The Arisaig Partners Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £378,500 (charitable expenditure, 2023)
• Total Granted Since Inception: £4+ million
• Grant Range: $30,000 - $100,000 USD
• Decision Time: 1-3 months (initial appraisal)
• Geographic Focus: India (primary), other developing countries
• Application Method: Online application portal, rolling basis

Contact Details

Website: www.arisaig-foundation.com

Email: general@arisaig-foundation.com

Phone: +65 6532 3378 (Singapore office)

Registered Charity Number: 1101494

Overview

The Arisaig Partners Foundation (APF) was established in January 2004 as a UK registered charity to support organisations in developing countries. Until 2020, APF primarily supported education initiatives for children across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Today, the foundation focuses exclusively on gender equality with a strong emphasis on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and microfinance via subsidised loans to female entrepreneurs. With over £4 million granted since inception, the foundation has become financially self-sustaining through contributions from Arisaig Partners (an independent investment management company) and strong investment returns. The foundation is staffed entirely by volunteers from the Arisaig Partners team and governed by three trustees who receive no remuneration. APF's primary geographic focus is India, where over 600 million women and girls face daily struggles to access basic rights including health, sanitation, education, finance, and employment.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Gender Equality Grants: $30,000 - $100,000 USD

• Project duration: 1-3 years
• Contributions capped at 30% of grantee's overall income
• Rolling application basis via online portal
• Initial appraisal by trustees: 1-3 months

Priority Areas

Primary Focus (Gender Equality):

• WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene): Supporting organisations providing menstrual health education, sanitary pads, and clean and safe toilets to empower girls to complete schooling and gain independence
• Microfinance for Female Entrepreneurs: Providing subsidised loans and financial education to female entrepreneurs to empower women, stimulate employment, and uplift families in rural communities

Additional Gender Equality Programs Considered:

• Livelihood programmes for women
• Educational initiatives for girls and women
• Domestic abuse prevention and support
• Healthcare access for women
• Safer transport for women
• Childcare access
• Vocational training addressing gender imbalances

Partner Organisation Characteristics:

• Local organisations with on-ground presence in target communities
• Strong credibility and sound governance
• Transparent operations with accountability for measurable outcomes
• Capacity for regular reporting

What They Don't Fund

• Projects not explicitly improving women's lives in underdeveloped countries
• Projects without a sustainable exit strategy
• Organisations with political or religious objectives
• Individual grants (only organisations)
• Grants under $30,000 USD (rare exceptions may apply)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: 3 trustees

The foundation operates with full transparency, with all trustees receiving zero remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Trustees are employees of Arisaig Partners, aligning the foundation's approach with the long-term investment philosophy of the parent company.

How to Apply to The Arisaig Partners Foundation

How to Apply

• Statutory registrations
• Third-party audit reports
• List of existing donors
• Governance structure details
• Team experience and track record

Application Requirements:

• Organisational background information
• Project objective and detailed description
• Total funding requirement
• Target beneficiary reach and demographics
• Project effectiveness measures and anticipated outcomes
• Contact details and acceptance of privacy policy

Decision Timeline

The application process follows these stages:

1. Application Submission: Online questionnaire completion
2. APF Trustee Review: 1-3 months for initial appraisal to ensure alignment with policy
3. Trustee Due Diligence Call: If application proceeds
4. Grant Proposal Structure Design: Further review and development
5. Trustees Vote on Proposal: Final decision
6. Grant Agreement: Signed by successful grantee
7. Payment: Made to grantee upon agreement execution
8. Ongoing Reporting: Regular project updates and reporting requirements

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy information is publicly available. Organisations should contact the foundation directly if their initial application is unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and partnership examples, successful applications demonstrate:

Alignment with Core Mission:

• Direct impact on women and girls in underdeveloped communities
• Projects explicitly improving gender equality outcomes
• Focus on WASH or microfinance, or other gender equality areas (livelihood, education, domestic abuse)

Strong Organisational Capacity:

• Local presence with on-ground operations in target communities
• Sound governance structures with transparent reporting
• Proven track record of measurable outcomes
• Financial stability (APF contribution will be maximum 30% of your overall income)
• Third-party audited accounts demonstrating accountability

Sustainable Impact:

• Clear exit strategy demonstrating long-term sustainability
• Measurable outcomes and effectiveness metrics
• Capacity building approach (as noted in Myna Mahila quote: “APF not only provided a launchpad but also provided us with tools and capacity building”)

Partnership Philosophy:

APF seeks to “partner with and support a tight group of local organisations” suggesting they value:

• Long-lasting relationships rather than one-off grants
• Close collaboration and ongoing engagement
• Organisations receptive to capacity building support

Recent Funded Project Examples:

• Uninhibited (Bangalore, India): Menstrual and sexual reproductive health telemedicine helpline (Hello Saathi) providing free IVR education, counselling, and doctor screening via missed call. To date, Uninhibited has impacted over 200,000 people across 10 states in India.

• Myna Mahila Foundation (Mumbai, India): Holistic health and hygiene programme employing women from Mumbai slums to manufacture affordable sanitary pads combined with community education. Founded in 2015 by Suhani Jalota, Myna Mahila has empowered over 870,000 women in urban slums.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic focus is critical: Primary focus is India; organisations in other developing countries may be considered but India is clearly prioritised
• Stay within the 30% threshold: Design your budget so APF's contribution represents no more than 30% of your total organisational income
• Demonstrate sustainability: Include a clear exit strategy showing how the project will continue beyond APF funding
• Local presence matters: Emphasise your on-ground presence and deep understanding of the communities you serve
• Prepare for a thorough review process: Plan your funding timeline accordingly with 1-3 months for initial trustee appraisal
• Focus on measurable outcomes: Be specific about metrics, target beneficiary reach, and how you'll track effectiveness
• Gender equality must be explicit: Projects should directly and measurably improve women's lives, not indirectly benefit women as a side effect
• Build for partnership, not transactional funding: APF values long-term relationships and capacity building, not one-off project grants

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Fondation Chanel
• Womankind Worldwide
• World Connect International, Uk
• The Kitchen Table Charities Trust
• The Kiawah Charitable Trust
• Halcrow Foundation
• James Percy Foundation
• The Cosaraf Charitable Foundation
• Blackfriars Overseas Aid Trust
• Marr-munning Trust

References

• Arisaig Partners Foundation official website: www.arisaig-foundation.com
• “Who We Are” page: https://www.arisaig-foundation.com/
• “Who We Support” page: https://www.arisaig-foundation.com/who-we-support/
• “Grant Application” page: https://www.arisaig-foundation.com/grant-application/
• UK Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1101494
• Scotland's International Development Alliance profile: https://intdevalliance.scot/membership/funding-update/arisaig-partners-foundation/
• Hub Cymru Africa profile: https://hubcymruafrica.wales/funding-opportunity/arisaig-partners-foundation/