CIPS Foundation awards grants to UK registered charities (registered with the Charity Commission) to support projects or initiatives that help to improve supply chains or develop new ones, eradicate poor practices within supply chains, develop best practice or support individuals within the chain to access better information and support.

We want to support with the funding of projects and initiatives where issues have been identified and projects are ready to be implemented in response to these problems. We are seeking to fund established charities that are skilled and knowledgeable in tackling issues affecting communities in the UK and/or worldwide. We will consider projects in any location but are particularly interested in supporting initiatives in the UK, Africa and the Middle East.

All funding requests must be submitted in a single Word document, sent by email to foundation@cips.org If you consider applying to the CIPS Foundation, you should ensure that your proposal is closely aligned with our Funding Priorities.

There are some exclusions to our funding. Here are some examples of what can’t be funded:

• Organisations that are not UK registered charities.
• Privately owned and profit-distributing companies or limited partnerships.
• Public bodies to carry out their statutory obligations.
• Applications that will benefit only one person, including scholarships or bursaries. Contributions to general charity appeals.
• Religious activity which is not for wider public benefit. Activities that have already taken place.
• Any activities that are focused on political advocacy or policy change.
• Research projects.

Our funding priorities cover both project outputs and project outcomes.

Project Outputs

• Improving production and distribution of commodity and services.
• Assisting factors in supply chains: people, entities, information and resources.
• Developing elements of supply chains: producers, vendors, warehouses, transportation, distribution and retail.
• Refining the stages of supply chains: product development, marketing, operations, distribution, finance and customer service; and the efficiency and effectiveness of supporting supply chain/sub-contracting arrangements.
• Addressing ethical or sustainable issues within the supply chain: (all of the outcomes identified above).

Project Outcomes

• Eradication of bribery and corruption.
• Upheld Human Rights and abolition of modern slavery, including fair working contracts and conditions and health & safety considerations.
• Improved ethical practices, including treating suppliers fairly, being legally compliant and having transparency in processes and decisions.
• Developed sustainable practices, including robust operating models, policies and ways of working, underpinning longer-term strategic relationships and outcomes (e.g. considers total cost of ownership, whole life costs, cost of quality, future proofing/enabling innovation, supply chain efficiencies/effectiveness).
• Social outcomes, including tackling poverty, underpinning equality and inclusion and delivering wider community benefits.
• Ecological outcomes, including supporting climate action and a more circular economy.

To be eligible to apply for a CIPS Foundation Not for Profit Bursary, you must:

• Be working for a UK-registered not for profit organisation.
• Be an individual working in the area of procurement and supply.
• Have 2 A-levels or equivalent qualifications or 2 years’ experience in a procurement-related role.
• Be able to attend the workshops for the programme which will be run on UK GMT time zone.