Trust for London (with City Bridge Foundation and Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales)

Racial Justice Fund

The Racial Justice Fund, jointly funded by Trust for London, City Bridge Foundation and Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, funds work that tackles the root causes of poverty among Black and minoritised Londoners by increasing their household incomes and household and community wealth. It backs systems-change work such as campaigning, research, policy influencing, community land trusts and co-operative models, not direct service delivery on its own. Organisations book a call with the racial justice lead, then submit an expression of interest; shortlisted applicants are invited to a second-stage application and a meeting.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Amount not specified; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Heavy; budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

Registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs), community interest companies (CICs), companies limited by guarantee, trusts, unincorporated associations, co-operative societies and trade unions
The work must be charitable and benefit Londoners in poverty, specifically Black and minoritised communities; organisations with a national remit can apply if the work benefits Londoners, but organisations based outside the UK cannot
Governance requirements: a bank account with two unrelated signatories; at least three unrelated trustees or directors independent of senior management; a written constitution; and paying at least the London Living Wage (accreditation not required)
There is no maximum income limit
Newly formed organisations can be considered, particularly if led by people directly affected by the issues, with a clear strategy for systemic change and evidence of demand

What it funds

Work that addresses the causes of racial injustice, not just the symptoms, by increasing household incomes and household and community wealth in London's Black and minoritised communities (which the funders call economic empowerment). Examples given in the guidelines:

Campaigning and research to change policy and practice on disparities in housing, employment and social welfare
Feasibility work on Black-owned co-operatives
Narrowing racial wealth gaps through fairer local and central government procurement and commissioning
Connecting Black and minoritised individuals and families to affordable housing, home ownership, good jobs and better wages
Black-led Community Land Trusts
Measures on pay inequality such as ethnicity pay gap reporting
Tackling ethnicity-based pension poverty

Direct service delivery can be funded only where it is linked to wider influencing work (e.g. influencing employers on pay and conditions, informed by advice and casework).

Funding may be project or unrestricted, and funded partners also receive organisational development support.

The funders particularly want organisations with a track record on racial and economic justice, that are majority-led by Black and minoritised communities (75% of trustees and 50% of senior staff), that take an intersectional approach, and partnership applications.

What it will not fund

Work focused on direct service delivery alone
Employment support, training and mentoring where the outcome is only positive job outcomes for individuals
Leadership or mentoring programmes that benefit individuals with no clear link to changing the system
Programmes focused on diversity alone rather than diversity and equity in pay
Applications from individuals
Applications from mainstream public services, including schools and hospitals
Organisations with fewer than three people on their governing body
The promotion of religion
General appeals
Work that has already taken place
Organisations in serious financial deficit
Capital costs, including buildings and renovations (small items of office equipment such as computers can be funded)
Organisations based outside the UK

How to apply

Read the Racial Justice Fund guidelines (https://trustforlondon.org.uk/documents/909/RJF_Guidelines_FINAL.pdf)
Take the short eligibility quiz and book a call with the racial justice lead (https://www.tfaforms.com/5142580)
Submit an expression of interest through the Trust for London website
If shortlisted, complete the second-stage application (governance, finances and partnerships) and upload supporting documents
Meet the Trust to discuss your work and application

Applications are shared with Lloyds Bank Foundation for assessment and peer review

If unsuccessful, wait at least 12 months before reapplying to Trust for London

Simple queries (under about 50 words) can be emailed to info@trustforlondon.org.uk

Have ready

Expression of interest
Latest set of annual accounts
Constitution or governing documents

Accounts and governing documents are requested at the second stage, if shortlisted

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