) are prioritized. This is not just a preference—it's central to the fund's approach.

• Build sector visibility: Engage with peer organizations, participate in sector networks, publish your impact, and connect with other funders in your area. The fund finds organizations through research and networks.

• Collaboration is valued: The fund works collaboratively with other funders and values organizations that do the same. Partnership approaches are seen favorably.

• Evidence-based practice: While favoring grassroots groups, the fund still values evidence and clear demonstration of impact. Be prepared to articulate your theory of change.

• Geographic and thematic focus is tight: Stay within the four clear priority areas (intercommunity dialogue, refugees/asylum seekers, international majority world-led work, Southwark youth). Work outside these areas is unlikely to receive consideration.

References

• The Alan & Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund official website: https://abscharitablefund.org.uk/
• 360Giving GrantNav - Alan & Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund: https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-292930
• The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts - ABS page: https://www.sfct.org.uk/the-alan-and-babette-sainsbury-charitable-fund/
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 292930: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/292930
• Grants Online Local - Luton Grant Directories entry
• Inside Philanthropy - Alan and Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund profile