Evan Cornish Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The UK-based Cornish Foundation invests in organizations around the world that support human rights, global development, health, gender equality, and vulnerable refugees.
IP TAKE: Grant seekers must have a registered U.K. office to be eligible for funding from the Cornish Foundation. Also, smaller grassroots organizations may have more luck here. This is an otherwise accessible and supportive funder.
PROFILE: Evan Cornish’s late wife Ethel and their daughters established the British Evan Cornish Foundation (ECF) in 2002. The trustees now operate the foundation in honor of Evan and Ethel Cornish. ECF supports organizations that work for “equality and justice for all by supporting the most marginalised and promoting human rights.” ECF divides its funding into two initiatives: one focused on the UK, and one for the rest of the world. The foundation’s global grantmaking programs include Human Rights, Social and Economic Inequality, Health, Criminal Justice, Elderly People, Refugees & Asylum Seekers.
Grants for Security and Human Rights
The foundation makes grants for human rights organizations through its Human Rights program. It supports a variety of human rights work including combatting violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, supporting victims of these violations, and empowering people to fight for their own rights. Past grantees for human rights include Amnesty International, Peace Brigades, and Fund for Global Human Rights.
Grants for Global Development
This funder's global development grantmaking focuses on food security, “root causes” of social and economic inequality, sustainable livelihoods, and gender equality. It also makes grants to support young people unable to access education, and to improve the quality of life for the elderly. Much of ECF’s global development grants flow through the Social and Economic Inequality Program. Past grantees include organizations like Afghanaid, Concern Worldwide, and War on Want.
Grants for Global Health
ECF makes grants to support health causes around the world through its Overseas Health program. These grants fund organizations and programs that work to improve newborn and maternal health, and women and girls’ sexual health. It also supports people with mental health issues and efforts to remove stigma and promote understanding. Finally, these grants fund efforts to combat blindness and improve the quality of life for those with vision loss. Past grantees include Children Change Colombia, EDT Trust, and Orbis.
Grants for Criminal Justice, Women and Girls
The foundation currently awards grants to organizations working with women in the criminal justice system. Areas of focus include promoting prisoners’ well-being, developing creative and innovative programs to help prisoners build new skills, helping at-risk women and young people, and helping women transition from prison.
In addition to its criminal justice grants, Cornish awards grants related to reducing maternal and child death, increasing women’s agricultural rights and skills, and promoting the rights and livelihoods of women and girls.
Past grantees include Child Soldiers International, HealthProm, and Children in Crisis.
Grants for Refugees
The foundation’s Refugee & Asylum Seekers program supports projects that advocate for refugees and asylum seekers, improve the quality of life for vulnerable refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, and promote community cohesion. Past grantees include Manuel Bravo, Safe Passage, and Women for Women International.
Important Grant Details:
The Cornish Foundation limits its funding to £5,000 for first-time grantees. In order to be eligible for funding, applicants must be registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Organizations working outside of the UK must apply to the foundation’s Overseas program. The foundation often applies specific areas of focus pertaining to each grant round.
The Cornish Foundation generally accepts unsolicited requests for funding between November and December each year, with funding decisions made around February or March.
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