ABC Trust is dedicated to helping the most vulnerable children and young people of Brazil. We do this by working with partner organisations based in Brazil and offer three kinds of support: direct grants; capacity-building; and leveraging our network to introduce new donors or strategic partners.

two main programmes

We have two main programmes of work – both of which recognize that it is important to develop new skills, the self-confidence and the sense of different possibilities in life which together contribute to transforming a young person's future.

• Working through the arts – especially music, film, dance, and theatre
• Providing opportunities for education and vocational training

We understand the fundamental importance in many cases of simply meeting basic needs – providing shelter, food and care. Indeed a significant proportion of our funding over the least ten years has provided support in this way. We are, therefore, keen to ensure this area of need is not neglected and will seek to support projects who can demonstrate that they take an integrated approach to the range of needs of vulnerable children and young people.

level of impact

We adopt a 'portfolio approach' in selecting our partners. We support a range of projects that between them tackle short and long term issues, which address both symptoms and causes, and which might work at the level of the individual, family, community and/or lobby for change in provision of services or to bring about lasting change on a more systemic level.

criteria by which we assess potential projects and partners

1. Mission – a clear definition of the issue to be tackled and why
2. Strategy/Approach – more detail about the issue(s) identified, including scale, and the proposed overall approach including any plans to work with others, the potential for growth and how this could be sustained and/or replicated
3. Activities proposed – showing clear links between activities proposed and stated objectives along with a strong rationale for the choices made
   
4. Results expected – a clear statement of results expected, what evidence will be sought and how it will be collected to demonstrate these results. These should include quantitative as well as qualitative results and direct and indirect beneficiaries
5. Organisational capacity – who is involved with the organisation – including their skills and experience, the organisational structure and how decisions are made, and how feedback is generated and how it is used to learn and improve operations
6. Funding/Support – what funding or other kinds of support currently exists and what funding or additional support is sought and for what purpose

types of grants considered

• 2-3 year strategic grants, with option for renewal for a further 1-3 years; typical grants of £20-30 000 over 3 years – with additional benefits from ABC: strategic support in capacity-building and introduction of other donors and strategic partners
• One-off grants – normally piloting something new or starting a new partnership – max. £5 000
• In both cases we will consider proposals for specific project costs and/or core funding

what we will not fund?

• Emergency grants (outside of our current partners)
• Projects promoting religious beliefs which lead to discrimination or exclusion in delivery of services
• Existing budget deficits

making a request for support

Please write to us at: info@abctrust.org.uk and briefly address the criteria shown above (in no more than 2-4 pages, please). If we believe there is potential for us to work together we will then contact you directly to take the next steps.