Collaboration and Pooled Funding with Farming the Future

Farming the Future is a pooled funding model launched in 2019 by the A Team Foundation and the Roddick Foundation to support the UK agroecology sector. Using participatory grant-making, it entrusts funding decisions to sector experts, known as Ambassadors, who allocate grants between £10,000 and £60,000. This collaborative approach shares risks, broadens reach, and prioritises areas often overlooked in traditional funding models.

The fund operates using sociocracy, a consent-based decision-making process, and evolves with input from stakeholders. It focuses on enabling conditions for a just transition and fostering systemic change. This case study highlights its success in creating impactful, equitable funding frameworks and offers practical advice for funders exploring similar approaches.