Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ??2.51m (2023)
• Total Assets: ??43.3m (2023)
• Success Rate: 69% overall (89% for small grants, 64% for large grants)
• Decision Time: 2 weeks (small grants), quarterly meetings for large grants
• Grant Range: ??1,000 - ??300,000
• Geographic Focus: UK only

Contact Details

Website: www.jrrt.org.uk

Email: Available through website contact form

Phone: Contact details on website

Pre-application Support: Programme Manager (Grants) available to answer questions and provide feedback on draft applications

Overview

Founded in 1904 by Joseph Rowntree as the Joseph Rowntree Social Services Trust Ltd (renamed Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust in 1990), JRRT is a unique non-charitable limited company created specifically to fund political and campaigning work that cannot be supported by charitable trusts. With assets of ??43.3 million generating approximately ??2.5 million in annual grants, JRRT funds campaigns to strengthen democratic resilience and tackle political inequality in the UK. The Trust launched a new funding strategy in autumn 2024 following a year-long review. In 2023, JRRT awarded 43 new grants with an average grant size of ??60,950. The Trust also hosts the UK Democracy Fund, a pooled fund established in 2019 with multiple charitable trust partners to support democratic participation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Large Grants (over ??10,000): ??10,000 - ??300,000

• Quarterly application rounds with specific deadlines
• Applications considered at quarterly Board meetings
• Average grant size ??60,950
• Online application required

Small Grants (up to ??10,000): ??1,000 - ??10,000

• Rolling basis applications accepted any time
• Fast-track decision within 2 weeks
• 89% success rate
• Can be submitted between large grant rounds

UK Democracy Fund

• Separate pooled fund hosted by JRRT
• Focuses on voter participation and electoral reform
• Funded by multiple trusts including Barrow Cadbury Trust, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and others

Priority Areas

Following their 2024 strategy review, JRRT funds campaigns, advocacy, and research in the following areas:

Political Inequality

• Money in politics
• Political rights (freedom of expression and protest rights)
• Thriving democratic culture with respect for diversity, collaboration, informed public debate and participation

Democratic Resilience

• Electoral reform (ensuring votes count, high turnout, fair elections)
• Open and responsive democracy (effective parliamentary checks on executive power, devolution to nations, regions and communities)
• Voter participation and election system reform
• Disinformation and its impact on democracy
• Checks and balances in government

The Trust prioritizes non-charitable political work including campaigns, advocacy, and research with national impact.

What They Don't Fund

• Campaigns outside the UK
• Local campaigns without national impact
• General appeals
• Academic research
• Work fundable from statutory or charitable sources
• Unsolicited applications from charities or for work that can be funded from charitable sources

The Trust's investment policy also excludes: armaments, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, and pornography (reflecting Quaker heritage).

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Governance and Leadership

JRRT is governed by a Board of 12 directors serving up to 15 years, drawn from diverse backgrounds reflecting the Trust's Quaker and liberal values.

Board Chair: Alison Goldsworthy

Ali has spent over 25 years working in politics and movement building. She attended Stanford's Graduate School of Business as a Sloan Fellow in 2016 and returned as a lecturer in 2023. In 2021, she co-authored the bestselling book Poles Apart, focusing on reducing political polarisation.

Finance Committee Chair: Duncan Hames (Director appointed December 2023)

Duncan leads the public policy, research and advocacy teams of Transparency International UK. He was a Member of Parliament from 2010-2015 and served as parliamentary aide to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Other Notable Directors:

• Sue (Professor Emerita in Political Philosophy, University of York, Chair of Nominations Committee)
• Roger (extensive environmental and voluntary sector experience, former CEO Youth Hostels Association)
• Saba (serves on boards of Citizens UK and Tudor Trust, joined December 2023)
• Lisa (Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove, elected 2024)

The Trust's founding vision from Joseph Rowntree in 1904 expressed hope that the organization would “influence public thought in right channels” and support work “influenced by the spirit of human brotherhood and alive to the claims of social justice.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Small Grants (up to ??10,000):

• Submit applications online at any time
• Use JRRT's online application portal
• Complete budget using JRRT template
• Decision within 2 weeks

For Large Grants (over ??10,000):

• Submit outline proposal by quarterly deadline
• If invited, submit full application online
• Complete detailed budget using JRRT template
• May be invited to Zoom meeting with directors (not all applicants invited; invitation is not an indicator of outcome)
• Four application rounds per year

Key Application Requirements:

• Begin with a short summary statement: what funding would enable you to do, timescale, cost, and intended outcomes
• Use guidance questions as section headings
• Make clear case for why JRRT rather than other funders
• Provide completed budget template
• Focus on outcomes: the change you want to make
• All final applications must be submitted online

Support Available:

• Programme Manager (Grants) available throughout application drafting
• Can provide feedback on draft applications if requested
• Detailed guidance documents, budget templates, and worked examples on website

Decision Timeline

Small Grants: Decision within 2 weeks of submission (though may take longer if submitted during large grant round)

Large Grants:

• Decisions made at quarterly Board meetings (approximately one month after final application deadline)
• Applicants notified within 2 weeks if invited to meeting with directors
• Final decision notification within 2 weeks of Board meeting

Success Rates

2024 Overall Statistics:

• 69% of all grant applications successful
• 89% success rate for small grants (up to ??10,000)
• 64% success rate for large grants
• These figures exclude outline approaches that did not proceed to full applications

Volume: In 2023, 43 new grants were awarded (up from 38 in 2022)

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly detailed. Contact the Programme Manager (Grants) for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from JRRT

Making Your Case:

“It is important to make the case for coming to the JRRT as opposed to other funders. Remember, JRRT is not a charitable trust and does not fund campaigns that can be undertaken by charities.”

Application Structure:

“Begin your application with a short summary statement that clearly sets out what funding from JRRT would enable you to do, over what timescale, at what cost, and to what end.”

Outcomes Focus:

“Be clear about the change you want to make eg addressing an unjust law, policy or power that you believe needs to be challenged.”

Recent Funded Projects (2024)

• ??58,750 over 18 months to form a coalition of media associations to negotiate collectively with Strategic Market Status companies (Google, Meta)
• ??10,000 over 9 months to work with trade union, community, anti-racist, faith and political groups to convene in-person training
• ??10,000 over 1 year to advocate for recommendations in Reset Report addressing workplace problems causing MPs to step down
• ??5,951 for amplifying National Voter Registration Day 2025 campaign

Language and Terminology

The Trust uses language emphasizing:

• Democratic reform and political change
• Campaigns and advocacy (not charitable service delivery)
• Political inequality and democratic resilience
• National impact (not local projects)
• Systems change (electoral reform, checks and balances)

Budget Considerations

• Trust pays all direct costs of projects
• Also covers reasonable support costs/overheads enabling project delivery
• Must use JRRT budget template
• Average grant size ??60,950 in 2023
• Grant range: few thousand to ??300,000

Diversity Data (2024)

• 15% of grants (??220,917, 13% by value) designed to benefit Black or ethnic minority communities
• 7% of grants (9% by value) to organisations with majority Black, Asian or minority ethnic board and senior staff

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Emphasize non-charitable political nature: JRRT uniquely funds political campaigning work that charities cannot undertake. Clearly explain why charitable funding is inappropriate for your work.

1. Focus on national systemic change: Local projects without national impact are excluded. Demonstrate how your campaign will influence UK-wide political or democratic reform.

1. High success rates, especially for small grants: With 89% success rate for grants under ??10,000, consider starting with a small grant to establish relationship before applying for larger amounts.

1. Use pre-application support: The Programme Manager offers feedback on draft applications. Take advantage of this resource to strengthen your submission.

1. Strong outcomes focus required: Be specific about what political or democratic change you aim to achieve, not just activities you'll undertake.

1. Quarterly structure for larger grants: Plan timing carefully around quarterly deadlines for grants over ??10,000; small grants offer faster turnaround.

1. Quaker values and political reform heritage: Understanding JRRT's 120-year history of supporting political reform and social justice will help align your application with their mission.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
• The Leverhulme Trust
• Paul Hamlyn Foundation
• Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• The Wolfson Foundation
• Trust for London
• START NETWORK
• The Waterloo Foundation
• The Clothworkers' Foundation
• THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Barrow Cadbury Trust
• The Baring Foundation
• Peter Harrison Foundation
• THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITED
• The Harrison Foundation
• MAZARS CHARITABLE TRUST
• COMMON GROUND
• HELP FUND
• Players of People's Postcode Lottery
• People's Postcode Lottery

References

1. Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust official website - www.jrrt.org.uk
2. JRRT “What we fund” page - https://www.jrrt.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/what-we-fund/
3. JRRT “Apply for a grant” page - https://www.jrrt.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/
4. JRRT “Writing your application” guidance - https://www.jrrt.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/resources-for-applicants/writing-your-application/
5. JRRT Annual Report and Accounts 2023 - Company number 00357963 - https://www.jrrt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/JRRT-accounts-2023.pdf
6. JRRT “Our story” page - https://www.jrrt.org.uk/about-us/our-story-the-vision-of-joseph-rowntree/
7. JRRT “Directors and staff” page - https://www.jrrt.org.uk/about-us/directors-and-staff/
8. JRRT "What we don't fund" page - https://www.jrrt.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/what-we-dont-fund/
9. JRRT “Important dates” page - https://www.jrrt.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/important-dates/
10. JRRT “UK Democracy Fund” page - https://www.jrrt.org.uk/what-we-do/the-uk-democracy-fund/
11. JRRT “Grants awarded” database - https://www.jrrt.org.uk/what-we-do/grants-awarded/
12. 360Giving GrantNav - Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust data - https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-COH-00357963