Q&A with the EA Foundation: supporting the most underserved communities

The Emergency Fund is a funding circle of like-minded donors aimed at helping UNHCR to prepare for the unpredictable, kick-start an emergency response and bolster forgotten crises. We sat down with Richard Bronze to learn more about the EA Foundation’s journey in philanthropy and their support for UK for UNHCR. 

© Richard Bronze

Could you tell us a bit about yourself and the EA Foundation? 

I am Richard Bronze, one of the co-founders of the EA Foundation. I started out working in the civil service and in 2012 I left to co-found the company Energy Aspects, a research organisation focused on energy markets. 

Myself and the other co-founders of Energy Aspects have always been passionate about supporting charitable projects. Initially, we supported charities as individuals, with overlap in the areas we were supporting, and as our business grew, we saw an opportunity to coordinate that giving. We wanted to do it in a way that could be more impactful and purposeful over time. We were also keen to find a way for our team in the company to have more visibility and understanding of the projects being supported. This led to us starting the EA Foundation in 2020. 

What inspired you to take the step into philanthropy? 

I have had a longstanding interest in charity work, starting from my school days. My volunteering experiences and internship with Peace Direct, a conflict resolution charity, left a lasting impression. I appreciate how charities step in to address gaps that public services may not always cover. 

When I transitioned into the civil service, my focus shifted to education policy. This provided me with a fresh perspective. While recognising the system’s strengths, I also acknowledged that some families’ and children’s needs might remain unmet. Over time, I discovered remarkable organisations making a significant impact in this field. Supporting these organisations and facilitating their greater influence is my primary motivation. 

I have had a longstanding interest in charity work, starting from my school days. My volunteering experiences and internship with Peace Direct, a conflict resolution charity, left a lasting impression.

What made you choose to support UK for UNHCR so generously and in particular, what was it about the Emergency Fund that drew your attention? 

Our organisation has been operational for several years, disbursing grants. Over time, our strategies and priorities have evolved, becoming more targeted. We focus on four thematic funding areas: Education, Basic Services, Poverty Relief and Environmental Sustainability. Additionally, we established a fifth pillar for Emergency Relief. This flexibility allows us to respond swiftly to crises and provide immediate support. 

Our five broad pillars have gradually become more focused as we refine our impact areas. One key criteria is underserved communities, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups within those communities. Unfortunately, refugees and internally displaced people often fall into these categories. Their needs intersect with other challenges related to their displacement and the reasons behind it. 

The Emergency Fund resonated with us because it provides rapid responses during emergencies and enables us to support underserved groups. It aligns with the EA Foundation’s goals and complements our existing portfolio of projects. Contributing to this innovative giving model brings us great satisfaction. 

Do you have any advice for those looking to start their own philanthropic journey and what sort of trends are you seeing in philanthropy space at the moment? 

The best advice is to deliberately define your goals and choose the appropriate structure to achieve them. Open communication is crucial – letting organisations that align with us know we exist, while also preventing those we wouldn’t support from investing time in applications we won’t pursue. As funders, we bear the responsibility of being transparent about our funding criteria to streamline the matching process and avoid unnecessary time and effort. 

As a young organisation, we recognize the immense financial pressure faced by charitable entities globally. Our focus spans both international and UK-based charities, and we’re actively involved in grant-making discussions. Striking a balance between positive impact and effective navigation is an ongoing learning process. We engage in debates about where grant-making power should reside and how to avoid exerting undue influence as a funding organisation without necessarily possessing the expertise. This introspective journey helps us determine how best to navigate and organize ourselves. Our goal is to contribute positively while ensuring efficiency in our approach. 

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UK for UNHCR is enormously grateful for the EA Foundation’s extraordinary support for UNHCR’s emergency work and for their continued support for displaced and marginalised communities across the globe. If you want to learn more about the Emergency Fund and how you can get involved, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at [email protected]

To learn more about the EA Foundation, please visit this website.  

Explore our philanthropic partnerships here.