M J C Stone Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 283920
• Annual Expenditure: £33,382 (2024)
• Recent Income: £29,581 (2024)
• Historic Total Giving: £3.68 million (2004-2013)
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £74,000 (documented grants)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide
• Application Process: No public application process - private family trust

Contact Details

Registered Addresses:

• 2nd Floor, 4 Conduit Street, London, W1S 2XE
• 8 St. Albans Grove, London, W8 5PN
• Ozleworth, Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 7QA

Telephone: 020 7096 6356 or 01453 845 591

Charity Commission: View charity details

Note: The trust does not have a public website or published email address for grant applications.

Overview

The M J C Stone Charitable Trust was established on 22 February 1982 as a private family charitable trust. Founded and controlled by Michael John Christopher Stone, former chairman of the sugar and commodities trading company ED&F Mann, the trust operates as a grant-making foundation supporting charitable organizations across the UK.

With historic giving totaling £3.68 million between 2004 and 2013, the trust has demonstrated a consistent pattern of supporting policy research, education, and social welfare initiatives. While recent annual expenditure (£33,382 in 2024) is more modest, the trust maintains an active grant-making program focused on education, poverty relief, and religious or public charitable purposes as determined by the trustees.

The trust is notable for its support of conservative think tanks and policy research organizations, though its charitable objects are broadly defined to include education advancement, poverty relief, and other charitable public purposes. It operates as a private trust managed by family trustees and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate formal grant programs with published criteria. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on the broad charitable objects.

Documented Grant Range: £5,000 - £74,000 per organization (based on historic data)

Application Method: No public application process. Grants appear to be awarded through trustee initiative and pre-existing relationships.

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants and charitable objects, the trust supports:

Education and Research:

• Policy research and think tanks
• Educational advancement initiatives
• Economic and social policy analysis

Poverty Relief:

• Organizations addressing socio-economic disadvantage
• Social welfare initiatives
• Projects supporting vulnerable populations

Religious and Public Benefit:

• Religious charitable purposes
• General charitable objectives as determined by trustees
• Other public benefit organizations

Known Grant Recipients

Historic documented beneficiaries include:

• Civitas (Institute for the Study of Civil Society): £74,000 total, including £29,000 (2006-2008)
• Institute of Economic Affairs: £59,735
• Centre for Social Justice: £27,000
• Policy Exchange: £10,000 total, including £5,000 in documented period

What They Don't Fund

The trust operates through other charities rather than funding individuals. Beyond this, specific exclusions are not publicly documented, though the documented grant history suggests a focus on policy research and think tanks rather than direct service delivery.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust is governed by four family trustees (as of most recent filing):

• Michael John Christopher Stone - Founder and former chairman of ED&F Mann (sugar and commodities trading)
• Louisa Stone
• Nicola Jane Farquhar
• Andrew Jonathan Stone
• Charles Robert Henry Stone

All trustees serve in a voluntary capacity with no remuneration or payments received from the charity. The trust has no paid employees.

Governance Structure

As a small charitable trust, governance is handled directly by the family trustees. The trust maintains compliance with Charity Commission requirements and is reported as up to date with all filings.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The M J C Stone Charitable Trust operates as a private family trust and does not accept unsolicited applications. There is no website, application form, or published grant guidelines for potential applicants.

Grants appear to be awarded through:

• Trustee initiative and discretion
• Pre-existing relationships with organizations
• Trustee awareness of organizations working in aligned areas

Organizations seeking funding cannot apply directly to this trust.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Success Rates

Not available - the trust does not operate an open application process, making success rates for unsolicited applications effectively 0%.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Trust's Approach:

Given the lack of a public application process, organizations should understand that this trust:

1. Operates Through Trustee Knowledge: Grants are made based on organizations the trustees are already aware of or have connections with, rather than through competitive application processes.

1. Historical Focus on Policy Research: Documented grants show a clear pattern of supporting conservative think tanks and policy research organizations, particularly those focused on economic policy, social justice, and civil society research.

1. Aligns with Trustee Interests: Michael Stone's background in business and demonstrated interest in free-market economic policy research is reflected in the trust's grant-making pattern.

1. Values Independence: Support has gone to organizations conducting independent policy research and analysis, particularly in areas of economic and social policy.

1. Long-term Relationships: Rather than one-off grants, the trust appears to build relationships with organizations over time (e.g., multiple grants to Civitas).

For Organizations in Aligned Areas:

While direct application is not possible, organizations working in policy research, education, poverty relief, or religious charitable purposes that align with the trust's documented interests should:

• Focus on building their reputation and visibility in their field
• Ensure their work is well-documented and publicly accessible
• Engage with networks and sectors where the trustees may have connections
• Maintain excellence in their charitable activities and impact

Note: There is no guarantee that even well-aligned organizations will receive funding, as the trust operates entirely through trustee discretion.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Applications: This trust does not accept unsolicited applications and has no application process. Organizations cannot proactively apply for funding.

• Private Family Trust: Decisions are made entirely at the discretion of the Stone family trustees based on their charitable interests and awareness of organizations.

• Historic Focus on Think Tanks: Documented grants show significant support for conservative policy research organizations, think tanks, and educational institutions focused on economic and social policy.

• Variable Grant Sizes: Historic grants have ranged from £5,000 to £74,000, though recent annual expenditure suggests more modest current grant-making.

• Relationship-Based: Funding appears to flow to organizations with which the trustees have pre-existing relationships or awareness.

• Not a Target for Most Organizations: Unless your organization already has connections with the Stone family or operates in policy research aligned with their demonstrated interests, this is not a viable funding prospect.

• Focus Efforts Elsewhere: Grant writers should not spend time attempting to approach this funder and should instead focus on trusts with open application processes.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Rowlands Trust
• Sir John and Lady Heathcoat Amory's Charitable Trust
• The Halpin Trust
• The Pople Charitable Trust
• The Saintbury Trust
• County of Gloucestershire Community Foundation
• THE VERDON-SMITH FAMILY CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT
• The Burry Charitable Trust
• CECIL AND HILDA LEWIS CHARITABLE TRUST
• MOLE CHARITABLE TRUST

References

Primary Sources:

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, M J C Stone Charitable Trust (283920): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=283920&subid=0

Supporting Information:

• Powerbase, “MJC Stone Charitable Trust,”: https://powerbase.info/index.php/MJC_Stone_Charitable_Trust
• Charity Choice, “M J C Stone Charitable Trust,”: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/m-j-c-stone-charitable-trust-149808
• OpenCharities, “M J C Stone Charitable Trust,”
• Institutional Investor, “The Unlikely Ascent of Man” (profile of ED&F Mann)

Note: Information compiled from publicly available sources including Charity Commission filings, charity databases, and documented grant recipient data. Limited recent grant recipient information is available as the trust does not publish detailed grant lists and small charity returns do not require full financial detail disclosure.