Guidelines for Grant Applications

Please read the following guidelines carefully before submitting an application

The Freemasons' Grand Charity is the central charity of all Freemasons in England and Wales. It was formally registered in 1981 and carries on a long tradition of charitable support. This note provides guidance on the applications procedure for non-Masonic charities.

The guidelines under which grants are awarded are reviewed on an annual basis and the final decision on which projects to recommend for support is made by the Council of The Freemasons' Grand Charity.  The charities and projects supported by The Freemasons' Grand Charity are chosen because they deliver important services, complement the work of other charities or tackle issues that are less popular with other funders. 

Who is eligible for a grant?

• Grants are made only to charities
• Charities must be registered with the Charity Commission
• Charities must operate nationally throughout England and Wales

Who is not eligible for a grant?

• Individuals (other than for the relief of "poor and distressed Freemasons" and their dependants)
• Charities that serve an individual region or city, for example, a regional hospital, a local church, a day centre or a primary school
• Organisations not registered with the Charity Commission (other than some exempt charities)
• Organisations or projects outside England and Wales
• Charities that are deemed to hold funds in excess of their requirements

Regional or local charities should apply instead to the Provincial Grand Lodge of the region in which they operate. Provincial Offices are listed in telephone directories, usually under "Freemasons" or "Masons".

Guidelines for grants

The Freemasons' Grand Charity gives grants principally in the following areas:

• Vulnerable people (for example, people with disabilities or healthcare needs, older people and babies)
• Medical Research
• Youth Opportunities
• Hospices

Grants are NOT normally given for:

• Activities that are primarily the responsibility of central or local government
• Animal welfare
• The arts
• The environment
• Political objectives
• Overseas beneficiaries

Minor Grants

Core funding grants of between £500 and £5,000 are given to smaller charities whose annual income does not exceed about £1 million.

Major Grants

Grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 are made only for a designated purpose and generally to larger charities. Funding may be granted for up to three-year periods in certain circumstances where there is evidence of an on-going need for charitable grant funding.

• The average grant size is likely to be between £10,000 and £25,000
• A very few major grants of over £50,000 may be approved each year
• The purpose might be to fund a salary or to deliver a specific project
• Grants may be made for capital projects provided the application is for an identifiable element of the project

Hospice Grants

The hospice grants are made as part of a nationwide project and total approximately £500,000 each year. Hospice grant applications should be made on a separate form which is available from either the appropriate Provincial Grand Lodge, The Freemasons' Grand Charity office or to download from the Application Forms page of this website.

Medical Research Grants

Preference is given to medical research applications from charities that are members of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC). If a charity is not a member of the AMRC its research project should have been peer reviewed in accordance with the guidelines of the AMRC. We recommend that charities applying for a grant to fund medical research should read the AMRC guidance prior to submitting an application.

Grants for Religious Buildings

A small number of grants are awarded annually to religious buildings of national importance.  Typically the grant will be for no more than £5,000.  Please note that The Freemasons' Grand Charity does not accept direct approaches from applicants in this category.  Applications are only considered following the recommendation of the Provincial Grand Lodge, which must also be supporting the appeal. 

Any Provincial Grand Lodge wishing to advance an application should, in the first instance, contact The Freemasons' Grand Charity to discuss the application and obtain a copy of the Religious Buildings Application Form. 

Grant Application Procedure

To apply to The Freemasons' Grand Charity for a grant, a charity must complete the appropriate application form (major grant; minor grant; hospice grant).

All applications must be accompanied by a full copy of the charity's latest annual report and audited accounts.

Applications may be submitted to The Freemasons' Grand Charity office for the attention of the Head of Non-Masonic Grants, The Freemasons' Grand Charity, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ, at any time throughout the year.

Acknowledgement

Charities should also offer The Freemasons' Grand Charity the opportunity for its support to be recognised and acknowledged publicly.