Charity Pot Grants

Funding Guidelines and Application

Through the sales of Charity Pot Hand And Body Lotion, we distribute 100 percent of the purchase price (minus the taxes) as grants to small grassroots organizations working in the areas of human rights, animal protection and the environment. We fund projects in North America and around the world that address the root cause of issues and create long-term systemic change.

Human rights

We support groups standing for the rights, visibility and equality of all people worldwide and for the defense of those most vulnerable.

Animal protection

We recognize animals as sentient beings, deserving of care and protection, who should not be subjected to cruelty or exploitation for human gain.

The environment

We partner with those who are regenerating and rewilding ecosystems; defending the rights of nature; and standing up for a healthy, sustainable environment for future generations.

How to apply

Applications are submitted via our online grants system. We ask about your organization’s purpose, main activities, governance structure and annual revenue. Additionally, a description of the project that you’re seeking funding for is requested—along with an itemized budget, timeline and how the project’s success will be measured.

Most grants issued range from $3,000 to a maximum of $15,000. You are invited to apply for what you need, however it is rare to receive the maximum amount. Funding decisions are made democratically through review panels. Together, panelists decide if a proposal is to be approved, and if the grant will be issued at the full amount requested or a partial amount.

Please read our funding guidelines below before applying for a grant to ensure your organization meets our requirements.

Apply Here

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Grantmaking Approach

We want to progress the way traditional philanthropy is done by being responsive to the needs of grassroots groups and organizations. Offering space in our shops for outreach events, giving visibility to movements, and connecting organizations with our staff and customers are examples of how we go beyond financial contributions.

We believe in relationship-based philanthropy and allow for flexible funding within a vetted project. Meaning we will build a connection with a group, determine if they are conducting projects or actions that align with our values and fit our funding guidelines, then agree on a project that makes the most sense for Lush to fund. We trust groups to ask for what they need and spend the funding to best move their projects forward. We do, however, have a few ethical parameters that prevent us from including select items, detailed in our funding guidelines.

We use the word partner when referring to our grantees because of our relationship-based funding practice and wish to remove the transactional feel of traditional corporate giving. We in no way expect our partners to do anything for us in return and they are not obligated to provide content for our benefit. Rather, we are partners in solidarity and advancing movements for change.

Organizations can apply for any grant amount up to a maximum of $15,000. The sales of Charity Pot Hand And Body Lotion determine the amount of funds available for monthly allocation, therefore we cannot commit to multi-year funding. We are happy to discuss the possibility of a subsequent grant after the completion of a group's one-year grant term, which includes a short report-back.

To shift the power dynamic and ensure democracy in decision making, we have implemented review panels for nearly all Charity Pot-funded grants. This participatory approach is increasing accountability, transparency and inclusion in grant making. Panelists contribute their lived and learned knowledge and experience to ensure grants will be disbursed to where they will have the greatest impact towards creating systemic change.

Acknowledging Indigenous communities’ relationships with animals

We recognize the relationships Indigenous people have with animals is inherent in cultural identity, practices and traditions, and has been damaged through colonization. Although Lush advocates against animal cruelty and use for human gain, we do not equate Indigenous practices with exploitation, and respect original peoples' relations with animals in cultural preservation and teachings.

Funding Guidelines

What types of groups does Lush fund?

We look for projects that create long-term systemic change, addressing the root cause of the problem, and aim to challenge mainstream opinion and behavior through raising awareness of issues. This can include activism, campaigning and holding governments accountable, as well as the implementation of rights, regeneration or rewilding projects. Grants can be awarded to registered or unregistered organizations/charities, non-profits, or Indigenous and community groups with an annual revenue of $500,000 or less.

We acknowledge that regenerative paradigms, principles, and processes can be applied not just in land-based practices like plant-based farming and agriculture, but in other spaces such as climate adaptation, socially-regenerative programs, training, governance, and more.

• We support non-violent direct action because we feel it plays an important part in bringing about social change. Non-violent direct action includes protests, demonstrations and other non-violent interventions.

• We believe we can make the most impact by funding causes that are often overlooked and underfunded.

• We look for initiatives that are far reaching.

• We look for projects that promote and implement viable, fair, and sustainable solutions.

• We support organizations who are making the effort to be environmentally responsible (when accessible).

• We believe in grassroots-led solutions, so we support community-led decision making.

• We encourage applicants to explain how they are integrating rewilding and/or regeneration work into the community. For example, how the project was co-designed with local people, or if the work takes place on private or publicly accessible land.

• Our international grants fund grassroots organizations where decision-making is held by local leaders. Organizations based in North America/Turtle Island but working internationally will need to demonstrate how local knowledge and expertise are part of the decision making process and how local people implement projects.

What groups are Lush unable to support?

We’re passionate about our values and want to be sure the organizations we support match our ethics. As a result, our Charity Pot funding does not provide grants to those that:

• Promote or support violence, aggression, prejudice, oppression, or any infringement on human rights.

• Influence others to change or adopt their religious beliefs, or exclude others based on religious practice.

• Are involved in cruelty or subjugation of animals, testing on animals for research or using animals for human gain—including the use of animals in entertainment, animal husbandry, therapy, or regeneration and rewilding projects.

• Are not making the effort to be environmentally responsible.

• Are connected to political parties, specific endorsements, political rallies or otherwise partisan in their work.

• Are government subsidiaries at any level.

• Are schools, university programs, sponsored walks/runs/sporting events or fundraising initiatives.

• Are social enterprises. We cannot fund any group designed with a for-profit model.

• Operate under a chapter system. This includes organizations that share a recognized name with a global or national network but function under their own leadership and separate budgets.

Additional proposal considerations

We do, however, limit the amount of support we give to staff salaries (preferred not to exceed 50% of the total grant). Compensation through honorariums, stipends, facilitator or contract work is outsourcing of services, which are not considered salaries and can be submitted for funding.

• We can issue grants to small organizations working with fiscal sponsors that exceed our $500,000 annual revenue limit but otherwise fit our guidelines.

• We can fund convenings, trainings and meetings, however we do not provide individual or group costs to attend (with the exceptions of Indigenous Elder and Leader attendance). We are happy to consider campaigns and actions that result from such convenings.

• We can only fund vegan or vegetarian food items.

• We cannot fund domestic or international flights.

• We cannot fund scholarships, event sponsorships, or bail.

• We cannot fund groups that require grant remittance to a personal bank account. Funds must be issued to an account officially associated with an organization.

How long do application decisions take?

You will be notified about the status of your application within three months. To advance transparency, democracy and inclusion in our grant making, we currently review applications via panels for each of our issue areas—human rights, animal welfare and the environment. The final approval decision for grants averages one additional month. If your application is approved, payment remittance can take between three to four weeks.

What are the next steps if your application is approved?

If your application is approved, you’ll receive an email from our Charity Pot team asking for the following:

• The bank account information for your organization or fiscal sponsor (please note: we can’t send funds to a personal bank account).

• To look for an email from Docusign that will contain your grant terms.

• To submit an image, logo and description of your organization for potential use on our website or in other communications—with your permission. This is optional.

Some organizations will be featured on the lids of our Charity Pot Hand And Body Lotion to increase their visibility and act as examples of the types of groups funded by Charity Pot grants. If you would prefer that your organization not be promoted in any way through Lush communication channels, you are not obligated to provide these assets.

We’ll never ask that our Charity Pot partners provide marketing or promotion of Lush. We prefer to keep the focus on the incredible work our partners are doing. If, at any time, a partner feels it would be beneficial to use our logo on a website or newsletter, we are happy to discuss this.

We’re excited about redefining the way corporations work with nonprofits and finding innovative ways to go beyond monetary donations. We’re open to new ideas and are continually evaluating the way we work with our partners.