Coopers Charity Cio

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £190,000 - £270,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 2 weeks after Charities Committee meeting
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000 (up to £15,000 over 3 years for long-term grants)
• Geographic Focus: Greater London and Surrey (with priority for City of London)

Contact Details

Website: www.coopers-hall.co.uk

Email: clerk@cooperscompany.co.uk

Phone: +44 (0)20 7247 9577

Address: Coopers' Hall, 13 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4TH

Overview

Coopers Charity CIO (registered 2013, charity number 1155094) is the charitable arm of The Worshipful Company of Coopers, one of London's historic livery companies founded by Royal Charter in 1501. The charity amalgamates five former charitable trusts with varying ages of foundation, deriving income from historical bequests. With annual expenditure of approximately £190,000-£270,000, the charity operates under the governance of the Master, Wardens and Court of Assistants who serve as Trustees, with practical administration through a Charities Committee. The charity focuses on relieving hardship in Greater London and Surrey, advancing education (particularly related to cooperage and associated schools), and preserving the heritage of the cooperage trade. Most grants are made to selected charitable organisations within the City of London area, with additional support for individuals referred by welfare services and regular funding to Coopers' Company and Coborn School and Strode's College.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Short-term Emergency Grants: Up to £1,000 for one-off emergency situations

Long-term Grants: Up to £5,000 annually for up to 3 years (£15,000 maximum), reviewed if further support is required after the initial period. Applications accepted on rolling basis via online form or hard copy submission.

Priority Areas

• Poverty Relief: Supporting persons in conditions of need, hardship or distress in Greater London and Surrey
• Education: Scholarships, bursaries and grants for pupils and former students (up to age 25) of Coopers' Company and Coborn School and Strode's College
• Community Support: Local organisations providing help to needy individuals or clubs serving local communities
• City of London Causes: Charities sponsored by the Lord Mayor, Corporation or other worthy City bodies
• Heritage Preservation: Maintaining the history of the cooperage trade and Coopers' Hall historical artifacts
• Cooperage Education: Advancing knowledge of the cooperage trade
• Members' Welfare: Supporting Coopers' Company members, widows and dependants

What They Don't Fund

Organizational Characteristics:

• Annual fundraising costs exceeding 25% of income
• Reserves greater than annual expenditure
• Administration costs exceeding 20% of expenditure
• Organizations with turnover exceeding £2 million

Grant Requests:

• Grant requests exceeding 25% of organization's annual income
• Projects outside Greater London or Surrey (unless for Coopers' Company members)
• Repeat grants are typically not made (grants usually on annual basis and may not be repeated)

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by the Master, Wardens and Court of Assistants of The Worshipful Company of Coopers, who serve as Trustees. The Charities Committee administers the distribution of funds and reports annually to the Trustees. The charity maintains five historical trust funds: the Ratcliff Pension Charity, the Palmer Foundation, the Harold Griffin Gift Fund, the Strode's Egham Pension and Eleemosynary Charity, and the William Alexander's Coopers' Liverymen Fund.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Preferred Method: Online application form via www.coopers-hall.co.uk (recommended for faster processing)

Alternative Method: Downloadable form submitted via email to clerk@cooperscompany.co.uk or by post to The Clerk, The Worshipful Company of Coopers, Coopers' Hall, 13 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4TH (may cause processing delays)

Application Requirements:

• Organization name and charity/company number
• Contact person details and address
• Funding amount requested
• Clear identification of grant purpose
• Realistic assessment of project costs
• Demonstration of eligibility against all criteria

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed at Charities Committee meetings (schedule not publicly disclosed). Applicants will be contacted within 2 weeks of the meeting at which their application is considered.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The charity operates on a discretionary basis with Trustees having absolute discretion over grant awards.

Reapplication Policy

Grants are usually made on an annual basis and may not be repeated. Long-term grants are reviewed after the initial 3-year period if further support is sought. Written progress reports may be required during the term of any grant.

Application Success Factors

Eligibility Alignment: The charity prioritizes applications that clearly fall within their geographic focus (Greater London and Surrey, particularly City of London) and charitable purposes. Applications with connections to the cooperage trade, associated schools, or Coopers' Company members may receive particular attention.

Financial Prudence: Demonstrate strong financial management by ensuring your organization meets all financial criteria: fundraising costs under 25% of income, reserves not exceeding annual expenditure, administration under 20% of expenditure, and the grant request representing no more than 25% of annual income.

Realistic Budgeting: Applications should clearly identify the grant purpose and include realistic cost assessments. The charity values thorough project planning and clear explanations of how funds will be used.

Local Impact: Projects tackling hardship or supporting community cohesion in London and Surrey are preferred. Applications from local community organizations, registered charities, non-profits, or Community Interest Companies serving these areas align well with their mission.

Heritage and Education: The charity has particular interest in projects related to cooperage history, heritage preservation, and educational advancement. Educational projects connecting to Coopers' Company and Coborn School or Strode's College receive regular support.

Progress Monitoring: Be prepared to provide written progress reports during the grant term, demonstrating accountability and effective use of funds.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic targeting is critical: Strongest preference for City of London projects, followed by Greater London and Surrey. Don't apply if you're outside these areas unless you have a direct connection to Coopers' Company members.

• Meet all financial thresholds: The charity has strict eligibility criteria around reserves, admin costs, fundraising costs, and grant size relative to income. Review these carefully before applying.

• Keep grant requests modest: With maximum grants of £5,000 annually (or £1,000 for emergencies), this is a small-scale funder best suited for organizations with budgets up to £2 million seeking supplementary funding.

• Use the online form: While hard copy applications are accepted, online submission is recommended to avoid processing delays and demonstrate organizational capacity.

• Don't expect repeat funding: The charity typically makes one-off grants or time-limited grants (up to 3 years), so position your application as a specific project or time-bound need rather than ongoing support.

• Decision timing is unpredictable: While you'll hear back within 2 weeks of a committee meeting, the schedule for these meetings is not published, making it difficult to plan around their timeline.

• Demonstrate community impact: Focus on how your project tackles hardship or supports community cohesion in their geographic area, using concrete examples and measurable outcomes.

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities. (2024). “COOPERS CHARITY CIO - 1155094.” Retrieved from https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1155094&subid=0. Financial information shows income of £208,200 and expenditure of £190,436 for year ending 31 March 2024; income of £193,180 and expenditure of £269,154 for year ending 31 March 2023.

• The Worshipful Company of Coopers. (2024). “Grant Making Policies.” Retrieved from https://www.coopers-hall.co.uk/charity-grant-making-policies. Details charitable purposes and grant-making framework.

• The Worshipful Company of Coopers. (2024). “Charity Applications.” Retrieved from https://www.coopers-hall.co.uk/charity2/appplication2. Application process, eligibility criteria, and contact information.

• The Worshipful Company of Coopers. (2024). “Charitable Work Grant.” Retrieved from https://www.coopers-hall.co.uk/charitable-work-new/charitable-work-grant. Grant amounts and decision timeline information.

• The Worshipful Company of Coopers. (2024). “Our Work.” Retrieved from https://www.coopers-hall.co.uk/charity2/our-work2. Overview of charitable activities and beneficiaries.

• Date accessed: October 30, 2025