Activate Fund 2026
Activate Fund 2026
The Activate Fund was piloted from 2020–2024 to explore how best the Fellowship can boost Fellows’ impact in the UK. Across three rounds, the Fund awarded £1.2 million to 50 Fellows, helping them accelerate their Fellowship findings across a wide range of pressing issues.
An evaluation showed just how transformative the Fund was. Fellows described the funding as a gamechanger – enabling them to pilot bold initiatives, test and build the evidence for replication and scale, launch new organisations, and forge partnerships and cross-sector alliances. Through Activate, Fellows developed new models of dementia care, piloted entrepreneurial training for prison leavers, and created trauma-informed support for victims of hate crime. Their stories can be found in our impact section.
As part of our 60th Anniversary, we launched a £10m Anniversary Appeal to expand the Activate Fund. This landmark initiative will ensure that even more Fellows can turn their ideas into action, driving tangible change across the UK. Your support will help us build on the success of Activate and empower a new generation of changemakers. If you’d like to explore ways to support the Activate Fund, please contact Claire Dakin or you can make a donation directly.
“…it's just that it's so unusual to have a funder that will fund you as an individual, to try and follow up one of your ideas, make it happen. And it's really … hard to get that sort of funding.” – Activate grantee
In April 2026, the Activate Fund will return, offering grants to help Fellows turn their brilliant ideas into real-world action. Infused with the same spirit of optimism and practicality that defines the Fellowship, the Activate Fund will back Fellows who, inspired by their international learning, are ready to deliver lasting change in their communities.
More information will be shared towards the end of 2025.
An evaluation showed just how transformative the Fund was. Fellows described the funding as a gamechanger – enabling them to pilot bold initiatives, test and build the evidence for replication and scale, launch new organisations, and forge partnerships and cross-sector alliances. Through Activate, Fellows developed new models of dementia care, piloted entrepreneurial training for prison leavers, and created trauma-informed support for victims of hate crime. Their stories can be found in our impact section.
As part of our 60th Anniversary, we launched a £10m Anniversary Appeal to expand the Activate Fund. This landmark initiative will ensure that even more Fellows can turn their ideas into action, driving tangible change across the UK. Your support will help us build on the success of Activate and empower a new generation of changemakers. If you’d like to explore ways to support the Activate Fund, please contact Claire Dakin or you can make a donation directly.
“…it's just that it's so unusual to have a funder that will fund you as an individual, to try and follow up one of your ideas, make it happen. And it's really … hard to get that sort of funding.” – Activate grantee
In April 2026, the Activate Fund will return, offering grants to help Fellows turn their brilliant ideas into real-world action. Infused with the same spirit of optimism and practicality that defines the Fellowship, the Activate Fund will back Fellows who, inspired by their international learning, are ready to deliver lasting change in their communities.
More information will be shared towards the end of 2025.