Saint Sarkis Charity Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £186,216 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: £500 - not specified (includes fixed annual payments and discretionary grants)
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, Armenia, Israel (primary focus on Armenian community worldwide)

Contact Details

Address: 50 Hoxton Square, London, N1 6PB

Phone: 020 7012 1400

Email: info@saintsarkis.org.uk

Website: www.saintsarkis.org.uk

Overview

The Saint Sarkis Charity Trust was founded in 1954 by Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, the renowned Ottoman-born Armenian oil magnate, and became a UK-registered charity on 4 February 1963. With total income of £247,676 and annual giving of approximately £186,216 (2024), the Trust maintains its original mission of supporting the Armenian Church of Saint Sarkis in London (located in Kensington at Iverna Gardens, W8 6TP) and the Gulbenkian Library at the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem. The Trust has expanded its grant-making to include other charities serving the Armenian community in the UK and abroad, and has collaborated with Barrow Cadbury Trust on prisoner welfare initiatives. Calouste Gulbenkian built St Sarkis Church in Kensington in 1922-1923 as a memorial to his parents and to provide “spiritual comfort” to the Armenian diaspora, and his ashes were later interred there.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Fixed Annual Commitments:

• Church of St Sarkis: £2,000 annually for running costs and capital works
• Gulbenkian Library (Armenian Patriarchate, Jerusalem): £500 annually for maintenance

Discretionary Grant Streams:

• Armenian Community Support: Grants to charitable objectives connected with Armenia or Armenians (the majority of the Trust's discretionary grant-making)
• Prisoner Welfare: The Trust makes grants to UK charities developing innovative projects to support prisoners and their families, but does not accept unsolicited proposals for this priority

Application Methods: The Trust does not publicise a formal application process for Armenian community grants. Prisoner welfare grants do not accept unsolicited proposals.

Priority Areas

• Support for Armenian Apostolic Church institutions and infrastructure
• Armenian cultural preservation and heritage projects
• Charities serving Armenian communities in the UK and internationally
• Support for innovative UK prisoner welfare initiatives (partnership-based, unsolicited proposals not accepted)

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited proposals for prisoner welfare projects
• Projects unrelated to Armenian community or the Trust's specific partnership commitments
• Individual applications (the Trust only funds registered charities)

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by four trustees who serve without remuneration:

• Paul Gulbenkian - Trustee
• Robert Brian Todd - Trustee
• Martin Essayan - Trustee
• Rita Alice Vartoukian - Trustee

The Trust operates with a strong connection to its founder's legacy, maintaining Calouste Gulbenkian's vision of supporting the Armenian diaspora whilst preserving the institutions he personally established.

How to Apply to Saint Sarkis Charity Trust

How to Apply

The Saint Sarkis Charity Trust does not have a public application process.

The Trust operates primarily through:

• Fixed commitments to the Church of St Sarkis and Gulbenkian Library as specified in the Trust deed
• Trustee discretion for Armenian community grants, which appear to be identified through the trustees' knowledge of the Armenian community and sector
• Collaboration with other funders including Barrow Cadbury Trust for prisoner welfare grants

For Armenian community organisations: Whilst there is no formal application portal, interested charities may contact the Trust directly at info@saintsarkis.org.uk to introduce their work, though success likely depends on alignment with the trustees' priorities and existing relationships within the Armenian community.

For prisoner welfare projects: The Trust does not accept unsolicited proposals for this priority.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As the Trust operates on trustee discretion rather than fixed deadlines, decision timelines are likely variable and dependent on trustee meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The Trust does not publish information about the number of applications received versus grants awarded.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed.

Application Success Factors

Given the Trust's focus and structure, the following factors are likely to be important:

For Armenian Community Projects:

• Direct relevance to Armenian heritage, culture, or community welfare
• Geographic connection to areas the Trust supports (UK, Armenia, or Jerusalem)
• Alignment with the Trust's historical mission of supporting the Armenian diaspora
• Established track record as a registered charity
• Connection to or awareness within the Armenian community in the UK

Trust Priorities Based on Grant History:

• The Trust maintains its core commitments to the Church of St Sarkis and Gulbenkian Library as specified in its founding documents
• The majority of discretionary grant-making goes to Armenian causes, demonstrating this as the primary focus
• Prisoner welfare grants are made but the Trust does not accept unsolicited proposals for this priority

Strategic Considerations:

• The Trust's grant-making appears relationship-based rather than competitive application-based
• Being known within the Armenian community in London may be advantageous
• The trustees' discretion plays a central role in grant decisions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this Trust operates primarily through trustee discretion and fixed commitments
• Armenian focus is paramount - with the vast majority of discretionary grants going to Armenian causes, this is clearly the Trust's primary mission
• Relationship-based grant-making - grants appear to be identified through trustees' knowledge of the sector rather than competitive application
• Contact for introductory dialogue - whilst unsolicited proposals are not welcomed for prisoner welfare, Armenian community organisations may benefit from introducing their work via email
• Historic foundation informs priorities - understanding Calouste Gulbenkian's legacy and vision for supporting the Armenian diaspora provides context for the Trust's approach
• Modest but consistent - with approximately £186,000 in annual grants, this is a small to medium-sized trust with focused priorities
• Collaboration for non-Armenian work - the Trust's engagement with prisoner welfare demonstrates an approach to supporting causes outside its primary mission through collaboration with other funders

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Dollond Charitable Trust
• The M Y A Charitable Trust
• The Sobell Foundation
• M.k. Rose Charitable Trust
• Alliance Family Foundation Limited
• The Manny And Brigitta Davidson Charitable Foundation
• C E K Stern Charitable Trust
• The Shaarei Chesed Trust
• Keren Association Limited
• The D M Charitable Trust

References

• Saint Sarkis Charity Trust official website: www.saintsarkis.org.uk
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 215352: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/215352
• Saint Sarkis Charity Trust Annual Report and Financial Statements for year ended 31 March 2024, filed with Charity Commission
• St Sarkis Church London official website: https://stsarkislondon.org/
• Wikipedia entry on Calouste Gulbenkian: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calouste_Gulbenkian
• Wikipedia entry on St Sarkis Church, London: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Sarkis_Church_(London)