Bristol Masons' Charity

Charity Number: 206528

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £171,840 (grants to institutions in 2023)
  • Success Rate: Not published
  • Decision Time: 4-8 weeks (typical for Masonic charities)
  • Grant Range: Generally under £3,000 for charities
  • Geographic Focus: Bristol and South Gloucestershire area

Contact Details

Email: timothybrunton@googlemail.com

Phone: 07887 593462

Address: Rainbow Cottage, 17 High Street, Claverham, Bristol BS49 4NB

Charity Number: 206528

Contact Person: Timothy Brunton, Provincial Grand Almoner

Overview

Bristol Masons' Charity was established to support Freemasons and their dependents living in reduced circumstances. However, the charity has evolved significantly - over 80% of its available funding now goes to registered charities rather than to Masons. The charity has an income primarily from investments (approximately £173,000 annually) and makes grants totalling around £170,000-£190,000 per year to institutions. With total assets generating income of £358,000-£800,000 annually (varying by investment performance), the charity operates with minimal governance costs (under £2,000 per year) and no paid trustees. The charity focuses particularly on organizations working with children and young people, homelessness, and social welfare in the Bristol region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Small Grants for Charities: Generally under £3,000 per grant for registered charities serving Bristol and South Gloucestershire
  • Application Method: Rolling basis - applications may be made at any time in writing
  • Funding Band: Under £10,000 category

Priority Areas

Bristol Masons' Charity particularly supports registered charities working in:

  • Children and young people
  • Homelessness
  • Social welfare
  • Organizations serving the Bristol and South Gloucestershire geographic area

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the charity's focus on Bristol and South Gloucestershire suggests:

  • Organizations outside the Bristol/South Gloucestershire area are unlikely to be funded
  • Very large grants (over £3,000) are not typical
  • Individual applications from non-Masons are handled differently (at discretion of management committee)
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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by 5 trustees who receive no remuneration, payments or benefits. The charity operates with 7 active volunteers and maintains exceptionally low governance costs (approximately £1,680-£2,020 annually).

Key Contact: Timothy Brunton serves as Provincial Grand Almoner and is the primary contact for grant applications.

The Bristol Masons' organization emphasizes that “charity has always been a core principle of Masonry” with a 300-year history of supporting those in need. The Province of Bristol was founded in 1786 and has over 1,200 members.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Method: Applications may be made at any time in writing
  • Contact: Submit written applications to Timothy Brunton at timothybrunton@googlemail.com or via post to the address above
  • Pre-application: Applicants are encouraged to contact the charity directly to discuss their proposal

Decision Timeline

Based on typical Masonic charity processes:

  • Standard decision time: 4-8 weeks following receipt of application
  • Urgent cases: In certain circumstances, decisions can be made within 48 hours
  • Delays: May occur if the application is incomplete or if further information is required

Success Rates

Success rates are not published publicly. However, the charity distributed approximately £171,840 in grants to institutions in 2023, representing an increase from £111,850 in 2022.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Applicants should contact the charity directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Geographic alignment is critical: The charity explicitly serves Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Organizations outside this area are unlikely to receive funding.

Priority areas matter: Applications aligned with children and young people, homelessness, or social welfare are more likely to be successful.

Realistic grant requests: Given that grants are “generally under £3,000,” applications should be scaled appropriately. Large grant requests are unlikely to succeed.

Masonic connections: While not required for charitable organizations, the charity is part of the broader Bristol Masonic community. Over 80% of funding goes to non-Masonic charities, so Masonic connections are not necessary.

Financial track record: Applicants must be registered charities with publicly available accounts on the Charity Commission website.

Bristol service area: Organizations must demonstrate they serve the Bristol and surrounding areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic specificity is essential: Only apply if your charity serves Bristol and South Gloucestershire. This is a local funder with a clear geographic focus.
  • Keep grant requests modest: With typical grants under £3,000, tailor your application accordingly. Don't request more than £3,000.
  • Applications are always open: The rolling application process means you can apply at any time - no need to wait for specific deadlines.
  • Written applications only: Prepare a clear, written application that can be emailed or posted. There is no online application portal.
  • Contact before applying: Given the small scale and personal nature of this funder, making initial contact with Timothy Brunton before submitting a full application is advisable.
  • Alignment with priorities: Emphasize if your work focuses on children/young people, homelessness, or social welfare - these are stated priority areas.
  • Response time is reasonable: With typical decisions in 4-8 weeks, you can plan your cash flow accordingly. Urgent requests may receive faster consideration.

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