Say Hello to the UK Ben & Jerry’s Foundation!

The UK Fund of the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation supports grassroots and constituent led organisations that organise and mobilise to campaign for positive social change for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants and that aim to tackle the divisive narrative focused on these groups.

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A Little Bit of Background…

Our US Foundation has been operating for over 30 years, funding grassroots groups working to advance social and environmental justice. In 2016 the Foundation set aside $200,000 to launch a UK Fund, which retains the US Foundation’s belief in supporting social justice movements and community organising but focuses entirely on refugee and asylum seeker led groups in the UK.

The UK Foundation funds organisations that are working to improve the systems under which refugees and migrants are supported to settle in the UK and are able to take a full and active role within society. The Foundation targets its funding to groups that work to drive change in the following areas:

Supporting refugee, asylyum seeker and migrant groups to come together to target system change – The Foundation recognises that the voices of those most affected by the issues are best placed to identify and tackle systemic constraints and mobilise to create real and lasting change. It therefore funds projects that put refugee and migrant groups at the heart of their organisation.
Changing perceptions within the public consciousness – The Foundation funds organisations that combat stigma and challenge negative perceptions around the role of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants within society, as well as those that empower local communities to provide a positive and inclusive welcome.

Our philanthropy in both the UK and the US is led by Ben & Jerry’s employees who serve on committees that review grant applications. Although it is funded by the Ben & Jerry’s business, the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation is completely independent in its views and objectives to that of the business.

All grant making in the UK is by invitation only. This means the Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and only funds organisations based in and working in the UK.