Livery Companies (collective)

Quick Stats

• Annual Collective Giving: £81 million (across 113 companies)
• Number of Organizations: 113 individual Livery Companies
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £50,000+ (varies by company)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily London and surrounding boroughs
• Top Funding Area: Education (£30 million annually)
• UK Grant-Making Rank: Top 6 collectively

Contact Details

Livery Committee (coordinating body - not a grant-maker itself)

• Website: https://liverycommittee.org
• Provides guidance on applications to individual Livery Companies
• Livery Database: liverydatabase.liverycompanies.info

Note: Each individual Livery Company has its own contact details, typically through their Clerk's office. Visit individual company websites for specific contact information.

Overview

The Livery Companies of the City of London are 113 ancient and modern trade associations and guilds, most of which maintain significant charitable trusts. Dating back to medieval times, these organizations have evolved from trade regulation bodies into predominantly philanthropic institutions. The “Great Twelve” (including Mercers, Grocers, Drapers, Fishmongers, Goldsmiths, Merchant Taylors, Skinners, Haberdashers, Salters, Ironmongers, Vintners, and Clothworkers) hold endowments running into millions and are responsible for the majority of the £81 million distributed annually. A relatively small number of Livery companies give a significant proportion of this total, having built up charitable trust funds with endowments and bequests over several centuries. Collectively, the Livery movement ranks among the top six grant makers in the UK, with 45,000 members supporting charitable work through both financial contributions and pro bono professional expertise.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Each Livery Company operates independently with its own charitable trust and funding priorities. Examples include:

• Fishmongers' Company Charitable Trust: £15,000 - £50,000 for education in prisons, mental health, and food and nutrition (preference for City of London and boroughs of Camden, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Westminster)
• Goldsmiths' Company Charity: Small grants up to £5,000 for London and national charities with turnover under £5 million (online application via eligibility form)
• Merchant Taylors' Company: Majority of grants up to £10,000, with larger awards available; over £500,000 awarded last year (focus on inner London, particularly Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Hackney)
• Vintners' Company: Trade scholarships of approximately £9,300 through Wine and Spirits Education Trust
• Conservation Fellowships: Annual £80,000 fellowships supporting senior conservators at UK institutions

Application methods vary: some companies use online portals, others accept written applications to their Clerk, and some prefer informal initial discussions.

Priority Areas

Education (£30 million annually): The largest area of support, including:

• Support for independent and state-maintained schools
• Scholarships and bursaries for disadvantaged pupils
• Professional training and trade education
• University partnerships and research fellowships

Youth Support: Programs for vulnerable young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including employability initiatives and welfare support

Other Priority Areas:

• General welfare and social care
• Medical welfare and mental health
• Reoffending programs and prison education
• Homelessness support
• Arts, culture, and heritage conservation
• Religious institutions
• Housing and care homes (almshouses)
• Charity administration development

Many companies focus on charitable activities linked to their particular trade or profession, while others have broader objectives.

What They Don't Fund

Each trust is governed by its own trust deed, which defines specific charitable objects. Common exclusions include:

• Applications outside the trust's defined charitable objects
• Projects outside their geographic focus (if specified)
• Organizations that don't align with the company's historic or trade-related mission
• Vague or poorly defined projects without clear measurable outcomes

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Governance and Leadership

Each of the 113 Livery Companies has its own governance structure, typically including:

• Master: The head of the company (annually rotating position)
• Wardens: Senior officers supporting the Master
• Court of Assistants: Governing body
• Trustees: Overseeing charitable trust activities
• Clerk: Administrative officer (typically the contact point for grant applications)

The Livery Committee (established 1864) serves as the forum of communication between the Livery and City of London officials, though it is not itself a grant-making body. The Livery Charity Chairs Group facilitates best practice sharing among charitable trusts on governance and operational issues.

All Livery company charitable trusts are regulated by the Charity Commission and maintain separate charity registration numbers from their parent companies.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: There is no single centralized application process for “Livery Companies” as a collective. Each of the 113 individual Livery Companies operates its own charitable trust with separate application procedures.

General Application Approach:

• Charitable trust objectives and priorities
• Eligibility criteria
• Application forms or procedures
• Contact details (usually the Clerk's office)

1. Use the Livery Database: Visit liverydatabase.liverycompanies.info to identify which companies align with your charitable objectives

1. Contact the Clerk: If application information is not clear on the website, write to or call the Clerk's office. Some trusts welcome informal phone discussions before formal applications

• Some issue formal application forms
• Some accept written proposals
• Some use online portals (e.g., Goldsmiths' requires eligibility form first, then online application within 2 weeks)
• Some prefer initial informal contact

1. Target Your Applications: The Livery Committee guidance emphasizes that “a small number of well researched and tailor made applications are far more likely to succeed than a wide ranging non targeted letter”

Decision Timeline

• Trustee Meetings: Most trusts hold quarterly trustee meetings where grant decisions are made
• Application Timing: Submit applications well in advance of trustee meetings
• Response Times: Vary by individual company; specific timelines are not publicly standardized

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available across the Livery Companies. However:

• Most trusts receive more requests than they can fund
• Well-researched, targeted applications have significantly higher success rates than generic requests
• The collective £81 million in annual giving supports thousands of beneficiaries across diverse causes

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies vary by individual Livery Company. Check with specific companies regarding:

• Whether unsuccessful applicants may reapply
• Required waiting periods between applications
• Changes that might strengthen a resubmission

Application Success Factors

Critical Requirements from Livery Committee Guidance

1. Alignment with Trust Objects: “They will not be able to consider applications which are outside the objects of the trust.” Ensure your project fits within the specific charitable objectives defined in the trust deed.

• Why your project needs their money
• How you will spend it
• How many people will benefit
• In what way they will benefit

1. Demonstrable Impact: “The impact of any grant given is very important.” Focus on measurable outcomes and long-term effects of the funding.

1. Targeted Research: “It is particularly important to carry out some research first; this is vital. A small number of well researched and tailor made applications are far more likely to succeed than a wide ranging non targeted letter.”

1. Trade or Professional Alignment: Many companies focus on “charitable activities linked with their particular trade or profession.” Identify connections between your work and the company's historic trade or modern professional focus.

1. Geographic Preferences: Some companies specify geographic preferences (e.g., specific London boroughs). Highlight if your work serves these areas.

Beyond Financial Support

“Most livery companies also have a cohort of highly experienced people who are willing to get involved, providing inspiring talks and presentations, but a lot of charities rarely seek to reach their expertise - they limit their requests to money.” Consider requesting:

• Pro bono professional expertise
• Mentorship from experienced professionals
• Speaking engagements or presentations
• Board member connections or advice

Examples of Funded Projects

• Conservation research projects at Glasgow Museum (stained glass) and institutions like Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and British Museum
• Better Futures programme: £1.25 million over five years supporting organizations delivering benefits to vulnerable young people from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Education support for schools, colleges, and centers of excellence
• Medical education and research programs
• Almshouse management and elderly care provision

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. “Livery Companies” is not one funder: This is a collective term for 113 separate organizations, each with distinct priorities, processes, and trust deeds. Research and apply to individual companies, not “the Livery” as a whole.

1. Quality over quantity: The Livery Committee explicitly advises that targeted, well-researched applications to appropriate companies succeed far more often than bulk, generic applications sent widely.

1. Education is the priority: With £30 million of the £81 million total going to education, this is the strongest alignment point for education-focused charities.

1. Trade connections matter: Companies often prioritize causes related to their historic trade or modern professional focus. Research these connections carefully.

1. The Great Twelve hold the most funds: Focus research efforts on the wealthiest companies (Mercers, Grocers, Drapers, Fishmongers, Goldsmiths, Merchant Taylors, Skinners, Haberdashers, Salters, Ironmongers, Vintners, Clothworkers) if your project requires larger grants.

1. Think beyond money: Livery Companies offer professional expertise, networking, and influence beyond financial grants. Consider how these relationships could benefit your organization long-term.

1. Quarterly decision cycles: Plan your funding pipeline around quarterly trustee meetings, allowing time for relationship building and application preparation.

References

• Livery Committee. "Applications to livery companies' and guilds' charitable trusts." https://liverycommittee.org/charities-and-education/charities/applications-charitable-trusts/
• Livery Committee. “Livery Committee publishes Livery Impact Report 2025.” https://liverycommittee.org/livery-committee-publishes-livery-impact-report-2025/
• Livery Committee. “Grants: the application process and achieving impact.” https://liverycommittee.org/grants-the-application-process-and-achieving-impact/
• Livery Companies of the City of London. “Charities.” http://www.liverycompanies.info/charities.html
• Charities Management. “Livery Companies.” https://www.charitiesmanagement.com/livery-companies.php
• Get Grants. "The Goldsmiths' Company Charity." https://www.getgrants.org.uk/goldsmiths-company-charity/
• The Brewers' Hall. “Philanthropic Giving by Livery Companies.” https://www.brewershall.co.uk/news/philanthropic-giving-by-livery-companies
• UKGrantmaking. “Focus: London.” https://www.ukgrantmaking.org/2024/focus-london/