Edith Murphy Foundation
Charity Number: 1026062
Contact Info
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £917,620 (year ending March 2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: 3 months (quarterly trustee meetings)
- Grant Range: £500 - £5,000 (larger grants considered in some circumstances)
- Geographic Focus: National charities and local causes in Leicestershire and the East Midlands
Contact Details
Website: http://www.edithmurphy.co.uk
Email: charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com
Phone: 0117 313 8200
Application Portal: https://funding.ludlowtrust.com (for registered charities)
For charities not registered with the Charity Commission, applications can be emailed to charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com.
Overview
The Edith Murphy Foundation (Charity No. 1026062) is a UK registered grant-making charity established in 1993 by Edith in memory of her late husband, Hughie. Since inception, the Foundation has supported over 975 organisations with grants totaling approximately £24.9 million. With total assets funded primarily through investments (£940,020 in investment income for year ending March 2024), the Foundation focuses on three core charitable purposes: supporting vulnerable individuals experiencing hardship due to age, disability, poverty or social circumstances; funding research; and relieving the suffering of unwanted animals. The Foundation is professionally managed by Ludlow Trust Company Ltd, which oversees 275+ charitable trusts through their innovative Funding Enquiry Gateway platform.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
Standard Grants: £500 - £5,000
- Core grant program for most applicants
- Applications accepted on a rolling basis through the online portal
- Larger grants considered in exceptional circumstances
Application Method: Rolling basis with quarterly decision-making meetings
Priority Areas
The Foundation supports organisations that:
- Support Vulnerable Individuals: Organisations helping people who, by reason of their age, youth, infirmity, disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances, are suffering hardship, distress or are otherwise in need
- Research: Organisations conducting charitable research (example: PERFECTS study on CT colonography screening)
- Animal Welfare: Organisations that relieve the suffering and care for unwanted animals
Geographic Focus
Due to the volume of applications received, trustees concentrate on:
- National charities operating across the UK
- Local causes in Leicestershire and the East Midlands
What They Don't Fund
- Individual applicants (no applications from individuals are considered)
- Organisations outside their geographic focus areas (unless national charities)
Governance and Leadership
The Foundation is governed by six trustees who meet quarterly to review applications and manage Foundation business. One or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity for providing services.
The Foundation works in partnership with Ludlow Trust Company Ltd, an independent specialist trust services provider established in 2020 that manages over 5,000 trusts (including 275+ charitable trusts).
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
For Registered Charities: Applications must be submitted online through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway at https://funding.ludlowtrust.com. The platform allows charities to:
- Apply to a specific charitable trust
- Submit a general application that can be matched to relevant charitable trusts
- Access the platform via PC, tablet or smartphone at no cost
For Non-Registered Charities: Applications can be emailed to charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com
Application Information Should Include:
- Full name and address of the charity
- Charity number (if registered)
- Brief description of the charity and its activities (especially for first-time applicants)
- What the grant is for and who will benefit
- Cost of specific items
- Other fundraising activities and amounts raised
Decision Timeline
Trustees meet four times per year to consider grant applications, typically in January, April, July, and October. This results in an approximate 3-month decision cycle, depending on when applications are submitted relative to the quarterly meeting schedule.
Applications can be submitted at any time on a rolling basis.
Success Rates
Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway has received over 17,000 applications since its launch, matching in excess of £5 million in donations with charities across all trusts managed by Ludlow Trust Company.
Reapplication Policy
Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Applicants should contact the Foundation through Ludlow Trust Company for guidance on reapplying.
Application Success Factors
Key Requirements
- Must be a registered charity or charitable organisation (individuals cannot apply)
- Should operate within Leicestershire/East Midlands region OR be a national charity
- Project should align with one of the three core funding priorities
- Clear demonstration of who will benefit from the grant
- Specific costings for items or projects requiring funding
Strategic Considerations
Geographic Alignment: Given the high volume of applications, organisations based in or serving Leicestershire and the East Midlands appear to have a strategic advantage unless applying as a national charity with broad impact.
Grant Size: Most grants fall within the £500-£5,000 range. While larger grants are possible, applicants should be prepared to justify why their request exceeds the typical range.
Application Platform: The Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway allows for matching across multiple charitable trusts. A general application may increase chances of funding from one of the 275+ trusts managed by Ludlow Trust Company.
Demonstration of Need: Applications should clearly articulate specific needs, beneficiaries, and how the funding will address hardship, distress, or care requirements aligned with the Foundation's mission.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Quarterly decision-making cycle: Plan applications around January, April, July, and October trustee meetings for predictable decision timelines
- Geographic focus is critical: Unless you're a national charity, priority is given to Leicestershire and East Midlands causes due to high application volumes
- Standard grant range £500-£5,000: Most successful applications fall within this range; exceptional justification needed for larger amounts
- Three core priorities only: Ensure your work aligns clearly with supporting vulnerable individuals, research, or animal welfare
- Professional management: Applications processed through Ludlow Trust's sophisticated gateway system, allowing matching across multiple trusts
- Rolling applications accepted: No fixed deadlines, but timing relative to quarterly meetings affects decision speed
- No individual funding: Must be an organisational application from a charitable entity
- Strong financial foundation: With £940k+ annual investment income and £3.18m investment gains (2024), the Foundation has substantial resources and long-term sustainability
Similar Funders
These funders frequently fund the same charities:
- P F Charitable Trust
- The Simon Gibson Charitable Trust
- The Mackintosh Foundation
- The Belstead Ganzoni Charitable Settlement
- Peacock Charitable Trust
- The Leslie Mary Carter Charitable Trust
- The 3 Ts Charitable Trust
- Martin Charitable Trust
- Frank Brake Charitable Trust
- The Castanea Trust
References
- Edith Murphy Foundation Official Website - http://www.edithmurphy.co.uk
- UK Charity Commission Register - Charity No. 1026062, Financial Year Ending 31 March 2024 - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1026062
- Find That Charity - Edith Murphy Foundation Profile - https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1026062
- Ludlow Trust Company - The Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway - https://www.ludlowtrust.com/insights/the-ludlow-funding-enquiry-gateway/
- Active Together - Edith Murphy Foundation Funding Information - https://www.active-together.org/fundingfinder/856