Each year we select from a pool of environmentally conscious corporate partners to increase our match funded grants award program, and support scientific enquiry in the field. Our FAQs are available below. If you would like to be considered to be included in our grantee award program please complete the form below.

1. Purpose and scope

The purpose of this Solicitation and Grants Policy is to set out clear rules for how applications for funding of expeditions, scientific field study and research are invited, assessed and awarded by The Explorers Club in London (the “Club”).

This policy applies to all members, officers, directors, volunteers, staff, advisors, applicants (whether members or non‑members) and to all interactions with patrons, sponsors and financiers connected in any way with the Club’s activities.

2. Definitions

For the purposes of this Policy:

“Grant” means any financial award, match funding, travel support or in‑kind support made by or through the Club in support of an expedition, scientific field study or research project.

“Patron / Financier” means any individual, company, trust, foundation or other body that provides, or is approached to provide, financial or in‑kind support to the Club or to projects associated with the Club.

“Solicitation” means any request for financial or in‑kind support, whether in writing, verbally, or by electronic means, and includes approaching patrons and financiers with proposals or “pitches”.

3. Principles

All grant making by the Club must be; (a) Aligned with the Club’s aims of advancing exploration and scientific field research, (b) Transparent, fair, and non‑discriminatory as between eligible applicants, (c) Conducted with proper stewardship of donors and sponsors, and in full compliance with applicable charitable solicitation and fundraising regulations.​

4. Eligibility and types of support

The Club may invite applications from; (a) Members and fellows of the Club, (b) Other explorers, scientists and researchers whose proposed work demonstrably aligns with the Club’s objectives, subject to criteria set by the Board from time to time.

The Club may offer: (a) Direct grants, typically within the ranges and structures approved each year by the Board in light of available corporate partnerships and Club resources, (b) Match‑funded grants in partnership with environmentally conscious corporate partners and other sponsors.​

5. Invitation and submission of applications

5.1 Solicited vs unsolicited applications; (a) The Club may run open calls for proposals (unsolicited applications permitted) or invitation‑only rounds, as determined by the Board or its Grants Committee. (b) For invitation‑only rounds, only applicants expressly invited by the Club may submit; members must not circumvent this by using personal relationships with patrons or sponsors.

5.2 Application channel; (a) All applications must be submitted through the Club’s designated online application process (above), in the form prescribed by the Club from time to time. (b) Applications sent directly to individual directors, officers, staff, patrons or sponsors, other than via the prescribed channel, will not be considered and will be treated as a breach of this Policy.

6. Assessment and decision‑making

Applications will be reviewed by a Grants Committee or such other body as the Board designates, applying criteria including scientific merit, feasibility, risk management, environmental responsibility and alignment with the interests of the Clubs purpose.

No individual applicant, member or officer may unilaterally commit the Club or any patron or sponsor to funding. All awards require formal approval in accordance with the Club’s governance procedures and delegated authority schedule.

7. Access to patrons, sponsors and financiers

7.1 Controlled access; (a) All approaches to existing or prospective patrons, sponsors and financiers in the name of, or in association with, the Club must be coordinated and approved through the Board or its delegated fundraising / partnerships lead.​ (b) Members and applicants must not make direct solicitations or informal “asks” of any person or entity identified to them through the Club’s events, membership registry, online platforms or introductions, unless expressly authorised in writing by the Club.

7.2 Use of Club information; (a) Membership registries, patron lists, corporate partner details and similar information are confidential and may be used only for purposes authorised by the Club. (b) Using such information to develop private fundraising or commercial opportunities without prior written approval is strictly prohibited and may result in disciplinary action, termination of membership and/or legal action.

8. Misuse of position and conflict of interest

Members, officers and staff must not use their position, access or influence within the Club to divert, re‑route or “side‑door” funding opportunities from patrons, sponsors or financiers to themselves or to external ventures, whether or not those ventures relate to exploration or science.

Any personal, financial or other interest in a project, applicant or potential funder must be disclosed in advance to the Chair of the Board or Grants Committee, and the conflicted individual must recuse themselves from all related decisions and discussions.

9. Prohibited conduct

The following are examples of conduct prohibited under this policy (non‑exhaustive): (a) Directly pitching an expedition or research project to a Club patron or sponsor without written Club authorisation, whether during Club events or privately, where the introduction arose through the Club. (b) Suggesting to patrons, sponsors or financiers that normal application or governance procedures can be bypassed or expedited in exchange for personal benefit, influence or informal arrangements. (c) Representing or implying that an individual member can commit the Club or its partners to funding, branding, access, benefits or endorsements.

10. Donor and regulatory compliance

All solicitations made on behalf of the Club must comply with applicable charitable solicitation laws and any registration, reporting or disclosure obligations that arise from seeking or receiving funds.

Communications with patrons, sponsors and financiers must be honest and not misleading, and must clearly distinguish between Club‑led grant programmes and any independent projects not sponsored by the Club.

11. Sanctions and remedies

Breach of this policy by a member may result in disciplinary measures up to and including suspension or termination of membership, removal from office, withdrawal of grants and exclusion from Club events.

Where a breach involves misuse of confidential information, misrepresentation or unlawful solicitation, the Club reserves the right to pursue legal remedies and to notify affected patrons, sponsors, regulators or partner organisations.

12. Reporting concerns

Any person who becomes aware of an actual or suspected breach of this Policy should report it promptly to the Club Secretary or Chair of the Board, using the whistleblowing or complaints mechanism of the Club.

The Club will treat such reports seriously and, where appropriate, investigate and take proportionate action, while seeking to protect individuals who raise concerns in good faith from retaliation.

13. Review and governance

This Policy is approved by the Board of The Explorers Club (London) Ltd and will be reviewed at least every two years, or sooner if there are significant changes in fundraising practice, regulation or the Club’s grant‑making programmes.

Operational procedures, guidance for applicants and member‑facing summaries may be issued under this Policy, provided they remain consistent with the principles and rules set out above.​