Monday Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ??2.3-2.6 million (approximately)
• Total Assets: ??96.1 million
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: Variable (trustees meet autumn for Strategic grants, spring for Intermediate grants)
• Grant Range: ??20,000 - ??900,000
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
• Application Method: Invitation-only (no unsolicited applications accepted)

Contact Details

Website: https://mondaycharity.org.uk/

Email: info@mondaycharity.org.uk

Phone: 020 7783 3685

Address: Charity Administrator, Monday Charitable Trust

Key Personnel:

• Trust Advisor: Andrew Hope
• General Manager: Stephen Lewin
• Charity Administrator: Helen D'Monte

Overview

Founded in 2017, the Monday Charitable Trust is a grant-making foundation with total assets of ??96.1 million and cumulative distributions exceeding ??22 million since inception. The Trust focuses on improving life chances for disadvantaged and marginalized groups across the UK, with primary themes of Housing, Education, and Environmental Crises, underpinned by secondary themes of Young People, Mental Health, and Social Mobility and Inequality. The charity increasingly prioritizes funding programs that address root causes of social issues rather than just direct service provision. The Trust partners with New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) to develop its impact investment strategy, with up to 15% of assets allocated to social and impact investments. The Monday Charitable Trust operates as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was incorporated on 17 August 2017.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Strategic Grants

• Amount: Typically ??900,000 per charity
• Duration: 2-3 years
• Annual Total: ??1.8-2.1 million
• Recipients: 5-7 charities per cycle
• Cycle: Awarded every 3 years (next cycle: November 2025 for June 2026 payment)
• Application: Trustees consider proposals during autumn; successful applicants invited to present to Board

Intermediate Grants

• Amount: Typically ??150,000 per charity (can be as high as ??750,000)
• Duration: 2-3 years
• Annual Total: ??550,000
• Recipients: 8-12 charities per cycle
• Cycle: Awarded every 3 years (next cycle: May 2027 for December 2027 payment)
• Application: Trustees consider proposals during spring

Discretionary Grants

• Amount: Up to ??20,000 (one-off, unrestricted)
• Annual Total: Up to ??250,000
• Features: No reporting requirements; designed to minimize administrative burden on smaller charities

Priority Areas

Housing

• Supporting charities working with homeless or vulnerable people
• Providing for immediate needs, accommodation, and rehabilitation
• Supporting people transitioning from rough sleeping

Education

• Social programs in schools, prisons, and communities
• Widening access to education for disadvantaged backgrounds
• Improving social mobility through skills development
• Supporting construction skills and vocational training

Environmental Crises

• Environmental action through legal action and policy change
• Biodiversity and species preservation
• Climate and atmosphere initiatives
• Coastal ecosystems, fresh water, land use
• Addressing consumption, waste, toxics, and pollution

Young People

• Developing life skills, emotional resilience, and mental well-being
• Promoting social mobility
• Supporting youth employment and training

Mental Health

• Supporting people with mental health problems to access help when needed
• Projects that provide timely mental health support

Social Mobility and Inequality

• Practical improvements in motivation, education, skills, and training
• Supporting disadvantaged people of all ages and backgrounds

Additional Areas

• Hospices
• Members or former members of the armed forces
• Emergency humanitarian appeals

What They Don't Fund

The Trust does not accept unsolicited applications, so they implicitly exclude any organization not identified by trustees as fitting their strategic priorities. While specific exclusions are not published, funding is limited to UK registered charities working within their priority themes.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Founder Trustees (serving indefinite terms):

• Elspeth Lane - Founder Trustee
• Jonathan Brinsden - Founder Trustee and Chairman; nationally recognized charity lawyer with over 20 years' experience in the charities and not-for-profit sector
• Sarah Baxter - Founder Trustee
• Robert Lane (deceased) - Original founder

Elected Trustees (3-year terms, maximum two terms):

• Andrew Hunter Johnston - Elected Trustee (joined May 2019)
• Douglas Blausten - Elected Trustee; wide-ranging corporate and property experience as a main Board Director of public and private companies and in the State sector; senior adviser to international corporations

Senior Staff and Advisers

• Stephen Lewin - General Manager; studied law at Birmingham University and qualified as a solicitor in 1977, specializing in advising private clients on Wills, estate and tax planning. Appointed director of Chelsea Estates Limited in 2013 and became General Manager when the company's assets transferred to Monday Charitable Trust in 2018
• David Blake - Financial Adviser; Chartered Accountant and Corporate Finance professional who founded his own advisory business in 2002 after spending over fifteen years working for major international investment banks, including Managing Director roles with HSBC Investment Bank
• Andy Hope - Trust Advisor. Hope noted about their work with NPC: “NPC created a well-researched document at the end of the project based on sound industry knowledge that we can rely on to progress on our impact investment strategy”
• Helen D'Monte - Charity Administrator

Governance Committees

• Management and Operations (Ops) Committee - reviews financial and governance arrangements; responsible for reporting to trustees on investment and property matters
• Social Investments Committee
• Investment Committee

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Critical Note: The Monday Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. The trustees proactively seek out charities they wish to support and invite those organizations to apply.

For Discretionary Grants (if invited):

• Complete the Discretionary Grant Application Form
• Mention the Board member who proposed the recipient
• Submit by email or post to the Charity Administrator
• No reporting requirements after grant is awarded

For Intermediate or Strategic Grants (if invited):

• At least one trustee will make contact with the applicant
• Trustee typically visits the proposed project
• Provide a full written application by email and/or post
• Detail the proposal and use of funds over the grant period
• Successful applicants may be invited to present to the Board

Decision Timeline

Strategic Grants:

• Trustees consider proposals during autumn
• Awarded every 3 years
• Next cycle: November 2025 for June 2026 payment

Intermediate Grants:

• Trustees consider proposals during spring
• Awarded every 3 years
• Next cycle: May 2027 for December 2027 payment

Discretionary Grants:

• Timeline varies based on trustee identification and Board meeting schedules

Success Rates

Success rates are not applicable as this is an invitation-only funding model. Organizations cannot apply without being identified and invited by trustees.

Reapplication Policy

Since applications are by invitation only, there is no formal reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations must be identified and invited by trustees for each funding cycle.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only model, the key to securing funding from Monday Charitable Trust is being identified by trustees as fitting their strategic priorities. Factors that may increase visibility include:

Alignment with Strategic Priorities:

• Operating within their core themes: Housing, Education, Environmental Crises
• Addressing root causes rather than just symptoms
• Supporting disadvantaged and marginalized groups in the UK
• Focus on young people, mental health, or social mobility

Organizational Characteristics:

• UK registered charity
• Track record of delivering measurable impact
• Clear outcomes and evaluation frameworks
• Professional governance and financial management

Recent Grant Recipients Include:

• ClientEarth - ??900,000 Strategic Grant (environmental law and policy)
• Construction Youth Trust - ??900,000 Strategic Grant (youth skills and employment)
• IntoUniversity - ??900,000 Strategic Grant (education access for disadvantaged youth)
• The Prince's Trust - ??900,000 Strategic Grant (youth support and development)
• Royal College of Art - ??750,000 Intermediate Grant (education)
• Nehemiah Project - ??150,000 (housing)
• Canine Partners - ??20,000 Discretionary Grant
• Team Domenica - ??20,000 Discretionary Grant

Advice from the Trust:

The Trust emphasizes that they “increasingly interested in funding programmes which address or seek to identify the root causes of issues” rather than just providing direct services. This suggests they value:

• Strategic interventions with systemic impact
• Evidence-based approaches
• Programs that create lasting change
• Preventative rather than purely responsive work

Evaluation and Reporting:

For Strategic and Intermediate grants, the Trust expects:

• Clear anticipated outcomes agreed with the organization
• Regular progress reports
• Program evaluation at conclusion
• Ongoing trustee engagement including site visits

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No Direct Application Route: This funder operates an invitation-only model, so traditional grant writing approaches do not apply. Focus instead on raising organizational profile within relevant networks where trustees may identify your work.

1. Strategic Alignment is Critical: Ensure your organization clearly operates within Housing, Education, or Environmental Crises themes, with particular emphasis on Young People, Mental Health, or Social Mobility and Inequality.

1. Demonstrate Root Cause Focus: The Trust increasingly prioritizes funding that addresses underlying causes rather than just symptoms. Frame your work around systemic change and preventative approaches.

1. Significant Funding Available: With Strategic Grants of ??900,000 over 2-3 years, this represents substantial funding for organizations that align with priorities. The multi-year commitment provides valuable funding security.

1. Build Relationships with Sector Networks: Since trustees proactively identify potential grantees, being visible in relevant charity networks, attending sector events, and partnering with organizations like New Philanthropy Capital may increase chances of being identified.

1. Prepare for Due Diligence: If invited to apply, expect thorough assessment including trustee visits and potential presentation to the Board. Have clear impact data, outcomes frameworks, and financial governance ready.

1. Consider the 3-Year Cycle: Strategic and Intermediate grants are awarded every 3 years, with next cycles in 2025 and 2027 respectively. Organizations should be aware these are not annual opportunities.

References

1. Monday Charitable Trust official website - https://mondaycharity.org.uk/
2. Monday Charitable Trust “What We Do” page - https://mondaycharity.org.uk/what-we-do/
3. Monday Charitable Trust “How We Work” page - https://mondaycharity.org.uk/how-we-work/
4. Monday Charitable Trust “Who We Are” page - https://mondaycharity.org.uk/who-we-are/
5. Monday Charitable Trust “Grant Recipients” page - https://mondaycharity.org.uk/grant-recipients/
6. Charity Commission Register of Charities - MONDAY CHARITABLE TRUST (1174232) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1174232
7. New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) - “The Monday Charitable Trust - Working With NPC” - https://www.thinknpc.org/organisations-weve-worked-with/the-monday-charitable-trust-2/
8. Quote from Andrew Hope, Trust Advisor, via NPC case study