About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
International projects
We support work that improves the quality, sustainability, and access to education for young people up to the age of 25 within marginalised and deprived communities worldwide.
We will fund between £30,000 to £60,000 per project (maximum £30,000 per year for multi year projects) for projects which:
Improve access to education – Including increasing the number of educational opportunities, especially for girls, (including construction of classrooms or latrines), increasing the number of qualified teachers trained in inclusive, non-discriminatory practices and improving community attitudes to educating children who are often excluded or overlooked.
Improve the quality of education – Including enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, improving access to extra-curricular support, increasing child friendly resources, and increasing access to aspirational vocational training opportunities including STEM, IT and the green economy.
Improve the sustainability of education projects – Including encouraging educational projects with integrated community management or ownership, self-generating income and minimising their environmental impact.
UK projects
We support work that reduces the disadvantage of care experienced young people through education and training.
We will fund between £30,000 to £90,000 per project (maximum £30,000 per year for multi year projects) for projects which support care experienced young people (under the age of 25 and living in the UK), including unaccompanied young refugees, to achieve any of the following:
Improve attendance, engagement and attainment in school, alternative education or further education.
Access and successfully complete higher education.
Improve employability through training outside of the formal education system.
What we will fund:
New or pilot projects, or projects which have started in the past 12 months.
Funding is available for one to three years.
We will fund between 25% to 100% of total project costs, but will give preference to projects with some degree of matched funding.
Annual grant payments cannot exceed 50% of an organisation’s three-year average income.
We will fund overhead contributions up to 20% of the total grant.
Who can apply:
International projects – UK registered charities with an income normally between £100,000 and £1.5 million
UK projects – UK registered charities with an income normally between £100,000 and £2.5 million
Charities must have at least three years of continuous accounts submitted to the relevant UK Charity Commission or Regulator.
Charities must be financially sound and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
Organisations should be directly involved in the provision of the project activities. We do not fund organisations whose primary purpose is fundraising.
Organisations must be committed to minimising their impact on the environment and be able to evidence how they have considered climate change adaptation and / or mitigation in their projects.
Organisations must have their own safeguarding procedures that comply with the relevant Charity Commission guidance as a minimum, and include any additional legal or regulatory requirements specific to their work.
Educational Opportunity Foundation does not fund:
Long term projects; services which are available through the state education system; summer camps; bursaries, school fees or scholarships; expeditions, volunteering trips and conferences; international travel; projects where uniforms, transport or running costs are the main expense. In the UK, we will not fund projects which are not designed specifically for the needs of care experienced young people.
Application deadlines
International projects:
Note: We have amended the eligibility for international applications and from 2026 will only be accepting applications from UK registered charities with an income of between £100,000 and £1.5 million.
January 2026 Grants Committee (applications closed)
July 2026 Grants Committee (applications closed)
Applications open: 23 March 2026
Stage 1 application deadline: 20 April 2026
Grants Committee date: 15 July 2026
21 October 2026 Grants Committee
Applications open: 25 May 2026
Stage 1 application deadline: 22 June 2026
Grants Committee date: 21 October 2026
How to apply