Power and Accountability
Forecasted
Power and Accountability supports people and civil society working on corporate accountability, democracy and responsible media to share power more equally and hold powerful institutions to account.
Funder: Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2027 (Round one registration) | March 2027 (Round one application) | July 2027 (Round two EOI) | August 2027 (Round two registration) | September 2027 (Round two application)
Funding Amounts: £2.6 million programme budget in 2026
Summary: Supports systemic change in corporate accountability, democratic accountability and responsible media to share power more equally.
Key Information: Research is eligible only when directly connected to policy and campaigning work aligned with programme priorities.
Description
Power and Accountability is a programme of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT), rooted in Quaker commitments to equality. It supports people and civil society working to share power more equally and make powerful institutions accountable to wider society and the long-term public interest. It welcomes scrutiny of inequality, injustice and abuses of power, including systemic racism and corruption.
The programme funds corporate accountability, democratic accountability and responsible media. Its interests include corporate governance and regulation, access to justice, transparent business–government relationships, public participation in policymaking, representative institutions and resilient democratic infrastructure. Media work can address accuracy, misinformation, accountability and community journalism infrastructure. Across these priorities, JRCT is interested in accountability challenges arising from digital platforms, data-driven systems and artificial intelligence.
