Equity and Justice Infrastructure Mapping

Equity & Justice Infrastructure Organisations (EJIOs) are the scaffolding behind movements for change. They build capacity, connect networks, share knowledge, and advocate for systemic transformation on behalf of equity-focused, grassroots organisations. When well supported, EJIOs act as force multipliers — strengthening communities, amplifying underrepresented voices, and sustaining progress long after moments of crisis.

Yet despite their vital role, these organisations remain underfunded and often less invisible in traditional funding landscapes. In 2024, London Funders brought together funders and infrastructure organisations to understand how we can better support the “infrastructure behind the infrastructure” — the EJIOs that enable equalities-led organisations to thrive.

Our research brought together financial grants data alongside data from 42 in-depth interviews with funders, EJIOs, and equalities organisations and two national surveys, involving over 100 infrastructure and frontline organisations

This work helps to provide a systematic mapping of funding for equity and justice infrastructure in the UK and for funders to understand how we can best invest in this support into the future.

What We Found

We found there has been a real-terms decline of 9% in funding revealing a sector stretched thin despite growing demand. Participants told us that EJIOs:

• Strengthen governance and internal systems
• Build income generation and strategic planning capacity
• Amplify community voices in policy spaces
• Bridge the gap between grassroots groups and funders through deep community trust

However, most funders recognised a gap between valuing EJIOs and actively investing in them. Lack of awareness, limited collaboration, and perceived risk are holding back strategic funding — even though research shows an impressive return on investment, with up to £9.20 of social value generated per £1 invested.

At a time of deepening inequality and rising threats to equity and justice, EJIOs are essential. Without them, grassroots organisations risk isolation, burnout, and reduced capacity to drive change.

Our research explores perspectives on infrastructure and highlights why it is strategic necessity for a more equitable, resilient civil society. Our research highlights practical steps for funders who want to strengthen equity and justice infrastructure, including through greater funder collaboration, funding approaches which reflect the long-term, systemic nature of work done by infrastructure organisations, and considering how investing directly in EJIOs can help achieve ambitions of 'funder plus' programmes.

We invite you to explore some of the ways we are sharing our findings:

• Read the accompanying blog
• Download our summary report
• View the research as a visual graphic - with thanks to artist Tamara-Jade Kaz
• Explore the data in our microsite
• Read the literature review conducted as part of the research
• Explore more detail in the research paper

We are grateful to the support of the funders and members of the advisory group for this project - you can read more about them in the summary report.