Up to £60,000 for Charities Supporting Vulnerable Children and Young People – Freemasons' Charity

The Freemasons' Charity, formerly known as the Masonic Charitable Foundation, is offering grants of up to £60,000 to registered charities supporting disadvantaged children and young people.

The programme provides financial support to organisations working in three priority areas: early years, domestic abuse, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Two funding options are available, including unrestricted grants for smaller charities and project-specific funding for larger organisations.

Applications are currently open, with no fixed deadline.

Here's what you can expect:

• Small grants of £1,000–£5,000 per year, for up to three years

• Large grants of £10,000–£60,000 in total, usually over one to three years

• Unrestricted funding for eligible smaller charities

• Project funding for larger registered charities

• Support for children experiencing poverty, disadvantage or domestic abuse

• Funding for children and young people with SEND

• Eligible project costs including salaries, equipment, training and administration

• Rolling applications throughout the year

What projects can be funded?

1. Early Years (Ages 0–5)

Support for charities improving outcomes for young children, particularly those experiencing disadvantage, poverty or neglect.

2. Children Affected by Domestic Abuse

Funding for organisations supporting children and young people aged 0–18 who have experienced or been affected by domestic abuse.

Projects may also provide support to families and carers where the ultimate beneficiaries are children.

3. Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Support for charities working with children and young people with SEND, up to the age of 25.

Projects should demonstrate how their activities improve opportunities, wellbeing or outcomes for the intended beneficiaries.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants must:

• Be a registered charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales or the relevant registry in Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

• Support beneficiaries in England, Wales, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

• Have at least one year of independently examined or audited published accounts.

• Have an annual income between £25,000 and £5 million.

• Work within one of the programme's three priority areas.

• Have their own charity bank account.

• Meet the funder's previous application and grant requirements.

Community interest companies, social enterprises, unregistered community groups, individuals and exempt charities are not eligible.

Applicants do not need a connection to Freemasonry.

Small Grants – Up to £15,000

Small grants are available to charities with an annual income between £25,000 and £500,000.

Funding available:

• £1,000–£5,000 per year

• Up to three years of funding

• Maximum potential award of £15,000

• Unrestricted funding

These grants can support an organisation's general activities and running costs.

The total grant requested must not exceed 20% of the charity's average annual income over the previous two years.

Large Grants – Up to £60,000

Large grants are intended for charities with an annual income between £500,000 and £5 million.

Funding available:

• Usually £10,000–£60,000 in total

• Funding over one to three years

• Restricted funding for defined projects

• Preference for multiyear projects

Eligible expenditure may include:

• Staff salaries

• Project equipment

• Training

• Monitoring and evaluation

• Project administration

• A proportionate contribution towards organisational overheads

One-year grants are generally considered only in exceptional circumstances.

What cannot be funded?

The programme does not normally support:

• Large-scale capital building projects

• Building repairs and maintenance

• Academic research

• Political or lobbying activities

• Religious promotion

• Retrospective costs

• General fundraising appeals

• Routine statutory obligations

• Projects outside the three priority areas

How does the application process work?

Step 1 – Check Eligibility

Complete the eligibility questionnaire on the Freemasons' Charity website.

Step 2 – Submit an Expression of Interest

Eligible organisations can submit a short online expression of interest.

The Foundation aims to respond within approximately two weeks.

Step 3 – Full Application

Successful applicants are invited to complete a full application within four weeks.

Large grant applicants may also be invited to a virtual meeting before progressing.

Step 4 – Funding Decision

The Foundation aims to provide decisions approximately:

• Three months after the initial expression of interest for Small Grants

• Five months after the initial expression of interest for Large Grants

Funding information

Funder: Freemasons' Charity (Masonic Charitable Foundation)

Small Grants: £1,000–£5,000 annually, up to £15,000 over three years

Large Grants: £10,000–£60,000 total

Funding Type: Unrestricted small grants and restricted project grants

Geographic Eligibility: England, Wales, Guernsey, Jersey and Isle of Man

Eligible Applicants: Registered charities meeting income and eligibility requirements

Priority Areas: Early Years, Domestic Abuse and SEND

Deadline: Rolling – No fixed closing date