M&g Community Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
• Total Grants Awarded: 500+ grants since 2019
• Decision Time: Quarterly review cycles
• Grant Range: £500 - £5,000
• Geographic Focus: Local, national, and international (where M&G plc operates)
• Application Method: Employee nomination only (not open applications)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.mandg.com/sustainability/communities

General Charity Contacts (for inquiries):

• Charities Helpline: 0800 917 4472 (09:00-17:00, Monday-Friday)
• Email: charities@mandg.co.uk
• Director of Charities: Richard Macey - 020 8162 3623

Note: This fund operates through employee nominations rather than direct applications from charities.

Overview

The M&G in the Community Fund is M&G plc's corporate grant-making program, launched in 2019. The fund operates as a rolling programme where applications are accepted year-round, with funding decisions made quarterly by a committee of M&G plc colleagues. Since its inception, the program has distributed over 500 grants to charitable organizations addressing financial literacy, environmental restoration, debt advice, and community safety education across local, national, and international communities where M&G operates. Grants range from £500 to £5,000 (or equivalent in local currency) per project. M&G plc, established in 1931, is one of the UK's largest asset managers and insurers, with a long history of supporting community initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

M&G in the Community Fund: £500 - £5,000 per project

• Rolling application programme with quarterly decision-making
• Employee-nominated charities only
• Funding decisions made by colleague committee

Priority Areas

The fund supports projects aligned with two strategic priorities:

1. Building Financial Confidence — Initiatives that help individuals develop money management skills and financial security, including financial literacy programs and debt advice services

1. Building Resilient Communities — Projects focused on environmental restoration and community space regeneration, including youth services, community safety education, and environmental projects

Funded Project Examples

• Old Library Youth Club - Supporting operations and service expansion
• Community nursery green space transformation projects
• Skills For Life programme with The Talent Foundry (Middlesbrough secondary schools)
• Tree planting initiatives (partnership with The Tree Council)
• Habitat for Humanity International projects (dormitory renovations for orphans in Japan)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly detailed. However, given the strategic focus areas, projects outside of financial capability building or community resilience/environmental restoration may be less likely to receive funding.

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Governance and Leadership

Decision-Making Structure: A committee comprised of colleagues from across M&G plc reviews nominations and makes quarterly funding decisions.

Parent Organization: M&G plc (established 1931), a major UK-based asset manager with operations internationally.

Leadership quotes or guidance: Not publicly available in research materials.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: This is an employee-nominated fund only. Charities cannot apply directly. Instead, M&G plc employees nominate charities close to their hearts through an internal nomination process.

For Charities Seeking Funding:

• Contact M&G employees who may be supporters of your cause
• Build relationships with M&G staff who could nominate your organization
• Ensure your work aligns with one of the two strategic priorities

Application Requirements:

• Application form (submitted by/through M&G employees)
• Review of the Community Investment Policy
• Guidance document

Decision Timeline

• Review Cycle: Quarterly (four times per year)
• Processing Time: Applications accepted year-round on a rolling basis
• Notification: Specific notification methods not publicly disclosed

Success Rates

• Since 2019: 500+ grants awarded
• Approximately 28 grants awarded per quarter (based on 2023 data)
• Overall success rate: Not publicly disclosed

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly specified. Given the employee-nomination structure, organizations may be re-nominated in subsequent quarters.

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Requirements

1. Strategic Fit: Projects must clearly align with either “Building Financial Confidence” or “Building Resilient Communities”

1. Employee Connection: Since this is an employee-nominated fund, having a genuine connection with M&G staff members is essential

1. Geographic Presence: Preference for areas where M&G plc operates, though international projects are considered

1. Grant Size Appropriateness: Projects should be suitable for grants between £500-£5,000

Strategic Approach for Grant Seekers

• Build M&G Employee Relationships: Network with M&G employees, particularly those who may have personal connections to your cause
• Demonstrate Impact: Show clear, measurable outcomes aligned with financial confidence or community resilience
• International Reach: M&G considers projects where the company operates globally, not limited to UK
• Community-Led Initiatives: The fund appears to favor grassroots and community-driven projects
• Employee Engagement Opportunities: Projects that could involve M&G employee volunteering may be attractive

Language and Terminology

Based on funded projects, use terminology around:

• Financial literacy and capability
• Community resilience and regeneration
• Environmental restoration
• Youth development
• Social impact and community cohesion

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Employee Nomination Required: This is not an open application fund - you must be nominated by an M&G plc employee, making relationship-building with M&G staff essential

1. Two Clear Funding Streams: Ensure your project clearly fits either financial capability building OR community resilience/environmental focus

1. Modest Grant Amounts: With grants of £500-£5,000, this fund suits smaller-scale projects or seed funding rather than major initiatives

1. Quarterly Opportunities: With four funding rounds per year, there are regular opportunities throughout the year if you can secure an employee nomination

1. International Scope: Don't assume UK-only - M&G operates internationally and funds projects globally

1. Employee Engagement: Consider how your project could involve M&G employees as volunteers, which may strengthen nomination appeals

1. Rolling Applications: No fixed deadlines mean you can work with employee nominators year-round, but quarterly decision cycles mean planning ahead for funding needs

References

1. M&G plc Community Investment page - https://www.mandg.com/sustainability/communities

1. M&G plc LinkedIn post about M&G in the Community Fund - https://ke.linkedin.com/posts/mandgplc_mg-in-the-community-fund-activity-7054011266712899584-rboy

1. Rathbone Society - M&G Community Fund information - https://rathbonesociety.org.uk/mg-community-fund/

1. M&G plc Charities contact information - https://www.mandg.com/investments/charities/en-gb/contact-us