Mercury Phoenix Trust

Charity Number: 1013768

Annual Expenditure: £18.0M
Geographic Focus: Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Burma, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi ... [7 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??18M total (over 1,800+ projects since 1992)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (rolling applications)
  • Grant Range: Not specified (average approximately ??10,000 based on total giving)
  • Geographic Focus: International, primarily developing world (57 countries)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.mercuryphoenixtrust.org

Email: grants@mercuryphoenixtrust.com

General Email: mercuryphoenixtrust@idrec.com

Phone: 020 7298 1899

Charity Number: 1013768

Overview

The Mercury Phoenix Trust was founded in 1992 by Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor, along with manager Jim Beach, in memory of Freddie Mercury who died from AIDS in 1991. The Trust is a UK registered charity (no. 1013768) regulated by the British Charity Commission. Since its inception, the MPT has funded 1,956 HIV/AIDS projects across 881 charities in 57 countries, donating over ??18 million. The Trust focuses exclusively on fighting HIV/AIDS in the developing world through education and awareness programmes, with particular emphasis on reaching young people in and out of school. The organization operates with exceptional efficiency???93p of every pound donated goes directly to projects, with overheads under 7p per pound. The MPT predominantly funds smaller grassroots organizations that work where governments, larger NGOs, and markets often don't reach.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single grant programme focused exclusively on HIV/AIDS projects:

  • HIV/AIDS Education and Awareness Grants: Applications accepted on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines
  • Grant amounts not specified, but average approximately ??10,000 per project based on historical data
  • Focus on grassroots organizations working in developing countries

Priority Areas

  • HIV/AIDS education and awareness programmes
  • Projects targeting young people (in and out of school)
  • Prevention initiatives
  • Mother-to-child transmission prevention
  • Community-based education (including theatre, peer education, and other creative approaches)
  • Support for marginalized communities affected by HIV/AIDS
  • Projects in developing countries where larger organizations have limited reach
  • Grandparent education for those caring for AIDS orphans
  • Youth sexual health education

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Travel grants
  • Projects unrelated to HIV/AIDS
  • Organizations that are not registered charities
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of 2022):

  • Brian May - Queen guitarist and co-founder
  • Roger Taylor - Queen drummer and co-founder
  • Jim Beach - Queen manager and co-founder
  • Mary Austin - Freddie Mercury's former fianc??e

The trustees have maintained consistent leadership of the organization since its founding, demonstrating long-term commitment to Freddie Mercury's legacy. The Trust's guiding philosophy reflects Mercury's own words: "Whatever you do, don't make me boring,“ emphasizing bold, innovative approaches to fighting AIDS. Leadership has noted that ”last year for the first time since AIDS appeared four decades ago more people were put on the treatment than contracted the virus“ and ”the balance is slowly tipping in the right direction??? dreams of a world free of AIDS are no longer just dreams."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Contact grants@mercuryphoenixtrust.com to obtain an application form
  2. Complete the application form with detailed project information
  3. Submit required documentation (see below)
  4. Applications accepted on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines

Required Documentation:

  • Completed application form
  • Project budget
  • Charity Registration Certificate
  • Audited Accounts for the last financial year
  • Constitution or Memorandum and Articles of Association
  • Annual Report

Decision Timeline

The Trust does not publicly disclose typical decision timeframes. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Trust has funded over 1,800 projects across 881 charities since 1992, demonstrating substantial grant-making activity.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Applicants should contact the Trust directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Funding Approach:

The Mercury Phoenix Trust specifically seeks to fund smaller grassroots organizations that work at the community level where larger institutions often cannot reach. This suggests that applications from small-to-medium sized charities with strong community ties may be particularly competitive.

Geographic Focus:

The Trust has funded projects across 57 countries, with notable concentrations in:

  • India (9 projects)
  • South Africa (8 projects)
  • Mozambique (5 projects)
  • Madagascar (4 projects)
  • Also active in Angola, Bangladesh, Brazil, Kenya, and many other developing nations

Project Types That Resonate:

Based on examples from their funded work, successful projects include:

  • Educating grandparents caring for AIDS orphans (Cambodia)
  • Mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention (South Africa)
  • HIV awareness theatre (Papua New Guinea)
  • Youth sexual health education programmes
  • Peer education initiatives
  • Creative and innovative approaches to education and awareness

Key Success Factors:

  • Clear focus on HIV/AIDS education and awareness
  • Strong grassroots connections and community engagement
  • Projects targeting young people or marginalized populations
  • Located in developing countries where need is greatest
  • Innovative or creative approaches to reaching target populations
  • Realistic budgets appropriate for grassroots work
  • Registered charity status with proper governance documentation
  • Commitment to reporting and documentation (photos/video)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Single-Issue Funder: The Trust only funds HIV/AIDS-related projects???ensure your work has a clear, direct connection to HIV/AIDS education, awareness, or prevention
  • Grassroots Preference: The MPT explicitly prioritizes smaller organizations working at community level over larger NGOs; emphasize your grassroots connections and community reach
  • Geographic Focus: Projects in developing countries are strongly preferred; if working in developed nations, your application may face more competition
  • Rolling Applications: No deadlines means you can apply when your project is ready, but also means applications are continuously being reviewed
  • Documentation Matters: Ensure all governance documents (registration, audited accounts, constitution, annual report) are current and in order before applying
  • Youth-Focused Projects: Programmes targeting young people in and out of school appear particularly aligned with the Trust's priorities
  • Reporting Commitment: Be prepared to provide regular updates with multimedia content; the Trust values ongoing communication and visibility of funded work
  • Efficiency and Impact: With 93p of every pound going to projects, the Trust values efficiency and direct impact???demonstrate how your project delivers maximum community benefit

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