The Arete Foundation

Charity Number: 1184657

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £260,578 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: £1,500 - £30,000 per year
  • Geographic Focus: North West England

Contact Details

Overview

The Arete Foundation is a corporate foundation registered in 2019 that provides funding for organisations supporting young people in the North West of England. With annual expenditure of £260,578 (2024) and total giving of £251,000 since founding, the foundation focuses on young people who are at-risk or classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). The foundation emphasizes sustainable growth over short-term gains, aiming to create “a chain-reaction of positive change” by providing breathing room for organisations to grow responsibly. Backed by Arete Capital Partners, a multi-family investment office, the foundation offers not just funding but guidance and support from experienced entrepreneurs and investors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates two distinct funding streams:

1. Local Community Grants

  • Amount: Up to £1,500 (one-off unrestricted grants)
  • Eligibility: Small community organisations with turnover under £500,000
  • Application: Online application form (currently closed - check website for updates)
  • Type: One-off, unrestricted funding
  • Note: Some sources mention typical grants of £2,000-£2,500

2. Long-Term Local Partnerships

  • Amount: £10,000 - £30,000 per annum
  • Duration: Typically 3 years, with funding distributed incrementally
  • Purpose: To help smaller North West charities strengthen and expand operations
  • Application: Open to applications from North West charities

3. National Partnerships

  • Selection: Board-decided, not open to applications
  • Duration: Typically 3 years with incremental contributions
  • Purpose: Support large national charities to deliver localized impact in the North West
  • Current Partner: The Prince's Trust (specifically the Explore programme for at-risk young people aged 16-25)

Priority Areas

The foundation prioritizes funding for charities that demonstrate:

  • Tangible impact, employment and education outcomes - Focus on measurable results rather than short-term metrics
  • Support for NEET young people - Not in Education, Employment, or Training
  • Work with at-risk youth - Preventative and intervention programmes
  • Sustainable futures - Helping young people build long-term stability
  • Unlocking opportunity - Creating pathways for young people to reach their potential
  • Scale and operational strength - Organisations ready to grow responsibly or needing operational stability

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly focuses on:

  • Geographic restriction: Only North West England
  • Age restriction: Focus on young people (specific age ranges not detailed)
  • Organisational type: Community grants limited to organisations with turnover under £500,000
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Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates with a trustee board of 4 members who review and decide on all applications. None of the trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, demonstrating a purely voluntary governance structure. Specific trustee names are not publicly listed on the Charity Commission register.

The foundation is backed by Arete Capital Partners, a multi-family investment office led by entrepreneurs and investors who provide guidance and support to long-term partners, helping them navigate growth challenges beyond just financial support.

The foundation operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is registered with HMRC for Gift Aid.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Local Community Grants:

Applications are submitted through an online application form on the foundation's website. However, the current application status shows as “funding-closed,” indicating the programme operates in rounds rather than on a rolling basis. Applicants should check the website regularly for when applications reopen.

For Long-Term Local Partnerships:

Complete the application form available on their website, providing details about your organisation's background and work.

For National Partnerships:

These are board-decided and not open to public applications. The foundation selects a small number of national charity partners through their own evaluation process.

Application Process

The foundation follows a three-step process:

  1. Application Submission - Complete online form detailing organisational background and work
  2. Trustee Review - The trustee board reviews and discusses applications before making decisions
  3. Funding & Support - If approved, the foundation contacts organisations to discuss implementation and support arrangements

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. Applicants should expect to wait for trustee board meetings to review applications, though exact timeframes are not specified on their website or public materials.

Success Rates

Success rates and application numbers are not publicly disclosed by the foundation.

Reapplication Policy

No specific information is available about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants. Prospective applicants should contact the foundation directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and approach, grant writers should focus on:

Demonstrating Tangible Outcomes

The foundation explicitly prioritizes “charities and projects offering tangible impact, employment and education outcomes” over organisations focused on short-term metrics. Applications should clearly articulate measurable results in employment and education.

Sustainable Growth Philosophy

The foundation's stated approach emphasizes “sustainable growth over short-term gains,” aiming to create “a chain-reaction of positive change by providing breathing room for organisations to grow responsibly rather than pursuing unsustainable growth margins.” Applications should demonstrate a realistic, sustainable approach to growth and impact.

Alignment with NEET Support

Strong alignment with supporting young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) or at-risk is critical. The foundation's core mission centers on helping these specific populations “build a sustainable future, fulfil their potential and unlock opportunity.”

North West Regional Impact

All funding is restricted to organisations working in the North West of England. Applications should clearly demonstrate local presence and regional impact.

Operational Readiness

For long-term partnerships, the foundation seeks organisations ready to “scale or strengthen operational health.” Applications should demonstrate both need and capacity to effectively use multi-year funding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on employment and education outcomes - The foundation prioritizes measurable impact in these specific areas over other youth development metrics
  • Demonstrate sustainable growth plans - Avoid proposals that promise rapid expansion; instead show realistic, sustainable development
  • Emphasize NEET support - Strong alignment with supporting young people Not in Education, Employment, or Training is essential
  • North West only - All funded work must take place in the North West of England region
  • Small organisations welcome - Community grants specifically target organisations with turnover under £500,000
  • Monitor application windows - Funding appears to operate in rounds rather than rolling basis; check website regularly
  • Consider multi-year partnership track - For organisations seeking £10,000-£30,000 annually, the long-term partnership route offers sustained support over 3 years

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References