Spicma

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £300,000 - £500,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 4 months (quarterly review cycle)
• Grant Range: £3,000 - £8,000 (typical)
• Geographic Focus: Developing countries (primarily Uganda, Kenya, India, Pakistan, and East Africa)

Contact Details

Address: SPICMA.ORG, P.O. Box 299, Cirencester, GL7 9FP, United Kingdom

Email: spicma@gmail.com

Phone: 3003020016

Website: www.spicma.org

Charity Number: 270794

Key Contact: Paddy Phelan (Honorary Director) and Cathy Forman (Administrator)

Overview

SPICMA (Special Projects in Christian Missionary Areas) was founded in 1967 as “Friends of Tororo Mission” and formally registered as a charitable trust in 1975. With annual giving ranging from £300,000 to £500,000, SPICMA reaches out to the poorest and most marginalized communities in the developing world through the Catholic Church network. The charity is entirely volunteer-run with no paid staff, no office overhead, and no trustee remuneration, ensuring maximum impact from every donation. SPICMA's distinctive approach focuses on small, parish-level projects that are often too modest for larger aid organizations but critical for local communities. The organization maintains direct personal links with recipients and donors while minimizing bureaucracy, enabling rapid response to emergencies—during the COVID-19 pandemic, SPICMA disbursed nearly £100,000 in a single month to parishes in Uganda, Kenya, Pakistan, and India.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

SPICMA operates a single grant program with rolling applications reviewed quarterly:

• Parish Development Grants: £3,000 - £8,000 (typical range)
• Applications accepted via downloadable forms (separate form for India; standard form for other countries)
• Rolling basis with reviews conducted approximately every four months
• Bishop's letter of support required for all applications

Priority Areas

SPICMA funds practical infrastructure and community development projects through Catholic Church parishes:

• Water and Sanitation: Boreholes, water harvesting systems, water storage tanks, toilet blocks
• Education Infrastructure: Classroom construction and renovation, vocational training equipment
• Healthcare: Dispensary equipment, health center facilities
• Vocational Training: Tools and equipment for skills training centers
• Emergency Aid: Rapid response to famine, flooding, drought, conflict, and disease outbreaks

Geographic Priorities: Primarily Uganda (approximately 70% of grants), with additional support to Kenya, India, Pakistan, and other developing countries where Catholic missions operate.

What They Don't Fund

• Vehicle purchases
• Medical expenses for individuals
• Projects from Community Based Organizations (must work through Catholic Church parishes)
• Privately-owned school projects
• Salaries
• School fees or uniforms
• Recurring/operational costs
• Bibles or breviaries
• Grotto construction
• Mass stipends
• Land purchases
• Fences
• Solar power installations

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Governance and Leadership

SPICMA operates as a trust with 5 trustees and 4 volunteers. The organization is led by:

• Patron: Bishop Thomas McMahon (1936-2025), former Bishop of Brentwood (1980-2014)
• Honorary Director: Paddy Phelan (grant review and approval)
• Administrator: Cathy Forman (grant review and approval)

The charity was established by trust deed dated 1 October 1975. In keeping with its mission to maximize donor impact, no trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. SPICMA maintains no office and pays no salaries, keeping expenses to an absolute minimum.

Recent Financial Performance (Year ending 31 December 2024):

• Total Income: £332,452
• Total Expenditure: £363,017

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Provide Photos: Include photographs of the development area before the project

Application Requirements:

• Must work through Catholic Church at parish or community level
• Letter of support from local Bishop
• Detailed project description and budget
• Before photos of project site

Decision Timeline

• Applications are reviewed approximately every four months on a rolling basis
• SPICMA confirms receipt of Project Forms
• Administrators review and verify authenticity of all applications
• For emergency appeals, SPICMA can respond within days (e.g., £4,000 grants sent to Kenya within days of urgent COVID-19 appeals)
• Successful applicants are notified and funds disbursed
• Recipients must submit a half-page completion report with photos within three months of project completion

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, SPICMA's approach suggests a relatively high success rate for applications that:

• Come through established Catholic Church channels
• Meet the specific criteria outlined
• Have Bishop approval
• Fall within the typical grant range of £3,000-£8,000

In 2017, SPICMA distributed £470,000 to over 60 projects, suggesting an average of 60-70 grants per year.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication is permitted. SPICMA maintains ongoing relationships with parishes and has been known to provide multiple grants to the same parish for different projects (e.g., two £4,000 grants to a parish in Sotik, Kenya during COVID-19).

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Mission

SPICMA prioritizes “the alleviation of such localised misery” through small-scale projects that build church capacity and serve the most marginalized. Your application should demonstrate how the project serves communities overlooked by larger aid organizations.

Working Through Catholic Church Structures

All projects must work through Catholic Church parishes at the parish or community level. Projects from Community Based Organizations or privately-owned institutions are not eligible, regardless of merit.

Bishop Endorsement

A letter of support from the local Bishop is mandatory and signals that the project has diocesan approval and oversight, which SPICMA values highly.

Practical, Capital Projects

SPICMA funds infrastructure and one-time capital expenditures rather than operational costs. Recent funded projects include:

• £4,500 for water-harvesting system at St Matia Mulumba Primary School, Kyankoole, Uganda (2024)
• £7,400 for vocational training equipment (sewing machines, arc welders, saws) to expand a handicrafts school in Mouda, Cameroon from 50 to 150 apprentices
• £4,900 for new latrine at Rosa Mystica Home for elderly and sick in Gulu, Uganda
• £3,500 for borehole completion in Chakama Parish, Malindi Diocese, Kenya

Realistic Budget Within Typical Range

While SPICMA can provide larger grants for emergencies, typical project grants range from £3,000 to £8,000. Applications should be budgeted realistically within this range to align with SPICMA's capacity and focus.

Clear Accountability and Follow-Through

SPICMA maintains direct personal links with recipients and checks the authenticity of applications. Provide clear contact information, demonstrate community need, and commit to providing completion reports with photos.

Geographic Focus

While SPICMA works globally in developing countries, Uganda represents approximately 70% of grants, reflecting the charity's historical roots and established networks. Applicants from Uganda, Kenya, India, and Pakistan are particularly well-positioned, but projects from other countries with Catholic missions are considered.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Small is strategic: SPICMA specifically targets projects too small for major aid agencies (£3,000-£8,000 range). Don't oversell or inflate your budget.
• Bishop approval is non-negotiable: Secure your Bishop's written support before applying; this is mandatory and signals proper ecclesiastical oversight.
• Work through parishes, not CBOs: Only applications from Catholic Church parishes are eligible. If you're a CBO, partner with a local parish.
• Capital over operational: Request funding for infrastructure, equipment, or one-time purchases—not salaries, fees, or recurring costs.
• Photos and accountability matter: SPICMA verifies authenticity and requires completion reports with photos. Demonstrate transparency and commitment to follow-through.
• Emergency response capacity exists: While regular applications are reviewed quarterly, SPICMA can mobilize quickly for genuine emergencies (disbursed nearly £100,000 in one month during COVID-19).
• Build relationships for multiple grants: SPICMA maintains ongoing relationships with parishes and can provide multiple grants for different projects over time.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Blackfriars Overseas Aid Trust
• Sodality of St. Peter Claver
• The Kitchen Table Charities Trust
• SURVIVE - MIVA
• THE FRIENDLY HAND
• Tanzania Development Trust
• MESSENGER OF SAINT ANTHONY UK
• The Jerusalem Trust
• Halcrow Foundation
• Polio and Children in Need Charity

References

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales - SPICMA Charity Details (Charity Number 270794), Register of Charities, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=270794&subid=0

1. SPICMA - How to Apply, https://spicma.org/request-a-grant/

1. SPICMA - Criteria for Grant Applications, https://spicma.org/criteria/

1. SPICMA - Our History (longer version), https://spicma.org/history/

1. Independent Catholic News - “SPICMA helps parishes worldwide hit by Covid-19 lockdown” (14 May 2020), https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/39597

1. Independent Catholic News - “SPICMA celebrates extraordinary anniversary year” (21 December 2017), https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/34117

1. SPICMA Official Website - Homepage, https://spicma.org/