London Catalyst

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £300,000 - £350,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Applications decided at quarterly Grants Scrutiny Committee meetings; responses within a few days after meetings
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000 (Project Grants); £100 - £2,000 (Samaritan Grants)
• Geographic Focus: Greater London (within M25 motorway)

Contact Details

Address: 45 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JB

Phone: 020 3828 4204 / 07578 742 574

Email: london.catalyst@peabody.org.uk

Website: www.londoncatalyst.org.uk

Overview

London Catalyst, originally established in 1873 as the Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund, is one of London's oldest health charities. Founded by prominent Victorians including Florence Nightingale, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (Britain's first female doctor), Baroness Burdett-Coutts, and William Henry Smith MP, the charity was created to address the devastating health effects of poverty, inadequate housing, and poor sanitation in Victorian London. Queen Victoria became Patron in 1874, and the charity has maintained royal patronage to this day.

The Fund was inaugurated at St Paul's Cathedral by Prince Edward (later King Edward VII) on 15 June 1873, organizing an annual 'Hospital Sunday' where collections were made in places of worship throughout Greater London to help destitute Londoners access medical treatment. In 2002, the charity changed its name to London Catalyst, but its mission remains unchanged: to provide for the sick and poor of London.

With an annual grants budget of approximately £300,000-£350,000, London Catalyst acts as a catalyst through targeted grant-making to tackle poverty and improve health outcomes for London's most disadvantaged residents. The charity prioritizes catalytic projects that demonstrate innovation and have potential for wider impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Main Grants Programme (Project Grants)

• Amount: £1,000 - £10,000
• Duration: Minimum 1 year, maximum 3 years
• Focus: New initiatives and service developments targeted at people disadvantaged by long-term ill-health, disability, and poverty
• Application: Online application form; two-stage process for multi-year funding
• Meetings: Quarterly Grants Scrutiny Committee meetings; applications must be received at least four weeks before meeting dates

2. Samaritan Grants (Hardship Fund)

• Amount: £100 - £2,000 (average grant £16)
• Focus: Immediate assistance for people in emergency situations
• Distribution: Made available to frontline health, social work, and advice agencies who distribute small one-off grants on behalf of London Catalyst
• Typical Uses: Food, toiletries, bedding, clothing and footwear; fares to hospital or medical appointments; household appliances and repairs; utility top-ups; medical aids not available from statutory sources

3. Partners for Health Programme

• Status: Currently paused; updates expected towards end of 2025
• Partnership: Collaborative programme co-funded with Hospital Saturday Fund (partnership since 2015) and other grant makers
• Focus: Partnership working between health agencies (public and charitable) and community groups to tackle health inequalities

Priority Areas

London Catalyst prioritizes:

• Catalytic projects that tackle the effects of poverty
• Initiatives that improve health and well-being of people with limiting health conditions or disabilities
• New initiatives and service developments (not ongoing operational costs)
• Projects serving disadvantaged populations within Greater London
• Organizations demonstrating clear expertise and community engagement
• Partnership approaches that leverage multiple agencies and sector networks

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations operating outside Greater London (outside the M25 motorway)
• General appeals or deficit funding
• Organizations whose work is not legally charitable
• Projects without clear measurable outcomes

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Governance and Leadership

London Catalyst is governed by a board of 12 trustees who serve without remuneration. The charity employs one member of staff (earning between £60,000-£70,000 annually). Grant administration is managed through Peabody, with contact via london.catalyst@peabody.org.uk.

The charity's decision-making structure includes a Grants Scrutiny Committee (GSC) that meets quarterly to review applications and make funding decisions.

Financial Overview

As of December 2024:

• Total Income: £278,790
• Total Expenditure: £480,756
• Charity Number: 1066739
• Registered Company: 3460296

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Main Grants Programme:

1. Complete the online application form available at www.londoncatalyst.org.uk
2. Applications can be previewed before submission
3. Submit at least four weeks before the quarterly Grants Scrutiny Committee meeting
4. For multi-year funding, a two-stage application process applies

Application Deadlines: Quarterly meetings; check website for specific dates (at least 4 weeks' notice required)

Decision Timeline

• Applications are reviewed at quarterly Grants Scrutiny Committee meetings
• Successful and refused applicants are informed immediately after the meeting, typically within a few days
• Total timeline: approximately 4-6 weeks from application deadline to decision notification

Eligibility Requirements

Organization Type:

• Registered charities
• Voluntary and community organizations with legally charitable work
• Priority to organizations with annual income of £500,000 or less
• Organizations with income over £500,000 may be considered when their resources and expertise position them uniquely to develop a service or when in partnership with local groups

Geographic Requirement:

• Must be based and operating within Greater London (within the M25 orbital motorway)

Project Requirements:

• Must tackle effects of poverty and/or improve health and well-being of people with limiting health conditions or disabilities
• Clear identification of target group with full involvement in planning
• Measurable outcomes

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. However, with an annual budget of £300,000-£350,000 and grants ranging from £1,000-£10,000, the charity typically funds 30-50 projects annually through the Main Grants Programme.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly specified. Applicants should contact London Catalyst directly to discuss reapplication timelines and feedback opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Based on London Catalyst's published guidance, successful applicants demonstrate:

1. Clear Target Group Identification

• Know precisely which target group the project will reach
• Fully involve this group in project planning and design
• Demonstrate deep understanding of the community's needs

2. Expertise and Experience

• Proven knowledge and experience working with the client group
• Track record of successful project delivery
• Expertise and capacity to deliver proposed activities

3. Active Partnerships

• Strong links to relevant agencies and sector networks
• Collaborative approaches that leverage multiple organizations
• Evidence of partnership commitment and complementary strengths

4. Engagement-Focused Projects

• Projects that provide activities, opportunities, and meaningful involvement
• Participatory approaches that empower beneficiaries
• Focus on catalytic impact that can spark wider change

5. Measurable Outcomes

• Clear articulation of expected achievements
• Defined metrics for measuring success
• Realistic evaluation plans

Key Quote from London Catalyst: The charity looks for applicants “able to explain what they expect to achieve and how they will know” – emphasizing the importance of clear, measurable project goals.

Strategic Considerations

• “Catalytic” Focus: London Catalyst prioritizes projects that act as catalysts for broader change, not just service delivery
• Health and Poverty Nexus: Strongest applications address the intersection of health outcomes and poverty
• Community Engagement: Projects must demonstrate genuine community involvement, not top-down service provision
• Innovation: While organizations may have existing track records, projects should represent new initiatives or service developments

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Historical Mission Matters: London Catalyst has maintained its focus on “the sick and poor of London” since 1873. Applications should explicitly connect to this heritage mission of addressing health inequalities caused by poverty.

• Catalytic Impact is Essential: The name change from Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund to London Catalyst was deliberate. Show how your project will spark wider change, not just deliver services.

• Geographic Boundaries are Strict: The M25 motorway is the absolute boundary. Projects must serve beneficiaries within this area.

• Income Threshold is Flexible: While £500,000 income is the guideline, larger organizations can be funded when they bring unique expertise or are partnering with local groups.

• Partnership Adds Value: The long-standing partnership with Hospital Saturday Fund and collaborative Partners for Health programme demonstrate London Catalyst values partnership approaches.

• Quick Turnaround: Decisions within days of quarterly meetings make this a relatively fast funder, but careful timing is needed to meet the 4-week pre-meeting deadline.

• Royal Heritage: The charity's royal patronage (since Queen Victoria in 1874) and illustrious founding members (Florence Nightingale, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson) reflect its status as a significant London health charity – applications should reflect this heritage and reputation.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Garfield Weston Foundation
• The Henry Smith Foundation
• The Edward Gostling Foundation
• THE HOSPITAL SATURDAY FUND
• THE BRIDGE TRUST
• The Arts Council of England
• Trust for London
• THE NATIONWIDE FOUNDATION
• Bernard Sunley Foundation
• BBC Children in Need
• The Charis Trust
• FOWLER SMITH AND JONES TRUST
• THE LINBURY TRUST
• The Marsh Charitable Trust
• East End Community Foundation
• The Tudor Trust
• HENRY SMITH
• National Lottery
• CITY HARVEST
• INSPIRATIONS

References

1. London Catalyst Official Website - www.londoncatalyst.org.uk
2. Charity Commission Register - London Catalyst (Charity Number 1066739), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1066739&subId=0
3. Hospital Saturday Fund - Funding Partners: London Catalyst, https://hospitalsaturdayfund.org/apply-for-a-grant/funding-partners-london-catalyst/
4. London Catalyst - About Us, https://www.londoncatalyst.org.uk/about-us/
5. London Catalyst - Grants Information, https://www.londoncatalyst.org.uk/grants/
6. Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Hospital_Sunday_Fund
7. London Catalyst - Reports and News, https://www.londoncatalyst.org.uk/news-and-reports/
8. Various local CVS and community foundation sources including Young Harrow Foundation, Kensington & Chelsea Social Council, Young Camden Foundation