The Network for Social Change

The Network for Social Change is a group of individuals committed to funding organisations and projects which promote progressive social and ecological change. Currently we have some 100 members of all ages, mostly UK-based. We are each able to commit ourselves individually to giving away at least £3,000 a year through the Network. The promotion of social justice and sustainability is central to our aims. Our annual grant-making amounts to around £1million per year, with one-off grants usually ranging from £3,000 to £15,000. However, we have also initiated a few major projects which have received up to £500,000 spread over several years. We focus on social change projects in the arts, human rights, economic justice, environmental, health and peace sectors.

So we look for leverage - projects where comparatively small sums of money can have the greatest effect. We are often prepared to fund organisations that find it difficult to get funding elsewhere.

Unusually, the funds that the Network for Social Change distributes come directly from members. Decisions on how to distribute the money are made collectively and members are personally active in sponsoring, assessing, selecting and commending projects. A professional administrator handles the practicalities of membership and grant-making and overheads represent a miniscule 3% of grant turnover.

The Network for Social Change is also a place where those of us who have inherited or created wealth can find help in clarifying and realising our values and visions, a circle of friends who can offer each other models of how to use money in positive ways, and an opportuntity to question prevailing assumptions about money. It is a window into a world of hopeful, cutting-edge projects, in the UK and overseas, and a coming-together of diverse political and spiritual affiliations.

We welcome new membership enquiries, but please note that the Network does not accept any unsolicited funding applications.