Sustainable Future Programme (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 13-Feb-25

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust is seeking applications for the Sustainable Future Programme which focuses on developing and promoting sustainable, low-carbon alternatives to the current consumerist and growth-based paradigm.

Priority Issues 

• JRCT wishes to prioritise support for charitable work on the following issues:
  • Better economics
    • Current economic systems encourage unsustainable growth and do not adequately reflect the true costs and risks of resource depletion, climate change and other environmental problems. They will fund work that:
      • explores and promotes ways that well-being and sustainability, rather than traditional forms of economic growth, could be placed at the heart of public policy
      • explores and promotes mechanisms that could better align business and investor behaviour with environmental sustainability and the long-term public interest
      • researches and develops innovations and new practical models of enterprise that can be embedded within community practice
      • challenges future investment in, or subsidies for, fossil fuels.
  • Beyond consumerism
    • There is evidence that the ever higher levels of consumption, once basic needs for security and comfort are met, do not result in greater happiness or well-being. At the same time, such ever-increasing consumption is not environmentally sustainable, and contributes towards social problems including overwork, anxiety and loss of community. They will fund:
      • campaigns, initiatives and mechanisms which encourage radical, large scale shifts in behaviour and culture away from consumerism towards more sustainable ways of living and using resources
      • exploration of initiatives and models which promote positive alternatives to materialism for a more fulfilled life
      • work which engages people individually and collectively in holistic and value-led approaches to transformed behaviour and lifestyle, as an alternative to consumerism.
  • New voices
    • In order to create a broad-based, democratic and lasting transition to a low-carbon sustainable society, they need to involve everyone. JRCT is particularly concerned that marginalised groups and young activists have a voice in decisions which affect them.
    • They will fund:
      • campaigns and movements that give marginalised or under-represented groups a voice on issues of environmental and economic justice
      • initiatives that encourage organisations from outside the traditional environmental field to get involved in environmental justice
      • networks that link and support local environmental justice groups
      • the replication of innovative local projects to involve New Voices regionally or nationally.

Who they Fund?

• They are focusing on work:
  • From groups and organisations who struggle to obtain funding elsewhere (for example, only one core funder, or no core funding)
  • From those who are actively building power amongst communities- From those with a solid understanding of the causes of the climate and/or economic crises
  • From those with a track record of community organising around climate, economics, or environment
  • From groups and organisations who effectively connect the intersecting harms of climate breakdown, racial injustice, economic inequality, and the legacies of colonialism
  • Which considers the needs and wellbeing of staff, volunteers, and other participants
  • For which there is has a demonstrable need
  • Where it is clearly explained why you are the right organisation or group to carry out this project.
• Due to the limits of the available funding, they are not focusing on work:
  • Which already receives significant funding from a range of sources (for example more than one core funder, or over £1 million in annual income)
  • Which is primarily focused on convening
  • Which seeks to include the perspectives of marginalised groups without a careful understanding of power and a track record in delivering this
  • Which is about superficial changes to consumer behaviour.

Eligibility Criteria

• JRCT recognises that the issues are worldwide. However, this programme has a UK focus, to take advantage of the body of thought and expertise that already exists here, and in recognition of the UK’s influential global role in maintaining current financial and market systems.

Specific Exclusions

• In addition to the general exclusions, the following types of work will not be funded:
  • Conservation projects
  • Anti-consumerism campaigns which simply exhort people to be less consumerist, rather than encourage behaviour change resulting in sustainable living
  • Measures that are limited to adapting to the effects of climate change rather than leading to long-term change
  • Academic research and books, except as an integral part of policy, campaigning work or leading to practical change in enterprises or community action
  • Local or national work anywhere outside the UK except for the specific circumstances outlined in section three
  • Beyond Consumerism: they understand the problem of consumerism to relate to the links between extracting raw materials from the earth, producing goods using these materials and using advertising to compel or persuade people to consume these. They see the solution to this as a transformation in human behaviour and the structures which shape it. They do not believe that changing patterns of consumption or encouraging people to be ‘better’ consumers will produce the change they need
  • Local work: to ensure the grants have the greatest impact possible, they tend to avoid solely local work. By this they mean, work with a single council or in a single town. They do see merit in work which begins at a local level, covering multiple local areas, and which can produce lessons which can be applied regionally or nationally.

For more information, visit Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.