Lempriere Pringle 2015

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 1161516
• Annual Giving: £23.2 million (2023/24)
• Total Assets: £30.4 million (2023)
• Grant Range: £1 million - £5.3 million (based on known grants)
• Geographic Focus: England, particularly County Durham and Bishop Auckland
• Application Method: No public application process - invitation only

Contact Details

• Email: ordhouse1@btinternet.com
• Phone: 01609 748284
• Charity Commission: Register entry 1161516

Overview

Lempriere Pringle 2015 is the successor charity to The Lempriere Pringle Trust, established by philanthropist and investment manager Jonathan Ruffer in 1992. Registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in May 2015, the charity serves as Ruffer's primary vehicle for making grants and loans to various charitable causes. With total assets of over £30 million and annual charitable expenditure of approximately £23.2 million (2023/24), the charity is principally concerned with supporting community needs via Christian ministries in England. A major focus is the regeneration of Bishop Auckland and the surrounding area through sister charities including The Auckland Castle Trust, Zurbaran Trust, and Eleven Arches. By 2020, Ruffer had donated over £200 million to the Auckland Project, making it one of the most significant private philanthropic initiatives in the UK. The charity does not solicit applications but proactively engages with organizations in pursuit of common goals and shared objectives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Focus Areas

Lempriere Pringle 2015 operates as a directed grant-maker, meaning trustees identify and select beneficiaries rather than responding to applications. The charity has demonstrated support for:

Regional Regeneration Projects

• Major multi-year support for Bishop Auckland regeneration through sister charities
• Auckland Castle Trust and Kynren: £3.06 million (2016/17)
• Focus on transforming Bishop Auckland into “a faith, art and heritage destination of international significance”

Christian Communities and Ministries

• Seedbed Christian Communities Trust: £5.3 million (2016/17) - the largest single beneficiary on record
• Support for Christian charities advancing the Christian religion
• Historic involvement with Good Shepherd Mission, Bethnal Green and Church Urban Fund

Community Development and Employment

• County Durham Community Foundation: £1 million (2016/17) to support employment, skills, and raising aspirations
• Focus on helping people back into employment and fulfilling potential

Priority Areas

The charity's governing document allows trustees to “advance such charitable purposes (according to the law of England and Wales) as the trustees see fit from time to time.” In practice, priorities include:

• Advancing the Christian religion
• Economic and community regeneration
• Employment and skills development
• Heritage preservation and arts
• Social and spiritual transformation of communities

What They Don't Fund

As the charity does not accept unsolicited applications, they effectively do not fund organizations outside of their proactively identified focus areas. The charity's approach is highly strategic and relationship-based rather than responsive to general charitable need.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of 2024)

• Jonathan Garnier Ruffer (Chair) - Investment Manager, appointed 2015. Ruffer is a committed evangelical Christian whose philanthropy is deeply rooted in his faith. He describes his faith as encompassing Evangelical, Anglican, and Roman Catholic elements, and states that his decisions are made “in obedience” to his beliefs.
• Ashe George Russell Windham - Appointed 2015
• Dr Fiona Hill - Appointed 2024
• Dr Norman Macaskill Fraser - Appointed 2019
• Edwina Blackford - Appointed 2023
• Elizabeth Hannah Booker - Appointed 2019
• Harriet Cecilia Ruffer - Appointed 2018

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. One or more trustees are directors of subsidiary organizations.

Leadership Philosophy

Jonathan Ruffer has described his philanthropic approach as rooted in biblical principles of generosity and service. He has stated: “I want to see Bishop Auckland as a wonderful place socially, economically, morally, spiritually.” His approach has been characterized as “transformational philanthropy,” whereby the philanthropist seeks to make a fundamental difference to the lives of many people. Ruffer believes “the lessons taught by Jesus remain fundamentally true and relevant” and his philanthropy is “informed in all aspects by his beliefs, which are founded on a careful reading of the scriptures.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Lempriere Pringle 2015 explicitly does not solicit applications for grants and has no formal applications procedure. As stated in their approach: “Rather, the trust proactively engages with the organizations it supports in pursuit of common goals and shared objectives.”

Grants are made at the suggestion of the trustees, and the charity identifies organizations that align with its strategic priorities, particularly those supporting:

• Christian ministries and communities
• The regeneration of Bishop Auckland and County Durham
• Employment and community development initiatives

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made by trustees at their discretion when they identify suitable charitable causes and organizations to support.

Success Rates

Not applicable - there is no application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no application process. Organizations that wish to be considered for support would need to be identified by trustees or come to the attention of the charity through the trustees' networks.

Application Success Factors

While there is no application process, understanding what attracts this funder's support is valuable:

Alignment with Christian Mission: The charity is explicitly focused on “supporting community needs via Christian ministries in England.” Founder Jonathan Ruffer is a committed evangelical Christian, and his faith is central to all philanthropic decisions. Organizations with a clear Christian foundation or mission are most likely to receive consideration.

Geographic Focus on Bishop Auckland: The charity has invested heavily (over £200 million by 2020) in the regeneration of Bishop Auckland through sister charities. Organizations working in County Durham, particularly those contributing to social, economic, moral, or spiritual transformation of the region, align with stated priorities.

Transformational Impact: Ruffer practices “transformational philanthropy” seeking to “make a fundamental difference to the lives of many people.” Large-scale projects with community-wide impact appear to be favored over smaller, incremental interventions.

Shared Goals and Objectives: The charity's stated approach emphasizes “proactively engag[ing] with the organizations it supports in pursuit of common goals and shared objectives.” This suggests that organizations whose missions naturally align with the trustees' vision, rather than those adapting to fit funding criteria, are most likely to be supported.

Strategic Partnerships: The charity's relationship with sister organizations (Auckland Castle Trust, Zurbaran Trust, Eleven Arches) and substantial multi-year commitments suggest preference for long-term strategic partnerships over one-off grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No application process exists - this is not a funder you can apply to directly. Understanding their priorities is useful for context but will not lead to funding unless trustees independently identify your organization.

• Christian faith is central - with a founder who describes his decisions as made “in obedience” to his evangelical Christian faith, organizations without a clear Christian mission are highly unlikely to receive support.

• Scale matters - documented grants range from £1 million to £5.3 million, suggesting this funder is focused on substantial, transformational investments rather than smaller grants.

• Geographic priority is County Durham - particularly Bishop Auckland regeneration, though the charity can operate throughout England and Wales.

• Employment and community development align with priorities - the £1 million grant to County Durham Community Foundation demonstrates interest in helping people into employment and raising aspirations.

• Relationship-driven funding - the charity “proactively engages with organizations” rather than responding to approaches, making trustee networks and connections essential.

• Long-term commitment approach - the multi-year, multi-million pound commitment to Bishop Auckland projects suggests this funder seeks lasting partnerships rather than short-term interventions.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation
• Forest Hill Charitable Trust
• Morris Leigh Foundation
• The Grant Foundation
• The Costa Family Charitable Trust
• Lancaster Foundation
• GRACE CHARITABLE TRUST
• Hinchley Charitable Trust
• The Bowland Charitable Trust
• The Trust Foundation

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, LEMPRIERE PRINGLE 2015 - Charity 1161516, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1161516

• Find that Charity, Lempriere Pringle 2015 (GB-CHC-1161516), https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1161516

• Philanthropy North East, “Lempriere Pringle 2015,” Generosity Festival, https://www.philanthropynortheast.com/organisations/lempriere-pringle-2015

• Philanthropy North East, “Our region built on philanthropy: Jonathan Garnier Ruffer,” Generosity Festival, https://www.generosityfestival.co.uk/the-philanthropists/ruffer-jonathan-garnier

• Wikipedia, “Jonathan Ruffer,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Ruffer