Grant News

The Baring Foundation has announced that its Strengthening Civil Society programme will have a new main focus.

The Baring Foundation’s Strengthening Civil Society Programme supports UK civil society organisations working to protect rights and address injustice. It funds initiatives that strengthen advocacy, legal action and public accountability, particularly where vulnerable groups face discrimination or disadvantage, helping organisations influence policy, challenge harmful practices and promote fairer outcomes in society.

In future, the programme will support UK civil society organisations to use legal tools to challenge harmful corporate practices, particularly where they contribute to discrimination or disadvantage affecting vulnerable groups such as migrants, people in prison, or those in care.

Projects may use legal strategies in areas such as labour law, environmental law, competition law and modern slavery legislation. The aim is to hold companies accountable and secure fairer outcomes for affected communities.

The initiative reflects concerns that while corporate power has significant social impacts, organisations working on corporate accountability remain relatively small and under-resourced.

The funding will be provided by the Baring Foundation through its Strengthening Civil Society Programme. Further details will be announced in June 2026.