Care Sri Lanka

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £104,485 (2024 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: Sri Lanka
• Registered Charity Number: 1140552

Contact Details

Address: 12 London Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 1EB

Phone: 01323 844399 / 07535 119106

Email: gary@care-srilanka.org / admin@care-srilanka.org.uk

Website: https://caresrilanka.org.uk/

Contact Person: Gary Donaldson, Secretary

Overview

CARE SRI LANKA (also operating under the name “Grace Education and Care Centre”) is a UK-registered charitable trust established in November 2010 (registered with the Charity Commission on 23 February 2011). The charity serves as the charitable arm of the Lanka Evangelical Fellowship of Churches (LEFC) and works to advance education, relieve sickness and financial hardship, and promote good health in Sri Lanka. With an annual expenditure of £104,485 (2024) supported by an income of £51,798, the organization makes grants to both organisations and individuals across multiple sectors including healthcare, humanitarian relief, education, and community development. The charity is managed by 5 trustees with support from 7 volunteers, and operates primarily through its partnership with LEFC in Sri Lanka, where work has been ongoing since 1990.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

CARE SRI LANKA makes grants to both organisations and individuals, though specific grant amounts and formal programs are not publicly detailed. The charity provides funding through trustee discretion for projects aligned with their charitable objectives.

Key Support Areas:

• Child sponsorship and support (£10-£20 per month per child)
• Widow support programs (£10-£20 per month per widow)
• Food parcel distribution
• Educational support and tuition programs
• Microenterprise development (equipment and start-up funding)

Priority Areas

Education and Training

• Extra tuition programs operating in seven villages
• School uniforms, shoes, and books for children
• Educational support for war-affected children

Healthcare and Well-being

• Relief of sickness and financial hardship
• Medical assistance for vulnerable populations
• Promotion and preservation of good health

Humanitarian and Disaster Relief

• Emergency food parcel distribution
• Support for communities affected by flooding and drought
• Relief for families impacted by Sri Lanka's civil war

Poverty Alleviation and Livelihoods

• Microenterprise support (livestock, fishing equipment, sewing machines, tools, seeds, fertilizers)
• Support for individuals with business skills but lacking capital
• Long-term family support programs

Community Development

• Support for children and widows
• Village-level development projects (expanded to 27+ villages)
• Cultural and art initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, though the charity's focus is clearly on Sri Lankan communities and projects that align with the work of the Lanka Evangelical Fellowship of Churches.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: 5 trustees oversee the charity, with meetings held in London

Key Personnel:

• Gary Donaldson, Secretary

Volunteers: 7 volunteers support the charity's operations

Governance Policies: The charity has implemented comprehensive governance policies including:

• Bullying and harassment policy
• Complaints handling policy
• Financial reserves policy
• Internal risk management policy
• Safeguarding policy
• Serious incident reporting policy
• Trustee conflicts of interest policy
• Trustee expenses policy

Partner Organisation: Lanka Evangelical Fellowship of Churches (LEFC) - both organizations are based in Hailsham, East Sussex

Recognition: The charity is recognised by HMRC for gift aid and maintains up-to-date charity reporting with the Charity Commission.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

CARE SRI LANKA does not have a public grant application process. The charity operates primarily through trustee discretion and works with its partner organisation, the Lanka Evangelical Fellowship of Churches (LEFC), to identify and support projects and beneficiaries in Sri Lanka.

Grants are awarded based on the trustees' assessment of needs and alignment with the charity's objectives, as stated in their charitable objects: “by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind in such parts of Sri Lanka or the world as the Trustees from time to time may think fit.”

For individuals seeking support through sponsorship programs (child or widow sponsorship), supporters can contact the charity directly using the contact details provided above. Supporters can express preferences for child's gender and age range, or allow Care Sri Lanka to select the individual with the greatest need.

Getting on Their Radar

CARE SRI LANKA works primarily through the Lanka Evangelical Fellowship of Churches (LEFC) network in Sri Lanka. Organizations or individuals seeking funding should:

1. Establish connection through LEFC: Since the charity operates as the charitable arm of LEFC, having an existing relationship with this fellowship may be beneficial.

1. Contact Gary Donaldson directly: As the Secretary, Gary Donaldson can be reached at gary@care-srilanka.org or admin@lankachurches.org to discuss potential support.

1. Demonstrate alignment with their mission: Projects should clearly advance education, relieve sickness and financial hardship, or promote good health in Sri Lankan communities.

1. Work in their geographic areas: The charity has an established presence in specific villages including Thampalagamam and 27+ villages affected by flooding, with tuition programs in seven villages.

1. Connection to supporting churches: Several UK churches support Care Sri Lanka, including Baldock Baptist Church, Whiddon Valley Evangelical Church, Grace Reformed Evangelical Church in Hailsham, and Grace Fellowship Church. Connections through these churches may provide routes to engagement.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available as grants are awarded at trustee discretion. Trustees meet in London to make decisions about funding allocation.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available, as the charity does not operate an open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the absence of a formal public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given that CARE SRI LANKA operates primarily through trustee discretion and partnership with LEFC rather than a public application process, the following factors appear most relevant for organizations or projects seeking support:

Geographic Focus: The charity has established operations in specific regions of Sri Lanka, particularly in and around Thampalagamam and the 27+ villages supported since 2011. Projects in these areas or similar rural communities may align with their operational capacity.

Community-Based Impact: Their documented projects demonstrate a preference for grassroots, community-level interventions including educational tuition programs, microenterprise support, and direct family assistance rather than large-scale institutional programs.

Long-Term Sustainability: The charity's microenterprise model—providing fishing nets, sewing machines, livestock, tools, seeds, and fertilizer—reflects a strategic focus on enabling long-term self-sufficiency rather than short-term relief alone.

Vulnerable Populations: Priority is clearly given to children and widows affected by Sri Lanka's civil war, those impacted by natural disasters (flooding), and families experiencing poverty and malnutrition.

Educational Impact: With tuition programs operating in seven villages, educational initiatives that complement or extend this work may be of interest.

Connection to LEFC Network: As the charitable arm of Lanka Evangelical Fellowship of Churches, projects with connections to this fellowship or that align with its community development approach are likely to receive consideration.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this charity operates through trustee discretion and partnership with Lanka Evangelical Fellowship of Churches (LEFC)
• Direct contact is essential - reach out to Gary Donaldson (Secretary) to discuss potential support for projects in Sri Lanka
• Partnership model - the charity works as the charitable arm of LEFC, so connections to this network are valuable
• Focus on grassroots impact - documented projects emphasize village-level education, microenterprise, and direct family support rather than large institutional programs
• Vulnerability-centered - priority given to children, widows, and families affected by conflict, natural disasters, and poverty
• Sustainability approach - preference for interventions that build long-term self-sufficiency (e.g., providing tools for small businesses) rather than one-time aid
• Small but committed - with annual income around £52,000 and expenditure of £104,000, the charity operates lean but demonstrates commitment by exceeding income through use of reserves

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• GNANAM FOUNDATION
• Palle Moeller Foundation
• ENFIELD LIONS CLUB (CIO)
• THE PETER STEBBINGS MEMORIAL CHARITY
• Philip Barker Charity
• THE FRIENDLY HAND
• THE ABINGER GREEN CIO
• LINKS INTERNATIONAL
• Halcrow Foundation
• FINEGRANT LIMITED

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: CARE SRI LANKA - Charity Number 1140552. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5015474 []

• CARE SRI LANKA Official Website. Available at: https://caresrilanka.org.uk/ []

• Fundraiso: CARE SRI LANKA Profile. Available at: https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/care-sri-lanka []

• TotalGiving: Care Sri Lanka. Available at: https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/charity/care-sri-lanka []

• NGO Explorer: CARE SRI LANKA Profile. Available at: https://ngoexplorer.org/charity/1140552 []

• Charity Commission: CARE SRI LANKA Governance Information. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5015474/governance []

• Charity Commission: CARE SRI LANKA Contact Information. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5015474/contact-information []