Funding transformational initiatives
Our grants fund partners to work collaboratively on brave initiatives that can contribute to systemic industry change.
We aim to work closely with our partners across the lifecycle of a grant. By strengthening relationships with them, we can better understand how to support their work, build the field and create an enabling environment.

India
India is the world’s second largest producer of cotton and first in organic cotton. Here, Laudes Foundation operates on two fronts. On farming practices we work with partners to ensure that farmers’ livelihoods are viable, crops are regenerative, and land is restored. And on production practices we work to tackle the systemic issues behind the forced and child labour that is often associated with cotton production. As in all regions, gender, equity and inclusion plays a major role in all our work in India.
Bangladesh
As one of the world's largest garment exporters, Bangladesh has been both an example of progress and a hotspot for poor working conditions. Here, Laudes Foundation is working with partners to improve working conditions of factory workers and strengthen local communities, focusing particularly on empowering women and girls.
Brazil
EvLaudes Foundation is tackling the crisis of climate change and inequality in Brazil through its partnerships with IDH and Labora: Decent Work Fund.
Europe
Europe is an important hub for the built environment and the global work in the new economy and fashion. In the built environment, Laudes Foundation is working with its partners to help create healthy, inspiring and carbon neutral spaces. In fashion and the new economy, Laudes Foundation is working with its partners to foster the transition to new business models, encouraging innovation, collaboration and original thinking.
Mexico
Until the end of 2023, Laudes Foundation will continue to manage grants that were made by C&A Foundation to improve working conditions, eradicate forced and child labour and to strengthen the communities where the factories (or maquilas) are located. A major focus of this work concerns the empowerment of women workers.
Pakistan
Pakistan is one of the world’s largest producers of cotton. Its current organic cotton production is small but its potential is large. Here, Laudes Foundation is working with partners to ensure regenerative farming practices are generative viable livelihoods for farmers.
Turkey
The garment industry is core to the Turkish economy. With the influx of Syrian refugees, the risk of exploitation and poor working conditions is high. Here, Laudes Foundation is working with partners to protect and empower Syrian refugees working in the apparel industry - especially women - to prevent abuses in the workplace.
Tanzania
Africa’s budding apparel industry and its growing cotton production have made Tanzania - currently the largest producer of organic cotton on the continent - a country with enormous potential. Here, Laudes Foundation is working with its partners to develop resilient farming by supporting farmer training and certification.
Indonesia
Indonesia is ranked amongst the top ten largest garment-producing countries and faces many issues with poor working conditions, especially for women workers. Here, Laudes Foundation is working with its partners to reduce non-compliance with labour laws and to empower women to negotiate for better working conditions.
What we fund
Solidar Suisse
IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative
ISEAL Alliance
China Labour Bulletin (CLB)
Repórter Brasil Organização De Comunicação E Projetos Sociais
European Coalition for Corporate Justice
Nazdeek, INC
International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR)
Frank Bold Society
Fashion Roundtable Organisation Ltd
Networks Matter
Blockforce
Sherpa
Peers for the planet
Finance Watch
Sunrise Project
Swiss Philanthropy Foundation
Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute
Carbon Tracker Initiative Limited
Influence Map
Icebreaker One Ltd
Circle Economy UA
Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis
The Ex'tax Project Foundation
The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change
The Royal Institute of International Affairs Chatham House
Follow This
Reclaim Finance
Climate Strategies
Open Apparel Registry
Global Fund for Women
International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific
Breakthrough
World Green Building Council
European Environmental Citizens' Organisation for Standardisation (ECOS)
The Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE)
Ramboll Denmark
Green Finance Institute Ltd
Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC)
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB)
Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA) - Game Changers Fund
The Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the University of Cambridge
Climate-KIC
Timber Accelerator Hub
Bauhaus der Erde
World Resources Institute
World Resources Institute
Trade Union Rights Centre
Rede de Desenvolvimento Humano (Redeh)
Pesticide Action Network, UK
Partners in Change
Institute for Sustainable Communities
Institute for Future-Fit Economies
European Climate Foundation
Diaconia
Council on Economic Policies
Follow This
Social Accountability International, Inc.
Jan Sahas
IDH The Sustainable Trade Initiative
Aga Khan Foundation
Freedom Fund
Rutgers Law School, Center for Corporate Law and Governance
Waste and Resources Action Plan
Ocean Wise Conservation Association
Healthy Building Network
Fauna & Flora International
Centre for Responsible Business
GoBlu
FASE - Federação de Órgãos para Assistência Social e Educacional (MT)
Dignificando el Trabajo AC
Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc.
World Green Building Council
Rede de Desenvolvimento Humano (Redeh)
Global Fund for Women
Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
BSR
Diaconia
European Environmental Bureau
Action for Social Advancement
New Economics Foundation
Refugee Support Center (RSC)
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH
Wood Mackenzie Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
World Wide Fund for Nature - Pakistan
Fundacion Avina
Better Cotton Initiative
World Wide Fund for Nature, India
Terre des hommes Deutschland e.V.
Terre des hommes Deutschland e.V.
Organic Cotton Accelerator
Solidaridad Regional Expertise Centre (SREC)
Social Awareness and Voluntary Education
Social Awareness and Voluntary Education
Save the Children India
Partners in Change
OnionDev Technologies Pvt Ltd
Nazdeek, INC
Intellecap Advisory Services Pvt Limited
GoodWeave
Freedom Fund
Foundation for Educational Innovations in Asia
Anti-Slavery International
American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences
American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences
Aga Khan Foundation
Action for Social Advancement
Organic Cotton Accelerator
Investor Watch
Forum for the Future
EON Group Holdings Inc
Doughnut Economics Action Lab
Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
Council on Economic Policies
Biomimicry Institute
University College London
Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose
Issara Institute
Solidarity Center
Global Labour Justice
Global Labour Justice
Solidar Suisse
FASE - Federação de Órgãos para Assistência Social e Educacional (MT)
UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Solidarity Center
SENAI CETIQT
Repórter Brasil Organização De Comunicação E Projetos Sociais
Pia Sociedade Dos Missionarios - Missão Paz
INSTITUTO PHI PHILANTROPIA INT
Inpacto - National Pact Institute for the Eradication of Slave Labor
Instituto Ethos De Empresas E Responsabilidade Social
Instituto Campanha Nacional pelo Direito à Educação
Fundo Brasil de Direitos Humanos
Fundo Ângela Borba de Recursos para Mulheres
Fundacion Solidaridad Latinoamerica
FICAS - International Social Environmental Fund
FASE - Federação de Órgãos para Assistência Social e Educacional (MT)
FASE - Federação de Órgãos para Assistência Social e Educacional (MT)
Ethos/DIEESE/Reporter Brasil
ESPLAR - Research and Assessment Centre
Diaconia
CDHIC - Center for Human Rights and Immigrant Citizenship
CAMI - Migrant Support and Pastoral Centre
Associação Franciscana De Solidariedade - Sefras
Associação Direitos Humanos em Rede - CONECTAS
International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF)
Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation (OSHE foundation)
Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST)
Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity (BCWS)
Bangladesh Apparel Exchange Ltd
Intellecap Advisory Services Ltd
Better Cotton Initiative
Utrecht University
BSR
European Venture Philanthropy Association
Associação Franciscana De Solidariedade - Sefras
Reporter Brasil
Redeh - Human Development Network
Instituto Ecoar Para A Cidadania
Solidarity Center
Redeh - Human Development Network
Fashion Revolution Brasil
Instituto Ecoar Para A Cidadania
Instituto Ecoar Para A Cidadania
Fibra Design Sustentável ME
FGV - DIREITO SP
FASE
FASE - Federação de Órgãos para Assistência Social e Educacional (MT)
Alain Schraner- Modefica
Shimmy Technologies, Inc.
In general, we do not accept unsolicited proposals. If you have an initiative that is in alignment with our theory of change, please fill out our contact form. Our team reviews all grant requests regularly and if there's a fit with the work of the foundation, we will be in touch.
Once you have spoken with a team member you will be asked to prepare a summary of your initiative. This gives us a good initial understanding of how your initiative fits with our strategy. If we decide there is a good fit, you’ll be invited to submit either a proposal light (for funding requests below EUR 100k) or a full proposal (for all requests of EUR 100k and more).
Every proposal we receive is sent to one of our programme managers. It's their job to begin the due diligence process and they'll look at whether your initiative and our programme objectives complement each other, while considering your organisation's capacity to deliver. Our partner assessment process also includes a risk assessment and background screening for new partners.
We have different approval processes depending on the grant amount requested:
- Applications for funding below EUR 500k are approved by Laudes Foundation’s management team and for proposals between EUR 250- 500k, we also consult two external experts.
- All funding requests for EUR 500k or more require the approval of our Investment Committee, which meets four times a year.
Once your proposal light or proposal is approved, we'll create a legally binding contract between your organisation and Laudes Foundation. This will include intended results, evaluative criteria and evidence, reporting deliverables, and a payment schedule.
We appreciate that applying for grants takes a lot of time and energy, and we aim to make our process as constructive and efficient as possible.
Proposal Light
If you're applying for a grant of less than EUR 100,000, you need to fill out a proposal light.
Please don't submit a proposal light until you have contacted us.
Proposal
If you are applying for a grant of more than EUR 100,000, then - after speaking to a programme manager - you will need to submit a proposal with a detailed description of your initiative.
The document includes an activity-based budget (please, find an optional budget template to download below), a Gantt chart and rubrics framework. In our rubrics section, we describe the specific interventions within the system we focus on to maximise our contribution. Rubrics are an important tool to help us measure and learn with our partners, as we collectively seek to contribute positive changes within a complex and changing economic system.
We would encourage you to discuss this part of the proposal template with the programme manager before beginning your submission.
The programme manager will provide feedback on your first draft of the proposal, including input from the Effective Philanthropy team on the rubrics framework.
View the Laudes Foundation rubrics here.
Templates & documents
Requirements and guidelines:
Answers to most questions
What is Laudes Foundation responding to?
Laudes Foundation was created to respond to the convergence of two global crises - inequality and climate breakdown - whose solutions require new levels of bravery and ambition globally. The global economic system’s relentless pursuit of growth and returns have brought the world to a tipping point. Humanity must change course. And we have the means to do so
What is the relationship between Laudes Foundation and C&A Foundation?
As C&A Foundation celebrated its 5th anniversary of making fashion a force for good, the team took the opportunity to evaluate its work and the changes in the industry and in the world over the past years. They realised that fashion’s issues were much bigger than the industry alone. The issues are systemic. So, they took a bold decision to launch Laudes Foundation to build on the industry-changing work of C&A Foundation in the fashion industry, but also take this approach and apply it to new industries – starting with the built environment. And importantly, to begin working to influence capital so that investments encourage good business practices. Thus, C&A Foundation’s work became the fashion programme of Laudes Foundation and the brand was retired.
How does Laudes Foundation work across its programmes?
We have two industry verticals: Fashion and the Built Environment. And we have one cross-cutting programme, Finance and Capital Market Transformation, that works across our industry verticals. This area will work with financial actors as well as with the industry actors to foster a shift in the global financial system. It will also influence investments in fashion and the built environment, to explore how finance can be used to encourage or foster innovation and good business practice.
What does the name mean?
Laudes (pronounced Lah-oo-des) Laudes is derived from the Latin word for 'praise’. It alludes to the Canticle of the Sun (Laudes Creaturarum), a song that celebrates all of creation as one family, and refers to the 2015 papal encyclical, Laudato si': On Care for Our Common Home. The encyclical presents the current interconnected social and environmental crises as the result of the pursuit of limitless growth. It calls us all to enter into debate, seek new ways of understanding progress, and invites the world of business to play a unique role. Touching on the shared Catholic heritage of the Brenninkmeijer family entrepreneurs, Laudes reveals both inspiration and purpose: to move towards the vision set out in Laudato si'. At the same time, Laudes is an invitation to draw our own inspirations and traditions, believe that change is possible, and join together to build a just and regenerative economy.
In what geographies does Laudes Foundation work in?
The organisation is global in nature, with offices in the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, India, Brazil, Hong Kong and Bangladesh. Our Finance and Capital Markets Transformation programme operates globally, while our work in the Built Environment focuses on Europe and the UK, and Fashion works within the most relevant apparel producing countries in South and South-East Asia and Brazil.
Is Laudes Foundation a Catholic organisation?
Laudes Foundation is not a Catholic organisation. The name is a reflection of the heritage and inspiration of the Brenninkmeijer family.