Jac Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £650,280 (2024 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: £14,987 - £90,000
• Geographic Focus: International (excluding UK)
• Total Grants Awarded: 49 grants totaling £2,036,483 (2020-2024)

Contact Details

Website: www.jaclarktrust.org

Email: lynette@jaclarktrust.org

Phone: 07802 724462

Note: JAC Trust is currently a proactive, invitation-only funder and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

JAC Trust is an independent family-led charitable foundation established by Tony Clark in 1970. For over 50 years, the concerns of the founder and three generations of his family have shaped the Trust's work. In 2020, following a strategic review, the Trustees adopted a focused ten-year strategy running through 2030 that concentrates exclusively on the intersection of climate change and forced displacement. The Trust's mission is to support forcibly displaced people and their host communities to respond to the challenges of climate change and increase their resilience to the climate crisis. With total income of £242,764 and charitable expenditure of £650,280 in 2024, JAC Trust provides multi-year grant funding to registered charities, NGOs, and established social enterprises working globally (excluding the UK). The Trust is committed to transparency, publishing all grant data through the 360Giving platform.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Climate Change and Displaced People Programme

• Grant Amount: Multi-year grants up to £60,000 in total (some sources indicate up to £75,000)
• Grant Duration: Three-year funding cycles (funds to be used within 36 months)
• Application Method: Invitation only - no open calls until 2030

Priority Areas

JAC Trust focuses exclusively on the intersection of climate change and forced displacement. All proposals must fulfill all three of the following criteria:

1. Focus on forcibly displaced people and their host communities: This includes refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and people at acute risk of displacement
2. Deliver tangible improvements in quality of life: Projects must demonstrate clear benefits to affected communities
3. Have a positive impact on the natural environment: Projects must contribute to environmental protection or restoration

The Trust gives preference to initiatives that foster, or already demonstrate, positive engagement between displaced and host communities.

Geographic Focus

• Eligible locations: Projects can take place globally
• Excluded: Work in the UK will not be funded
• Specific country restrictions: Afghanistan and Somalia are excluded from eligibility

What They Don't Fund

• Projects based in or focusing on the UK
• Projects in Afghanistan or Somalia
• Unsolicited applications from organizations not invited to apply
• Organizations with annual income exceeding £10 million

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Governance and Leadership

JAC Trust is governed by a board of volunteer trustees with diverse expertise:

Odette Clark Campbell - Chair of Trustees

BA in Economics, MPA. As Chair, Odette oversees the annual budget and overall strategy of the Trust, working with trustees and the Trust Director to ensure the Trust meets governance and legal requirements.

Daniela Lloyd-Williams - Trust Director

PhD in Agricultural Economics, over 20 years in international development. As Director, Daniela has overall responsibility for the delivery of the funding programme and works with the Trustees to develop the strategic direction of the Trust. She is also a Trustee of the Samworth Foundation and the Association of Charitable Foundations.

William Pym - Deputy-Chair

Artist and educator with a degree in Sculpture and MA in Art and Education. Manages the investment committee and land/building assets.

Dulma Clark - Trustee

LSE graduate in Human Rights, runs Livebarefoot Foundation, and chairs the Investment Committee.

Additional Trustees:

• Aidan Pelly: Background in education and counseling psychology
• Andrew Pym: Risk and audit professional
• David Linehan: Investment professional
• Richard Black: Academic advisor on migration and development

The Trust's governance reflects strong family involvement across three generations, combined with professional expertise in economics, development, investment, and social impact.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Current Status: JAC Trust is NOT accepting unsolicited applications

The Trust is currently midway through their ten-year strategy (2020-2030) and operates as a proactive funder. This means:

• Applications are by invitation only
• No open calls for applications will occur before the end of their strategy in 2030
• The Trust proactively identifies and invites organizations to apply
• Organizations are requested not to spend time submitting unsolicited proposals, as the Trust will not be able to respond

If Invited to Apply:

• The Director will discuss the application process directly with invited organizations
• Proposals are reviewed by the Programme Committee

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Timelines are communicated directly to invited applicants.

Success Rates

Not applicable for the current strategic period, as the Trust operates by invitation only rather than through open competitive application rounds.

Historical Grant Data (2020-2024):

• 49 grants awarded
• 38 unique recipient organizations (some received multiple grants)
• Total awarded: £2,036,483
• Average grant size: approximately £41,561

Reapplication Policy

For invited applicants: Organizations that have previously been unsuccessful may be invited again to reapply. When reapplying, organizations should take note of any feedback provided and ensure their proposal fits the funding criteria.

Application Success Factors

Since JAC Trust currently operates by invitation only, these factors reflect what the Trust values based on their published priorities and eligibility criteria:

Key Alignment Factors

1. Triple Focus: Projects must simultaneously address climate change, support displaced communities, AND benefit the natural environment - all three elements are essential

1. Community Integration: Preference is given to initiatives that foster positive engagement between displaced and host communities rather than serving one group in isolation

1. Climate Resilience Approach: The Trust seeks projects that help communities adapt to and become more resilient to climate impacts, not just mitigation projects

1. Strong Community Links: Organizations must demonstrate strong connections with the communities they serve

1. Appropriate Scale: Organizations with annual income under £10 million are eligible - the Trust funds both large and small organizations

1. Established Organizations: Preference for registered charities, NGOs, and established social enterprises with proven track records

Organizational Requirements

• Minimum annual income of £25,000
• Must have an active website
• UK-registered charities and non-profit organizations are eligible (though work must be outside the UK)
• Strong governance and community accountability

Geographic and Thematic Knowledge

Organizations should demonstrate:

• Deep understanding of the specific displacement context
• Knowledge of climate vulnerabilities in the region
• Existing relationships with both displaced and host communities
• Evidence-based approach to climate adaptation

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only status: Do not submit unsolicited applications during the current strategy period (through 2030). The Trust will reach out to organizations they wish to invite.

• Triple mandate requirement: Your project MUST address all three criteria - forced displacement, quality of life improvements, and environmental benefits. Failing on any one criterion means ineligibility.

• Community integration is valued: Projects that bring displaced and host communities together are preferred over those serving only one group.

• Geographic restrictions matter: No UK-based work, and Afghanistan and Somalia are excluded. Ensure your project location is eligible.

• Scale and capacity: Organizations need to demonstrate sufficient capacity (minimum £25,000 annual income) but not be too large (under £10 million annual income).

• Transparency and accountability: The Trust publishes all grant data through 360Giving, reflecting their commitment to transparency - they likely value this in partners as well.

• Multi-year commitment: Grants are structured as multi-year funding (up to three years), indicating the Trust values sustained impact rather than short-term interventions.

References

1. JAC Trust Official Website - What We Fund page (https://jaclarktrust.org/what-we-fund/) -
2. JAC Trust Official Website - FAQs page (https://jaclarktrust.org/faqs-2/) -
3. JAC Trust Official Website - About Us page (https://jaclarktrust.org/about-us/) -
4. JAC Trust Official Website - Our Team page (https://jaclarktrust.org/our-team/) -
5. Charity Commission Register - JAC TRUST (1189523) (https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5156707/full-print) -
6. 360Giving GrantNav - JAC Trust (https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1189523) - Grant data published 2020-2024 -
7. NGO Portal - JAC Trust Grants: Climate Resilience for Displaced People (https://ngoportal.org/jac-trust-grants-climate-resilience-for-displaced-people/) -