The Power of Pop Fund is a philanthropic initiative that supports creativity capable of driving social and environmental change. Launched with the belief that pop culture has the power to shift public understanding and inspire meaningful action, the fund focuses on projects that amplify the voices of racialised and migrant communities in the UK. By leveraging storytelling and cultural strategies, the fund aims to advance justice across areas including migration, racial equity, climate, gender, economic, and democratic issues.
Pop culture, as defined by the fund, encompasses both the content people engage with and the collective conversations that emerge around it. Examples from popular media illustrate its impact: Netflix’s Supacell increased engagement with the UK Sickle Cell Society, Channel 4’s It’s A Sin drove record HIV test orders, and BBC’s The Archers storyline led to greater awareness of domestic violence. These outcomes demonstrate how stories and cultural moments can catalyse real-world action, forming the foundation for the fund’s approach.
The Power of Pop Fund operates by pooling resources to support organisations that use cultural strategies for social change. It currently funds nine partner organisations and plans to expand to twelve, focusing on bold, experimental approaches grounded in lived experience, adaptability, patient collaboration, collective learning, and radical love. The fund’s activities include providing grants to charities and community interest companies, facilitating connections within the cultural sector, and championing authentic community leadership to ensure diverse narratives reach mainstream audiences.
What sets the fund apart is its commitment to authentic, community-centered philanthropy. Its guiding philosophy emphasizes the role of stories in shaping collective values and driving societal transformation. Through this approach, the fund nurtures a field of practice that supports equity, social justice, and environmental responsibility, while fostering a culture of learning and collaboration among its partners. The POP Foundations series will continue to explore these methods, offering insights into how the fund’s work leaves a lasting impact on communities and society at large.
