Morden College

Registered charity 215551 · since 1986mordencollege.org.uk·Bromley, Greenwich·Updated 31 October 2026

At a glance

£196k

Annual giving, year to 31 March 2025

From filed accounts

Open to applications

Rolling, no deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Morden College's giving is aimed at older people in financial need and at Church of England churches through the Dame Susan Trust, so a small nonprofit that is neither should not expect to fit unless its own materials show otherwise.
The annual report gives one total of £196,000 paid, which may include grants to individuals, and it does not state a grant range, so no realistic request size can be taken from it; send the total cost of the project you want funded, as the application guidance requires.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must be in writing.
The charity's guidance says trustees check that each applicant is genuine and that the assistance sought accords with its aims, and that eligible applicants are visited before trustees decide, so expect a closer look and some back-and-forth rather than a quick decision.
Churches in parishes outside the Dame Susan Trust's area of benefit should not apply, and almshouse places have strict exclusions covering age, benefits, housing need and home ownership.

Overview

Morden College is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 215551).

Morden College exists to relieve financial hardship suffered by older people, and it does this through almshouse accommodation and care for more than 250 older people across two sites. It also gives single grants and continuing annual grants called outpensions to older people in financial need. Through the Dame Susan Trust, it makes grants to Church of England churches to maintain, repair and improve their buildings.

What they fund

Priority Areas

Morden College provides homes, support and care for older people in need, with its objective focused on relieving older people’s financial hardship. It primarily does this through independent living and a care home, and also makes single and continuing grants to older people in financial need who do not seek accommodation; recipients may use the money towards living costs. Through the Dame Susan Trust, it makes grants to Church of England churches that lack funds to maintain, repair and improve the fabric of their buildings. Its stated objective also includes assisting the Church of England with church upkeep and associated activities.

Themes

Older people’s hardship
Church building upkeep

What they don't fund

almshouse accommodation only:
- people who are under 50
- people who do not receive a UK state pension or welfare benefits and are not eligible for these
- people who are not in immediate need of housing or are not impacted in finding housing because of financial hardship
- people who can afford to buy or rent an equivalent sized property in their local area
- people who own a home, including a second or ‘holiday’ home
- people who have not had a profession, vocation, or trade and are not a widow, widower, or civil or co-habiting partner of someone who had a profession, vocation, or trade, or who was not married, co-habiting, or in a civil partnership with someone who had a profession, vocation, or trade
- people who are unwilling to participate in the almshouse community
Dame Susan Trust only: parishes outside its area of benefit

How to apply

Grant applications must be submitted in writing and include the total project cost; the charity scrutinises whether each request falls within its objects.

Who can apply:

Dame Susan Trust: Church of England churches who lack the necessary funds to maintain, repair and improve the fabric of their own buildings.

What to send:

The total cost of the project for which the grant is sought.
Accommodation or outpensions: Independent testimonials.

Application success factors

What the charity says:

The trustees check that the applicant is genuine and that the assistance sought accords with the charity’s aims.
Eligible applicants are visited to clarify outstanding matters before trustees consider whether to award a grant and any conditions.

Where they fund

Registered area of operation (Charity Commission)

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to Morden College.

The Dulwich Almshouse CharityNo public processGave £9,750 The Earl of Northampton’s CharityRollingGave £549k St George the Martyr CharityNo public processGave £1,500 Morden Islamic Community CentreNo public processGave £163k Christ Church KensingtonNo public processGave £34,376 Hyde Charitable TrustMixed deadlinesGave £512k John Roan FoundationInvitation onlyGave £192k Sir William Boreman's FoundationFixed deadlinesGave £130k The David Isaacs FundRollingGave £5,000 The Don Broome Scout TrustFixed deadlinesGave £3,783

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 March 2021	£14,945,000	£15,121,000	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2021
year to 31 March 2022	£15,066,000	£14,861,000	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2022
year to 31 March 2023	£15,661,676	£15,194,945	£83,996	Accounts for year to 31 March 2023
year to 31 March 2024	£16,703,000	£15,715,000	£118,014	Accounts for year to 31 March 2024
year to 31 March 2025	£16,096,000	£15,051,000	£196,000	Accounts for year to 31 March 2025

Income vs grants paid

IncomeGrants paid

Total value each financial year

YE 2023

£83,996 grants

YE 2024

£118k grants

YE 2025

£196k paid

Grants paid stayed within income across the 3 years shown.

Grants paid, year to 31 March 2023; year to 31 March 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
Grants paid, year to 31 March 2025: grants paid out in the year.

— No grants figure for those years.

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.