Scott Bader Commonwealth Global Charity Fund

Background

Ernest Bader was a Swiss emigrant who settled in England in 1920 and founded the now global chemical company Scott Bader Company Ltd in 1921. As a Quaker, Bader was never comfortable with a capitalist governance structure and believed his company should be based on ethical principles, organised democratically and that it should contribute to the good of the community.

As a result of these principles, the Scott Bader Commonwealth was created in 1951 changing the fundamental structure of the company into a common trusteeship company and sharing out the responsibility for its long-term future to its workforce. The Commonwealth is a registered charity and holds the shares of the Scott Bader Company Ltd. Currently, each year 80% of the income of Scott Bader Commonwealth is donated as grants to support charitable activities and projects around the world.

Objectives of Fund

The Scott Bader Commonwealth Global Charity Fund aims to provide grants to charitable organisations registered in the UK for projects around the world, and in particular in the local communities in which Scott Bader Group facilities are based.

Value Notes

The following category of funding is available:

• Local Strategy Fund - Grants of £250 to £10,000 are available to all of the companies within the Scott Bader Group to support the work of charities known to them or situated near to where they are located.
• Global Impact Fund - This is a total fund of £100,000 and will support four projects with £25,000. These applications must focus on at least one of the following areas education, poverty and environment.

The Charity recommends that first-time applicants apply for only £2,000 to £4,000.

Match Funding Restrictions

Applicants are advised to contact the funding provider directly to confirm if match funding is required.

Who Can Apply

Applications are accepted from UK registered charities or from charities that are already known to the funders. Eligible charities must have been operational for over two years.

Scott Bader is keen to support charities whose projects focus on educational, environmental and disadvantaged groups and to hear from and support charities working with and for BAME and LGBTQ+ communities.

The Local Strategy Fund is only open to Scott Bader Group companies to support the work of charities known to them or situated near to where they are located. Eligible locations include:

• UK.
• Dublin, Eire.
• France
• Sweden.
• Spain.
• Czech Republic.
• Croatia.
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• South Africa.
• USA.
• Canada.
• China.
• Japan.
• Australia.
• India.

Location

Worldwide projects, but especially those projects based in communities where Scott Bader has a presence.

Restrictions

The Charity does not generally fund requests solely in support of:

• Animals.
• Individuals in need.
• Travel and adventure schemes.
• Art projects.
• Sports clubs.
• Medical research and equipment.
• General appeals.
• Construction, renovation or maintenance of buildings in the UK.

Scott Bader's preference is for organisations that have recently received a large grant not to reapply for two years.

Eligible Expenditure

The Fund is accepting applications for the Local Strategy Fund and the Global Impact Fund.

Grants are to support the work under the following focus areas:

• Education
• Poverty
• Environment

How To Apply

There are four 2024 application windows for the Local Strategy Fund. The remaining dates are:

• Application window 3 – 1 July to 30 August.
• Application window 4 – 24 September to 22 November.

Applications to the Global Impact Fund must closed at the end of February.

Applications are submitted via the online application system on the Scott Bader Website.