Christadelphian Meal A Day Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £750,000-£993,428
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000+ (project-dependent)
• Geographic Focus: Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Americas (14+ countries)
• Efficiency: 95-97% of income goes directly to projects
• Active Projects: 40-50+ projects across multiple countries

Contact Details

UK (Europe, Middle East, Africa):

• Website: https://meal-a-day.org/
• Email: info@meal-a-day.org
• Phone: 07986 648713
• Address: PO Box 10812, Nottingham, NG5 0LF, UK
• Charity Admin: charity_admin@meal-a-day.org

Americas:

• Website: https://www.cmadfa.com/
• Forms and applications available on website

Asia-Pacific:

• Website: https://meal-a-day.asia/

Overview

The Christadelphian Meal-a-Day Fund (CMaD) was founded in Tamworth, UK, in 1976, inspired by Henry Kissinger's speech stating that “everyone on earth should have at least one meal a day.” The charity operates through three regional structures established in 2007: UK (managing Europe, Middle East, and Africa), Australia (Asia-Pacific), and United States/Canada (Americas). With annual charitable expenditure of approximately £750,000-£993,000 and minimal administrative costs, CMaD delivers an exceptional 95-97% of income directly to sustainable, community-based projects. The organization is entirely volunteer-run by members of the Christadelphian community, with no trustees receiving remuneration. CMaD's mission is to “facilitate personal and community dignity of those in real need in less developed parts of the world by sustainable local projects” addressing hunger, disease, disability, education, and clean water provision. The charity manages 40-50+ independently operated projects across 14 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Regional Grant Applications:

• Americas Program: Annual application deadline November 15. Proposals and reporting forms available on website
• UK/Africa/Europe Program: Managed through UK committee; contact info@meal-a-day.org to discuss project eligibility before applying
• Asia-Pacific Program: Portfolio of 8 projects across 6 countries (India, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vanuatu)

Grant amounts vary by project scale, with documented examples ranging from £1,000 for smaller initiatives to £10,000+ for larger infrastructure or emergency response projects.

Priority Areas

Core Focus:

• Vulnerable Children: Educational support, residential care homes, feeding programs for disadvantaged children
• Clean Water: Well provision, water infrastructure, hygiene education programs
• Agricultural Skills: Farming training, sustainable agriculture, food security initiatives
• Basic Healthcare: Medical facilities, COVID-19 response, health education (including HIV/AIDS awareness)
• Education: Schools for blind/disabled children, literacy programs, vocational training
• Community Development: Self-sufficiency projects, skills training, sustainable local initiatives

Geographic Priorities:

Active in countries including: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, India, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vanuatu, Zambia.

Project Characteristics:

CMaD favors "sustainable 'down to earth' projects“ that are community-led, locally managed, and designed for long-term impact rather than short-term relief. The charity emphasizes working ”with local communities" to ensure projects meet genuine needs and build local capacity.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly detailed on public materials, the charity's focus suggests they do not fund:

• Projects outside their core areas (vulnerable children, water, agriculture, basic healthcare, education)
• Projects in developed countries
• Projects without strong local community involvement
• High-overhead or non-sustainable initiatives
• Projects that do not align with their principle of helping “those in real need”

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Governance and Leadership

UK Committee (Europe, Middle East, Africa)

Key Leadership:

• Jez Dale - Chairman: Leads the charity, liaises with key donors and sponsors, and maintains accountability for organizational integrity
• Trevor Routledge - Compliance Director: Ensures the charity maintains focus on key objectives and that donor funds are used as intended
• Esther Hemmings - Finance Director
• Luke Whitehorn - Marketing Director
• Becky Brighouse - Trustee and Admin Secretary: Responsible for safeguarding, merchandising, and Southern African projects support
• Liz Lucas - Trustee: Manages databases and meeting minutes

Regional Project Directors:

• Neil Brighouse - Southern African projects
• Phil & Kate Lawrence - Sierra Leone & Liberia
• Melanie Ford - DRC, Tanzania & Burundi
• Paul Lucas - Kenya
• Martyn East - Cameroon

Governance Structure

The charity operates with 9 trustees and 90 volunteers, with no paid employees. Trustees meet 4-5 times annually (usually in Halesowen, west of Birmingham), with significant ongoing email and IT-based committee work. The organization is registered as a private limited company by guarantee (Company Number: 06959615) and maintains up-to-date charity reporting with the Charity Commission.

Leadership Philosophy:

Trevor Routledge (Compliance Director) states: "Our hope is that by touching the lives of our 'neighbours' in need we might by our actions help to teach them something of the love of Jesus." This reflects the charity's faith-based motivation while maintaining their principle that assistance is “not conditional on race, religion or creed.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Americas Region:

1. Access grant application forms under the “Forms Tab” at www.cmadfa.com
2. Submit completed proposals by November 15 deadline
3. Forms include both initial proposals and reporting requirements for ongoing projects

UK/Africa/Europe Region:

1. Pre-application contact recommended: Email info@meal-a-day.org to confirm your project aligns with CMaD's supported areas
2. Discuss project eligibility and requirements before formal submission
3. The charity notes: “Before creating a fundraising page or applying, you should check with info@meal-a-day.org to confirm that your project is one that CMaD supports”

Asia-Pacific Region:

Contact through https://meal-a-day.asia/ for regional application procedures

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly detailed, but the UK committee meets 4-5 times per year, suggesting quarterly review cycles. The Americas program has an annual November 15 deadline, indicating likely annual or bi-annual award decisions.

Application Success Factors

Project Selection Criteria:

Based on the types of projects CMaD funds and their stated priorities, successful applications likely demonstrate:

1. Local Community Partnership: CMaD emphasizes “working with local communities” - projects should show genuine community involvement and local management capacity

1. Sustainability Focus: The charity explicitly seeks "sustainable 'down to earth' projects" rather than one-off relief efforts. Applications should demonstrate long-term viability and community self-sufficiency goals

1. Low Overhead Model: Given CMaD delivers 95-97% of income to projects, they favor initiatives with minimal administrative costs and maximum direct impact

1. Alignment with Core Areas: Successful projects typically address one or more priority areas: vulnerable children, clean water, agricultural skills, basic healthcare, basic education, or community development

1. Measurable Impact: Documented examples (like the Nolondo School feeding 350 children, or the Mbengwi school admitting 60 blind/disabled pupils) suggest CMaD values clear, quantifiable outcomes

Funded Project Examples:

• $10,000 COVID relief to Reaching Hand
• 5kW solar power system installed in partnership with Green Empowerment at COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre for vaccine storage
• Ongoing support for Nolondo School for the Physically Disabled (350 children, ages 4-18)
• Long-term funding for Christadelphian School for Blind and Handicapped, Mbengwi, Cameroon (60 pupils)
• Village Water projects in rural Zambian villages
• Home of Peace in Malaysia (established 1992) for girls from squatter families

Regional Directors' Role:

Project applications are assessed by regional directors who “maintain direct relationships with local communities” and have specific geographic expertise. This suggests strong local knowledge and proven community connections strengthen applications.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Pre-application contact is essential - CMaD explicitly asks potential applicants to check project eligibility before applying (UK/Africa/Europe region)
• Emphasize sustainability and community ownership - The charity values “down to earth” projects with long-term community-led solutions, not short-term handouts
• Demonstrate exceptional value for money - With 95-97% of income going to projects, highlight low administrative costs and maximum direct impact
• Regional approach matters - Different regions (UK, Americas, Asia-Pacific) have separate committees and processes; apply to the correct geographic structure
• Faith-based but inclusive - While Christadelphian-founded, assistance is “not conditional on race, religion or creed”
• Focus on the most vulnerable - Projects serving “the poorest of the poor,” particularly vulnerable children, disabled individuals, and disadvantaged communities align best
• Partner organizations welcomed - CMaD has demonstrated willingness to partner with external organizations (Green Empowerment, Reaching Hand) for project delivery

References

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales - CHRISTADELPHIAN MEAL A DAY FUND (1133337), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1133337
2. Christadelphian Meal-a-Day official website, https://meal-a-day.org/
3. Christadelphian Meal-a-Day Americas, https://www.cmadfa.com/
4. Christadelphian Meal-a-Day Asia-Pacific, https://meal-a-day.asia/
5. “The Committee,” Christadelphian Meal-a-Day, https://meal-a-day.org/the-committee-2/
6. “Meal-a-Day Fund,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meal-a-Day_Fund
7. Companies House UK - CHRISTADELPHIAN MEAL A DAY FUND (06959615), https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06959615
8. “Christadelphian Meal a Day Fund not conditional on race, religion or creed,” Christadelphians blog, November 14, 2017