The One Foundation

Charity Number: 1118810

Annual Expenditure: £2.4M
Geographic Focus: Surrey, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £2.39m (charitable expenditure, 2022/23)
  • Total Income: £3.04m (2022/23)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable - no public application process
  • Grant Focus: Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects
  • Geographic Focus: Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi

Contact Details

Website: https://theonefoundation.org.uk/

Programming and Partnerships Manager: Nikki Armstrong - Contact through website for partnership inquiries

Address: Registered charity in England and Wales

Note: For partnership inquiries, contact Nikki Armstrong through the foundation's website

Overview

The One Foundation (Charity No. 1118810) was incorporated on 13 October 2006 and has been funding water programmes for over 20 years. The foundation exists to positively change lives in developing countries through a simple vision: “A world in which everyone has access to clean, safe water, forever.” Their mission is to support sustainable WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) services in some of the world's poorest communities. The foundation has achieved significant milestones including drilling over 200 new boreholes, connecting over 100,000 people to clean water, and repairing over 650 pumps, reconnecting over 239,000 people to a clean, safe water supply. In 2019, they reached their £20 million fundraising target one year early. The foundation operates with just 2 employees and 4 trustees, none of whom receive remuneration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The One Foundation operates through a partnership-led model focused on four priority countries: Rwanda, Malawi, Ghana, and Kenya. They support operationally and financially sustainable water and sanitation solutions through a range of models and approaches that are context-specific.

Key Funding Principles:

  • Partner-led approach with flexible funding
  • Long-term partnerships with trusted organisations
  • Support for innovation in all forms
  • Focus on organisations well aligned with their philosophy where they can add value
  • Patient capital approach - prepared to provide long-term support to promising organisations and initiatives

Priority Areas

  • Sustainable WASH services: Clean water access and sanitation infrastructure
  • Large-scale urban programmes: Extending water access in urban settlements
  • Community health: Supporting health centres with water systems
  • Climate resilience: Water solutions adapted to climate challenges
  • Innovation: New ideas and approaches in the WASH sector

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects outside their four priority countries (Rwanda, Malawi, Ghana, Kenya)
  • Organizations not already in their partnership network
  • Short-term or emergency relief projects (focus is on sustainable, long-term solutions)
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Jim Ridgwick - Chair of the Board (served over 4 years on the board, 2 years as Chair). Currently a Director at Save the Children International, bringing expertise in global development and organisational leadership.

Karina - Trustee (appointed Chair in 2016, currently serving as trustee). Works for law firm Linklaters focusing on Finance division. Has over two decades of experience including Chief Operating Officer roles in UAE, India and Japan.

Nyika - Trustee. Brings over 15 years' experience in ESG and responsible business, with expertise in sustainability strategy, global supply chains, and governance.

Key Staff

Nikki Armstrong - Programming and Partnerships Manager. Oversees funding for sustainable WASH services in vulnerable communities. Twenty years of experience at The One Foundation, playing a key role in growing the Foundation's network of key funders and managing strategic partnerships with both international WASH programme delivery organisations and corporate partners.

Paul Gunstensen - Passionate about delivering impact in water, sanitation and climate. Over 20 years working in international development, philanthropy and social investment. Has guided foundations, investors and social enterprises to scale innovative solutions across Africa and Asia.

The foundation describes itself as “small but mighty, with every success starting with a passionate team dedicated to driving real change.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The One Foundation identifies and selects partners directly through their existing network and strategic relationships. They work through long-term partnerships with trusted organisations rather than accepting unsolicited applications from external organizations.

Grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee discretion and strategic planning
  • Direct identification of partner organizations
  • Long-term relationship building with organizations already working in their priority countries

Getting on Their Radar

While The One Foundation does not accept open applications, organizations working on WASH projects in Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, or Malawi may wish to:

Contact the Partnerships Manager: Organizations with strong alignment to The One Foundation's philosophy and operating in their priority countries can reach out to Nikki Armstrong (Programming and Partnerships Manager) through the foundation's website to explore potential partnership opportunities. The foundation states they “look for opportunities and organisations that are well aligned with their philosophy, where they can add value.”

Build sector relationships: The foundation is described as partner-led and actively listens to partners. Establishing credibility within the WASH sector in East and Southern Africa may create opportunities for introduction to the foundation's network.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are awarded through strategic partnership decisions rather than application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of The One Foundation's grant-making, success in becoming a partner depends on:

Strong Alignment: The foundation looks for “opportunities and organisations that are well aligned with their philosophy, where they can add value.” Organizations should demonstrate clear alignment with sustainable WASH principles and long-term impact.

Proven Track Record: With their focus on trusted organisations and long-term partnerships, demonstrated experience delivering sustainable water and sanitation projects in their priority countries is essential.

Innovation Focus: The foundation states they “will fund and support innovation in all its forms and use funding to drive change and bring new ideas into the WASH sector.” Organizations bringing innovative approaches to WASH challenges may be particularly attractive.

Context-Specific Solutions: They support “operationally and financially sustainable water and sanitation solutions through a range of models and approaches that are context specific,” indicating value placed on locally adapted approaches rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.

Partnership Approach: The foundation is “partner-led, actively listening to partners and giving them space to identify the best course of action, supporting them with flexible funding.” Organizations able to work collaboratively and with agency in partnership relationships will align with this approach.

Long-term Sustainability: Both operational and financial sustainability are priorities, with emphasis on solutions that will provide “clean, safe water, forever” rather than short-term interventions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public applications: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications - they identify and select partners directly
  • Partnership-led model: If you do connect with them, expect a collaborative relationship where partners have significant input and flexibility
  • Four countries only: Focus is exclusively on Rwanda, Malawi, Ghana, and Kenya
  • Innovation welcomed: The foundation actively seeks and funds innovative approaches to WASH challenges
  • Long-term commitment: They are prepared to provide patient capital and multi-year support to the right partners
  • Small but strategic: With only 2 employees and £2.39m in annual charitable expenditure, they make strategic choices about partnerships
  • Contact point: Nikki Armstrong (Programming and Partnerships Manager) is the key contact for partnership inquiries

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