Essex Provincial Charity Fund

Charity Number: 1185801

Annual Expenditure: £1.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Charity Number: 1185801
  • Annual Giving: Approximately £1 million (across all Essex Freemasons funds collectively)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: £350 - £100,000+ (based on recent awards)
  • Geographic Focus: Essex

Contact Details

Address: Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex, 2 Station Court, Station Approach, Wickford, SS11 7AT

Phone: 01268 571610

Email: paul.harris@essexfreemasons.org.uk

Website: No public website available

Overview

The Essex Provincial Charity Fund (EPCF) was originally established in 1932 and formally registered as a charity in 1963. In June 2020, the fund was restructured as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation under charity number 1185801, transferring assets from the previous entity (charity number 215349). The fund operates under a declaration of trust “for the benefit of distressed Masons, their widows and children and for the benefit of Masonic charities and other charitable institutions, societies and objects.” Essex Freemasons collectively raise and donate around £1 million annually to more than 700 different charities, with EPCF being one of three principal charitable funds managed by the same trustees. The fund works in conjunction with the Essex Freemasons' Community Fund (EFCF) and the Essex Provincial Almoner's Fund (EPAF).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Essex Provincial Charity Fund operates through two main mechanisms:

  • Matched Funding: Provides matched funding for donations made by individual Masonic Lodges and Chapters to local charities
  • Direct Grants: Awards direct grants to Essex charities and charitable institutions

Recent grant examples include:

  • £100,000 to East of England Ambulance Service Charity for three life-saving community response cars
  • £24,000 to Headway Essex for a new minibus
  • £10,000 to support 20 local primary schools (through Essex Royal Arch)
  • £350 to Essex Voluntary Blood Service
  • Multiple grants totaling over £120,000 to local good causes

Priority Areas

  • Relief of poverty and distress among Masons, their widows, and children
  • Masonic charities and institutions
  • Healthcare and emergency services (ambulance services, blood services)
  • Education (school support programs)
  • Community services and welfare organizations
  • Care homes and support for vulnerable individuals
  • Smaller local initiatives often overlooked by larger funders

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, though the fund's primary focus is on:

  • Organizations operating within Essex
  • Causes aligned with Masonic values of “Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Service”
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Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Paul Harris - Secretary and Trustee of EPCF, EFCF, and EPAF; Provincial Junior Grand Warden

Paul Harris was instrumental in converting each fund to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and assisted in the formation of the Essex Freemasons' Community Fund.

On the EFCF: “I think it was an excellent idea as it has done a lot for Essex Charities particularly through the matched funding of donations from Lodges and Chapters as well as making direct grants.”

Other trustees from the predecessor charity included:

  • John Nicholas Clarke
  • Colin Leslie Felton
  • Philip Michael Lovelock
  • Peter Hollingsworth
  • Paul George Reeves
  • Gary John Hostler

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Essex Provincial Charity Fund does not have a public application process. Grants are typically awarded through:

  1. Matched Funding to Masonic Lodges/Chapters: Individual Masonic lodges and chapters in Essex nominate local charities and the EPCF provides matched funding for their donations
  1. Direct Grants by Trustee Discretion: The trustees identify and award direct grants to charitable causes in Essex
  1. Through Masonic Connections: Organizations with existing relationships with Essex Freemasons or those supported by individual lodge members may be considered

External organizations seeking support from Essex Freemasons should consider:

  • Contacting the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), the national Freemasons charity, which has a public application process
  • Making contact with the Provincial Grand Lodge directly via email or phone to inquire about potential support

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Payment can be made quickly once approved - one documented example shows payment within 5 days of grant approval.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The fund is selective but has supported over 700 different charities annually through the broader Essex Freemasons network.

Application Success Factors

While there is no public application process, organizations that have received support from Essex Freemasons tend to:

  • Serve local Essex communities: All documented grants focus on Essex-based organizations or services benefiting Essex residents
  • Address clear community needs: Recent funding has gone to life-saving services, disability support, education, and vulnerable populations
  • Have measurable impact: Grants typically fund specific items or projects (vehicles, equipment, programs) rather than general operating costs
  • Align with Masonic values: Projects that demonstrate integrity, friendship, respect, and service to the community
  • Focus on smaller, overlooked initiatives: The fund specifically aims to support “smaller local initiatives that are often overlooked”

According to fund leadership, EFCF (the sister fund) has been particularly successful “through the matched funding of donations from Lodges and Chapters as well as making direct grants,” suggesting that organizations with connections to local Masonic lodges have the best access to support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This funder operates through internal trustee decisions and matched funding for Masonic lodge donations, not open applications
  • Local Essex focus: All grants support organizations operating in or serving Essex communities
  • Relationship-driven: Connections to local Masonic lodges and chapters provide the primary pathway to funding
  • Dual charity structure: EPCF focuses on distressed Masons and their families plus other charitable causes; sister fund EFCF focuses on community charities
  • Quick decisions possible: Once approved, payment can be made within days
  • Consider MCF instead: Organizations seeking Masonic charitable support through a public application process should apply to the national Masonic Charitable Foundation
  • Contact directly: Organizations can reach out to Paul Harris at paul.harris@essexfreemasons.org.uk or call 01268 571610 to inquire about potential support

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