The Band Aid Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 292199

Annual Expenditure: £2.5M
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda

Contact Info

Website: https://www.bandaidtrust.co.uk/

Phone: 020 7197 7172

Email: Not

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £3,000,000 (2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Variable - operates as reactive “first responder”
  • Grant Range: £100,000 - £300,000+ (based on recent awards)
  • Geographic Focus: Africa (primarily Ethiopia, also Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.bandaidtrust.co.uk/

Phone: 020 7197 7172

Email: Not publicly listed

Note: The Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations contact the Trust directly for support, typically in emergency situations.

Overview

Established in April 1985 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure following the success of the "Do They Know It's Christmas?“ single, The Band Aid Charitable Trust has raised and distributed more than £146 million since its inception. The Trust operates with no staff, no offices, and minimal overhead costs, enabling it to direct almost all funds directly to beneficiaries. The charity focuses on relieving hunger and poverty in Ethiopia and neighboring regions, as well as addressing sickness and health needs across Africa. The Trust operates as a reactive funder, often serving as a ”first responder“ to emergency situations while also supporting longer-term sustainable development projects. In the financial year to November 2024, Band Aid awarded grants of £3 million across 16 projects. The charity prioritizes projects that deliver ”measurable results in smaller communities with a focus on longer-term, sustainable development."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Band Aid Charitable Trust operates a reactive grant-making approach rather than formal application cycles. Organizations contact the Trust directly, often in emergency situations. Recent grants have ranged from approximately £100,000 to £300,000+ per recipient.

Application Method: Reactive/invitation only - organizations contact the Trust for support

Priority Areas

  • Emergency relief and humanitarian aid in response to drought, conflict, and displacement
  • Health interventions including maternal healthcare, medical equipment, and life-saving medicines
  • Water and infrastructure projects ensuring access to safe water
  • Food security including drought-resistant crops and agricultural support
  • Education including literacy and numeracy programs
  • Gender-based violence prevention and community training
  • Long-term sustainable development in smaller communities

Primary Geographic Focus: Ethiopia (majority of projects), with additional work in Sudan, Somaliland, Chad, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Eritrea, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, and Sierra Leone

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects outside Africa
  • Direct grants to individuals
  • General overhead or administration costs
  • Projects unrelated to poverty relief, health, or hunger

Governance and Leadership

The Band Aid Charitable Trust is governed by six trustees who established the charity in April 1985. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Trustees:

  • Bob Geldof (Co-founder)
  • Midge Ure (Co-founder)
  • Harvey Goldsmith
  • John Kennedy
  • Michael Grade
  • Chris Morrison

Pro Bono Chief Financial Officer: Joe Cannon

The trustees serve as the key management personnel responsible for all decisions and authorization of payments. The charity operates with exceptional efficiency, employing no staff and maintaining no offices.

Quote from Joe Cannon, CFO: The charity continues to allocate funding to support projects that deliver “measurable results in smaller communities with a focus on longer-term, sustainable development.”

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Band Aid Charitable Trust does not accept formal unsolicited applications. According to reporting on their approach, "all the organisations Band Aid Charitable Trust has funded contacted the charity for support, often as a 'first responder' to help provide emergency support quickly and encourage other donors to step forward."

This indicates a reactive model where:

  • Organizations working in crisis situations reach out directly to the Trust
  • The Trust responds rapidly to emergency needs
  • Funding decisions are made by the six trustees

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed but the Trust emphasizes its role as a “first responder,” suggesting relatively rapid decision-making for emergency situations. The Trust balances both emergency interventions and longer-term development projects.

Success Rates

Success rates and application numbers are not publicly disclosed. The Trust funded 16 projects in the financial year to November 2024.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. Given the reactive nature of the Trust's grant-making, organizations that have previously received funding appear to maintain ongoing relationships (e.g., ActionAid received “longstanding support” from Band Aid).

Application Success Factors

Organizational Characteristics

  • Established charities working in Africa, particularly those with proven track records (recent grantees include ActionAid, UNICEF, Hamlin Fistula UK, Mary's Meals)
  • Organizations with capacity to deliver measurable results in smaller communities
  • Ability to respond to or address emergency situations (drought, conflict, displacement)
  • Focus on sustainable, long-term development alongside immediate relief

Recent Projects Funded

  • Hamlin Fistula UK (£100,000 in 2023-24): Clinical equipment for hospitals and rural health centers; literacy and numeracy classes for 400+ women
  • ActionAid (£300,000 in 2023): Relief grants, described as “longstanding support” with “profound impact on the lives of people in Ethiopia”
  • UNHCR: Support for safe water access for displaced people in Amhara and Afar regions
  • UNICEF: Projects in Africa addressing various humanitarian needs

Strategic Alignment Factors

  • Geographic focus: Projects in Ethiopia receive priority (majority of funding), though other African countries are also supported
  • Emergency response capacity: The Trust often serves as a “first responder” to catalyze broader funding efforts
  • Dual impact: Projects addressing both immediate emergency needs and longer-term sustainable development are valued
  • Measurable outcomes: Ability to demonstrate concrete results in communities
  • Efficient delivery: Organizations that can maximize direct impact given the Trust's focus on minimal overhead

Language and Terminology

The Trust uses language emphasizing “measurable results,” “sustainable development,” “emergency interventions,” “basic support and relief,” and “vulnerable people.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • You cannot submit a traditional grant application - the Trust operates entirely through reactive funding where organizations contact them directly, typically in emergency situations
  • Focus on Ethiopia and emergency response - the majority of projects funded are in Ethiopia, many involving emergency interventions for drought, conflict, or displacement
  • Proven organizations preferred - recent grantees are established international charities (ActionAid, UNICEF) and specialized organizations (Hamlin Fistula UK)
  • Think catalyst funding - the Trust positions itself as a “first responder” that provides rapid emergency support to encourage other donors to step forward
  • Balance emergency and sustainability - successful projects often combine immediate relief with longer-term sustainable development approaches
  • Demonstrate measurable impact in smaller communities - the Trust prioritizes projects that can show concrete results at community level
  • Build relationships over time - grantees like ActionAid reference “longstanding support,” suggesting ongoing relationships matter

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References