The Roddick Foundation

Charity Number: 1061372

Annual Expenditure: £1.7M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,655,378 (2023-2024)
  • Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only, no public applications)
  • Decision Time: N/A (invitation-only basis)
  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £50,000 (typical)
  • Geographic Focus: Global scope, with strong emphasis on UK-based organizations

Contact Details

Website: www.theroddickfoundation.org

Email: karen@theroddickfoundation.org

Phone: Not publicly listed

IMPORTANT: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or requests for funding.

Overview

The Roddick Foundation was incorporated in 1997 as the philanthropic legacy of Dame Anita Roddick (1942-2007), founder of The Body Shop. Following Dame Anita's death in 2007, she donated her entire £51 million fortune to charitable causes. The foundation is family-run by her husband Gordon Roddick and daughters Justine and Samantha Roddick, along with trustee Tina Schlieske (Justine's partner). With total income of £398,674 and expenditure of £1,963,883 in the most recent financial year (ending March 2025), the foundation distributed £1,655,378 in grants during 2023-2024. The foundation describes itself as “a family-run, independent and progressive organisation dedicated to the support of visionary organisations and individuals who show leadership and results in making this a more just and kind world.” Their philanthropy focuses on social, labour and environmental justice, and human rights.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants generally range from £10,000 to £50,000. In 2023-2024, the foundation distributed £1,655,378 across seven main funding categories.

Priority Areas

Arts & Culture (£60,000 in 2023-24; £203,774 in 2024-25)

  • Theatre and performing arts with community engagement focus
  • Creative activism and grassroots cultural organizations
  • Support for refugee and migrant artists
  • Examples: Kiln Theatre, Outside In, Belarus Free Theatre, Counterpoint Arts

Education (£125,000 in 2023-24; £81,200 in 2024-25)

  • Educational access and equity
  • Support for marginalized children and youth
  • International education initiatives
  • Examples: Black Mountains College, Children On The Edge, Afghanistan Education Action

Environment (£269,900 in 2023-24; £171,278 in 2024-25)

  • Climate justice and environmental protection
  • Regenerative agriculture and food systems
  • Food sovereignty and agroecology
  • Grassroots environmental movements
  • Examples: Gaia Foundation, Final Straw Foundation, Platform London, UK Grain Lab, Wales Farming Cluster, Conservation Farming Trust

Human Rights (£338,355 in 2023-24; £305,087 in 2024-25)

  • Criminal justice reform and prisoner support
  • Death penalty abolition
  • Support for survivors of torture and trauma
  • Legal aid and advocacy
  • Restorative justice
  • Immigration detention support
  • Examples: Reprieve, Death Penalty Project, APPEAL, Baobab Centre For Young Survivors In Exile, Innocence Project New Orleans, Global Legal Action Network

Indigenous Rights (£230,104 in 2023-24; £287,910 in 2024-25)

  • Indigenous journalism and media
  • Land rights and environmental protection for Indigenous communities
  • Cultural preservation
  • Indigenous-led advocacy
  • Examples: Amazonia Real, CASA Socio-Environmental Fund, Instituto Welight de Inovação Socioambiental, The Xa7tus Advocacy Society

Media (£27,500 in 2022-23; £25,000 in 2024-25)

  • Independent journalism
  • Investigative reporting
  • Social justice media projects
  • Examples: On Road Media, Shadow World Investigations

Medical/Health (£50,000 in 2023-24 and 2024-25)

  • Support for specific health research initiatives
  • Example: Cure Parkinson's Trust

Social Rights (£582,018 in 2023-24; £543,211 in 2024-25 - consistently the largest category)

  • Reproductive rights and abortion access
  • LGBTQ+ support and advocacy
  • Support for travelers and marginalized communities
  • Restorative justice
  • Community health and wellbeing
  • Migrant and refugee support
  • Examples: Abortion Access Front, Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard, Friends, Families & Travellers, Room To Heal, Allsorts Youth Project, Babylon Migrants Project

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly detailed, the foundation's funding history suggests they focus exclusively on organizations aligned with progressive social justice causes. They have demonstrated a clear preference for:

  • Grassroots, activist-oriented organizations rather than mainstream or large institutional charities
  • Organizations working on systemic change rather than traditional service delivery
  • Groups working with marginalized communities
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (4 total, none receive remuneration):

  • Gordon Roddick (husband of founder)
  • Justine Roddick (daughter)
  • Samantha Roddick (daughter)
  • Tina Schlieske (Justine's partner)

Foundation Philosophy: The trustees state: “We will not deviate from the path that we have all taken together and we are warmed by the legacy of love and adventure that she left in our care,” referring to Dame Anita Roddick's vision.

Dame Anita Roddick's guiding principle: "If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito." This philosophy informs the foundation's support for smaller, grassroots organizations that may be overlooked by larger funders.

Foundation Values: According to their website, the foundation's philanthropy is “attracted to people and groups who show exceptional creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and courage” and they “favor those who can affect social change on a measurable scale.”

Key Contact: Karen (karen@theroddickfoundation.org) - administrative contact

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. They identify potential grantees through their own research and networks, operating on an invitation-only basis. Organizations cannot apply for funding directly. According to their website: “We do not accept unsolicited applications.”

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made internally when the foundation proactively identifies organizations to support.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to invitation-only model.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply as the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since applications are not accepted, traditional application advice is not relevant. However, insights from the foundation's funding patterns suggest what they value:

What the Foundation Values:

  • Exceptional creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and courage: The foundation explicitly states they are attracted to these qualities in potential grantees
  • Measurable social change: They favor organizations that can affect change “on a measurable scale”
  • Results-oriented work: The foundation emphasizes tangible outcomes and “leadership and results”
  • Grassroots and activist approaches: Funding history shows strong support for community-led initiatives
  • Progressive values: Clear alignment with social, labour, and environmental justice

Funding Patterns (2023-2024 and 2024-2025):

  • Repeat funding for high-performing organizations (many grantees appear across multiple years)
  • Strong support for organizations working in the US criminal justice system, particularly Louisiana
  • Significant investment in Indigenous rights, particularly in Brazil and North America
  • Consistent support for reproductive rights and abortion access organizations
  • Focus on UK-based organizations serving marginalized communities (LGBTQ+ youth, travelers, migrants, refugees, survivors of torture)
  • Support for regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty movements
  • Funding for organizations challenging systemic injustice through legal advocacy

The Foundation's Self-Description: “We are a family-run, independent and progressive organisation dedicated to the support of visionary organisations and individuals who show leadership and results in making this a more just and kind world.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. No application process exists - The Roddick Foundation operates exclusively on an invitation-only basis, making it impossible to apply directly for funding
  1. Focus on visibility within progressive networks - Since they identify grantees proactively, organizations should build strong reputations within social justice, environmental, and human rights movements where the foundation is active
  1. Demonstrate measurable impact - The foundation explicitly favors organizations that can show social change “on a measurable scale” with results-oriented approaches
  1. Emphasize creativity and courage - The foundation is attracted to “exceptional creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and courage” in their potential grantees
  1. Grassroots and activist orientation - Funding patterns show strong preference for community-led, activist organizations working on systemic change rather than large institutions
  1. Grant size expectations - When invited to apply, expect grants in the £10,000-£50,000 range, based on the foundation's typical funding levels
  1. Global but UK-centered - While grantmaking is global in scope, many grantees are UK-based organizations, even those working internationally
  1. Repeat funding is common - Organizations demonstrating strong results often receive multi-year support, suggesting the foundation values long-term partnerships with effective organizations

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References