M St J Way Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £132,920 - £222,000 (charitable expenditure)
• Total Assets: £9,116,278
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: India and Nepal
• Method of Operation: Makes grants to organisations
• Application Process: No public application process

Contact Details

• Address: 2 Lodore Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 3NN
• Phone: 0191 284 2105
• Website: None
• Email: None publicly available
• Also known as: Manesty Charitable Trust

Overview

The M ST J WAY CHARITABLE TRUST was established on 22 January 1993 under a Declaration of Trust dated 5 October 1992. The trust is a family foundation with total assets of approximately £9.1 million, making it a small to medium-sized foundation in the UK charitable sector.

The charity's stated objective is “to make donations and grants out of the income of the charity for general charitable purposes both nationally and overseas.” The trust generates income from both donations/legacies (£334,278 in 2024) and investment income (£316,842 in 2024), giving it a substantial funding base.

In the most recent financial year ending June 2024, the trust had a total income of £651,120 and made grants to institutions totalling £132,920, with total charitable expenditure of £222,274. The trust has shown consistent growth in both income and grant-making over the past five years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust makes grants to organisations working in three primary focus areas:

• Education: Educational initiatives and training programmes
• Poverty alleviation: Prevention and relief of poverty
• Environment & nature protection: Conservation and heritage work

Geographic Focus

• India
• Nepal

The trust focuses on overseas work rather than UK-based projects, specifically supporting work in South Asia.

Known Grant Recipients

Based on available records, past grant recipients have included:

• 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifle Regimental Trust
• Friends of Conservation - Friends of the Masai Mara
• Rotary Club of Glossop Trust Fund
• The NST Development Trust
• H C D Memorial Fund

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the trust's geographic and thematic focus suggests they do not fund:

• UK domestic projects
• Areas outside their stated focus (education, poverty, environment)
• Individuals (they make grants to organisations only)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (8 total)

• Michael St John Way - Founding trustee
• M St J Way - Trustee
• Richard John Varley - Trustee (also trustee of Ponteland Methodist Church and Newcastle Upon Tyne West Methodist Circuit)
• Marilyn McCoull - Trustee (appointed 1 July 2018)
• Joanne Way - Trustee (appointed 2 September 2019)
• Joseph Houlihan - Trustee (appointed 2 September 2019)
• Carol Maclennan - Trustee (appointed 2 February 2020)
• Jamie Hamilton - Trustee (appointed 6 October 2023)

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust does not have any trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The M ST J WAY CHARITABLE TRUST operates as a private family foundation that makes grants at trustee discretion. There is no website, no published application guidelines, and no formal application process documented in public records.

Grants are likely made to organisations known to the trustees or those that come to their attention through personal networks and connections. The trust does not publish 360Giving data, which typically indicates a preference for private grant-making without public solicitation.

Getting on Their Radar

Due to the private nature of this trust, specific intelligence about how to engage them is limited. Based on the available information:

• Geographic relevance: Organisations working in India or Nepal may be more likely to come to the trustees' attention
• Thematic alignment: Projects focused on education, poverty relief, or environmental conservation in South Asia align with their stated priorities
• Existing connections: Past grant recipients include organisations with Gurkha connections (10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifle Regimental Trust), suggesting military/veteran connections may be relevant
• Methodist connections: Trustee Richard John Varley has Methodist church connections, which could indicate faith-based networks as a potential pathway

Decision Timeline

Not publicly documented. The trust reports annually, suggesting grants are made throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not documented.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this trust, success factors are based on observable patterns rather than stated guidance:

1. Geographic fit: Strong focus on India and Nepal means organisations working in these countries are most likely to receive support
2. Thematic alignment: Projects addressing education, poverty, or environmental issues align with stated priorities
3. Organisational connections: The grant-making pattern suggests trustees fund organisations they know or have connections to
4. Track record: Established organisations with demonstrable impact in the target regions may be favoured
5. Personal networks: Building relationships with trustees or their existing networks appears to be the primary route to funding

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - This is a trustee-discretion family foundation
• Highly focused geographically - Almost exclusively funds work in India and Nepal
• Three core themes - Education, poverty relief, and environmental conservation
• Moderate grant-maker - Approximately £133,000 in grants to institutions annually
• Strong financial position - Over £9 million in assets with growing income
• Personal connections likely essential - Without a public process, trustee relationships are key
• Consider indirect approaches - Building visibility in the South Asia charitable sector may be more effective than direct approaches

References

• Charity Commission - M ST J WAY CHARITABLE TRUST Overview -
• Charity Commission - Trustees -
• Charity Commission - Financial History -
• Charity Commission - What, Who, How, Where -
• Fundraiso - M ST J WAY CHARITABLE TRUST -