H C D Memorial Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £832,913 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Most grants over £10,000
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, and 22 countries internationally
• Founded: 1995

Contact Details

Address: 24 Fern Avenue, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 2QT

Email: hcdmemorialfund@gmail.com

Phone: 01912814228

Charity Number: 1044956

Note: No website available

Overview

The H C D Memorial Fund is a privately managed grant-making charity established in 1995 and based in Newcastle Upon Tyne. With an annual grant distribution of approximately £833,000, the fund supports charitable work both domestically and internationally across 24 countries. The fund's mission centers on relieving human need and supporting projects that mitigate the effects of climate change. Operating with a lean structure of four trustees who serve without remuneration, the fund derives its income primarily from donations and legacies (£692,702 in 2024) plus modest investment returns. The fund takes a selective, trustee-led approach to grant-making, identifying beneficiaries through their own research and networks rather than through open application processes. Historical data shows the fund awarded £795,000 in 2018, with most grants exceeding £10,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The fund operates a single grant-making program without separate streams or application cycles. Grant amounts typically exceed £10,000, with total annual distribution of approximately £800,000-£850,000.

Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process

Priority Areas

Primary Focus: Relief of human need and climate change mitigation

Thematic Areas:

• Education
• Support for disabled people
• Poverty alleviation
• Climate change mitigation projects

Geographic Scope:

• UK: England, Wales
• Africa: Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• Asia: India, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Pakistan
• Americas: Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Bolivia, Peru
• Middle East: Israel, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Syria
• Europe: Ireland, Serbia

India represents the highest concentration of charitable activity associated with the fund (3,589 related charities), followed by Malawi (974) and Kenya (230).

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, the fund's focus on human need relief and climate change mitigation suggests they do not fund:

• Projects outside their geographic scope
• Work unrelated to their core themes
• Capital appeals for buildings (likely)
• General running costs (likely)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Bill Flinn - Chair

Joanna Lear - Trustee (appointed 2012)

Susannah Drummond - Trustee (appointed 2012)

Fourth Trustee - Name not publicly disclosed

All four trustees serve without remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trustees have been in post since at least 2012, suggesting long-term commitment and deep knowledge of the fund's approach and beneficiaries.

The fund maintains no paid staff and operates no trading subsidiaries, keeping administrative costs minimal and maximizing grant-making capacity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The H C D Memorial Fund explicitly does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees, who identify potential beneficiaries through their own research, networks, and knowledge of the charitable sector.

Organizations cannot submit applications or expressions of interest. The trustees proactively select grant recipients based on their assessment of need and alignment with the fund's charitable objectives.

This approach is common among private family or memorial funds where trustees take a highly personal, research-led approach to philanthropy.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no application process means no standard decision timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the fund does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply as the fund operates on an invitation-only basis.

Application Success Factors

Understanding this funder's approach is valuable even without a public application process:

For Organizations in Relevant Sectors: If your organization works in education, disability support, poverty alleviation, or climate change mitigation in any of the fund's 24 geographic areas, it's worth being aware that the H C D Memorial Fund exists and actively makes grants in these areas.

Visibility Matters: While you cannot apply directly, ensuring your organization has:

• A clear online presence describing your work
• Up-to-date information on charity databases and registries
• Relationships with other funders and organizations in your sector
• A strong track record in your area of work

These factors increase the likelihood that the fund's trustees might identify your organization during their own research.

Network Connections: Given the trustees have been in post since at least 2012, they likely have established networks in the charitable sector. Building relationships with:

• Other grant-makers in international development
• Organizations working in similar geographic areas
• Sector networks in disability, education, or climate work

These connections may indirectly bring your organization to the trustees' attention.

International Focus: With significant activity in India, Malawi, and Kenya, the fund shows particular interest in these regions. Organizations with strong track records in these countries may be more likely to come to the trustees' attention.

Climate Change Integration: The fund's explicit mention of climate change mitigation suggests the trustees value projects that address both immediate human need and longer-term environmental sustainability.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No application process: This fund cannot be “applied to” in any conventional sense - all grants are trustee-initiated
• Significant grant-maker: Despite the closed process, the fund distributes over £800,000 annually, making it a substantial player in its focus areas
• Long-term trustees: The stability of trustee leadership since 2012 suggests consistent funding priorities and established networks
• International reach: 24-country footprint offers wide geographic scope, with particular focus on India, Malawi, and Kenya
• Dual focus: Both immediate human need relief AND climate change mitigation projects align with their mission
• Grants over £10,000: This is not a small grants fund - successful organizations likely demonstrate substantial impact and organizational capacity
• Be visible: While you cannot apply, maintaining strong visibility in your sector and geographic area may bring you to the trustees' attention

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: H C D Memorial Fund (1044956) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1044956 -
• NGO Explorer: H C D Memorial Fund - https://ngoexplorer.org/charity/1044956 -
• Find that Charity: GB-CHC-1044956 - https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1044956 -
• Funding Eye: H C D Memorial Fund - https://www.jonmatthews.co.uk/h-c-d-memorial-fund/ -
• Charity Commission Financial Data for year ending 30 June 2024