Aims/priorities:
The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) offers grants to local and national charities in England and Wales as part of its work to help thousands of disadvantaged and vulnerable people to live happy, fulfilling lives and participate actively in society. Over the last 40 years, the MCF has provided more than £130 million to charities. The MCF’s work is funded solely through the donations of Freemasons under the United Grand Lodge of England, their families and friends.
Based on conducted surveys which indicate which areas Freemason care most about, the MCF has set out new target areas for its grant-making programme:
- Creating the best start in life for disadvantaged children and young people.
- Reducing isolation in later life.
- Medical research into degenerative disease.
- Care services in the hospice sector.
The Early Years Opportunities Grants programme offers both small and large grants to registered charities in England and Wales to create the best start in life for disadvantaged children and young people.
Depending on their annual income level, charities can apply for either a:
- Large grant, which is for projects and can be used for salary costs, activities, materials, etc., or
- Small grant, which is for general running and/or overhead costs of the charity – core funding.
Who can apply?
Charities registered with the Charity Commission and whose beneficiaries are in England and Wales can apply:
- Charities with an income of less than £500,000 can apply for a small grant.
- Charities with an income exceeding £500,000 can apply for a large grant.
Charities must have at least one year of independently examined or audited accounts published on the Charity Commission website for the registered charity number they are applying from.
Grant amount:
There are two funding levels:
- Large grants start at £10,000 are available to charities with an income exceeding £500,000. The average large grant will range from £20,000 to £60,000 in total.
- Small grants of between £1,000 and £15,000 are available to charities with an income of under £500,000.
All grants can be over one, two, or three years.
Grant amounts should not exceed 15% of the total income of the applicant charity.
Charities can only apply for one grant programme at a time.
Application process:
The Trust has changed from an application deadline system to a rolling grants programme. The following timescales apply:
Small Grants
- Applicants can expect to find out whether their initial enquiry was successful within two to three weeks.
- Final decisions can be expected within two to three months of submitting a full application.
Large Grants
- Applicants can expect to find out whether their initial enquiry was successful within three to four weeks.
- Final decisions can be expected within three to four months of submitting a full application.
This announcement relates to grants to charities in the Trust’s two main programme areas:
- Creating the best start in life for disadvantaged children and young people
- Reducing isolation and loneliness for older people.
Applications will only be accepted via the Trust’s website electronically.
Deadline: This is a rolling programme.
Contact information:
Tel: 020 3146 3337
Email: charitygrants@mcf.org.uk
Website: https://mcf.org.uk/get-support/grants-to-charities/