Grants

Examining the way the financial system operates at the heart of our economy. The financial system is complex, opaque and difficult to understand. This strand aims to expose the hidden systems (or ‘wiring’) that underpin our economy and explore how it can be transformed.

Ideally the financial system allocates available resources to meet economic and social needs. In practice however it often prioritises self-interest and operates in ways increasingly disconnected from the ‘real economy’ where production, purchase and the flow of goods and services takes place.

Through this programme of work, we are seeking explore barriers and blockages to the creation of a fair and sustainable financial system within the system itself, such as regulations, policy ideas, power dynamics and cultures.

Funding will be granted in three main areas: 

• Government Policy and Regulation – including areas such as countering lobbying and influencing; improving the understanding of key decision makers, a renewed focus on public interest. 

• Banking – areas of interest include: the role of the Bank of England and Treasury; enabling purpose driven banking; countering the influence of the shadow banking sector. 

• Investment – funding might include: redefining the incentives and purpose of investment; questioning ownership rights and responsibilities within the financial system and promoting responsibility and impact focus 

More detail is available in our discussion piece. 

For more information on the sort of funding we offer and what we do and don’t fund see our funding criteria, information on why we say no and FAQs. 

Supporting organisations that are central to our mission of economic systems change to create a stronger, responsive sector able to challenge entrenched economic norms.

The UK has historically championed neoliberal economics, yet it is also home to a vibrant community of new economic thought and practice. While interest in economic systems change is growing in the UK, the infrastructure supporting this work remains weak. Many of the organisations driving this agenda are underfunded, and overstretched.

The UK’s new economy organisations often lack the stable, flexible support required to build long-term capacity, collaborate effectively, and scale their impact. If they are to evolve into enduring, influential institutions capable of shaping mainstream debates and policies, they need flexible core support.

This strand is designed to support key or anchor organisations that are central to the infrastructure of the new economy movement and have the potential to drive systemic change.

We are looking to support organisations that: 

• Demonstrate strong strategic alignment with the mission and funding priorities of Friends Provident Foundation. 

• Have an explicit primary focus on economic systems change: that is organisations whose core work is about rethinking and reshaping economic structures, rather than those working primarily in other policy areas (such as food, energy, or skills) that intersect with economic themes. 

• Offer a compelling, long-term vision for a fairer, more sustainable economy. 

• Work systemically and at root-cause level. We support efforts that address the deeper structural drivers of inequality and unsustainability and move beyond the short term thinking that has caused many of the issues we face. 

• Demonstrate contextual awareness and a collaborative, intersectional approach. We want to work with organisations that see their role within a broader ecosystem and engage in building bridges across sectors, disciplines, and communities. 

More detail is available in our overview document. 

For more information on the sort of funding we offer and what we do and don’t fund see our funding criteria, information on why we say no and FAQs.