Will Steadman

About

Will helps funders and charities work out where their money can make the most difference, and whether it’s working.

He’s a philanthropy and grantmaking strategist with around 20 years’ experience across foundations, charities and funding programmes, and particular expertise in sustainable agriculture, food systems and nature restoration.

On our projects he leads funding strategy, Theory of Change and governance work. He reviews grant portfolios and funding models, helps charities and social enterprises sharpen their Theory of Change and governance, and tests recommendations against how trustees and foundation leaders actually make decisions. His work covers environment and farming, health, community and culture.

Will was Funding Manager at Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, where he led its nature-friendly farming work with more than 50 organisations, and then Grants Director at the Ecological Restoration Fund, a global conservation funder. Earlier he managed a £13m health grants programme at People’s Health Trust and supported emerging musicians at Help Musicians. He’s a former trustee of disability-access charity Attitude is Everything, and his Churchill Fellowship is researching how philanthropy can speed up the transition to sustainable farming.

The question running through his work is how money can change a system, not just fund activity within it.

EXPERTISE: Funding and grantmaking strategy · Theory of Change · Strategic review and funder learning · Charity governance · Food, farming and nature

QUALIFICATIONS: BA (Hons) Music and Arts Management, Middlesex University

FELLOWSHIPS: Churchill Fellow (2025)