The Almond Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £518,145 (2023-24)
• Total Income: £806,968 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not specified
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Address: White Birch Farm, Warbleton, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 9BE

Phone: 01435 830883

Email: Not publicly available

Website: No public website

Note: The Trust does not appear to have an online application portal or public website. Enquiries should be made by phone to the contact number above.

Overview

The Almond Trust (registered April 1990) is a private charitable trust supporting evangelical Christian projects across England and Wales. With total income of £806,968 and charitable expenditure of £518,145 in the 2023-24 financial year, the Trust operates through a streamlined governance structure of three trustees who serve without remuneration. The Trust's mission centres exclusively on supporting evangelical Christian projects, Christian evangelism, and the advancement of the translation, reading, study, and teaching of the Bible. The Trust makes grants to both institutions and individuals, operating as a grant-making charity without trading subsidiaries. The majority of income derives from donations and legacies (£781,250 in 2023-24), with investment income providing additional resources (£25,718).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single grant programme focused on evangelical Christian work. No specific grant tiers or named programmes are publicly documented. Applications are considered on an ongoing basis, though the specific application method and timeline are not publicly disclosed.

Application Method: Direct contact required (no online portal available)

Priority Areas

The Trust specifically supports:

• Evangelical Christian Projects: Organizations and initiatives advancing evangelical Christian faith and practice
• Christian Evangelism: Direct evangelistic work and outreach programmes
• Bible Translation: Projects advancing the translation of Scripture into new languages or improving existing translations
• Bible Reading, Study and Teaching: Educational initiatives, Bible study programmes, theological training, and Scripture teaching ministries
• Support for Individuals: The Trust makes grants to both institutions and individuals engaged in eligible work

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, based on the Trust's narrow focus on evangelical Christian and Bible-related work, it can be inferred they do not fund:

• Non-Christian religious activities
• Secular projects (even if charitable)
• Non-evangelical Christian denominations or ecumenical initiatives
• General charitable work not connected to their specific mission
• Projects outside England and Wales

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Governance and Leadership

The Almond Trust is governed by three trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The names of individual trustees are recorded with the Charity Commission but not prominently published in publicly accessible summaries.

The Trust maintains a lean operational structure with no employees earning over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries, ensuring that the majority of expenditure goes directly to charitable activities (97.9% of total expenditure in 2023-24 went to charitable activities, with only 2.1% spent on raising funds).

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Trust does not operate a public website or online application portal. Prospective applicants should:

1. Contact the Trust directly by phone at 01435 830883
2. Enquire about current funding priorities and application requirements
3. Submit applications as directed by the trustees

Given the Trust's private nature and focused mission, it is advisable to ensure your organization or project clearly aligns with evangelical Christian principles and Bible-related work before approaching them.

Decision Timeline

The Trust does not publish information about:

• Application deadlines (if any)
• Decision-making meeting schedules
• Typical timeframes from application to decision
• Notification methods

Success Rates

No data is publicly available regarding:

• Number of applications received annually
• Number of grants awarded
• Success rates or competitiveness

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Applicants should enquire directly with the Trust.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information about the Trust's grant-making process, the following factors are likely to be important based on their stated mission:

Clear Evangelical Christian Mission: Projects must demonstrably advance evangelical Christian faith. Organizations should be able to articulate how their work fits within evangelical theology and practice.

Bible-Centred Focus: The Trust's mission explicitly emphasizes Bible translation, reading, study, and teaching. Projects with clear connections to Scripture work are central to their interests.

Direct Charitable Impact: With 97.9% of expenditure going to charitable activities, the Trust demonstrates a commitment to funding direct ministry work rather than organizational overhead.

Alignment with Conservative Christian Values: As an evangelical trust, applicants should ensure their theological positions and practices align with traditional evangelical Christianity.

Geographic Scope: The Trust operates throughout England and Wales. Ensure your project or organization serves beneficiaries within these territories.

Institutional or Individual Applications: The Trust supports both organizations and individuals, suggesting flexibility in the types of projects they fund. Individual missionaries, church planters, or Bible teachers may be eligible alongside larger institutions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Narrow but clear focus: This Trust has a very specific mission around evangelical Christianity and Bible work. Do not apply unless your project clearly fits this remit.

• Private trust model: The absence of a public website or application portal suggests this is a privately-run trust. Building a relationship through initial phone contact may be important.

• Significant resources: With over £500,000 in annual charitable giving, this Trust has substantial resources to deploy for projects within their mission area.

• Efficient operations: Low overhead costs (only 2.1% spent on raising funds) indicate a trust focused on maximizing charitable impact.

• Individuals welcome: Unlike many trusts, The Almond Trust explicitly makes grants to individuals as well as institutions, which may benefit missionaries, theological students, or individual ministry workers.

• No transparency data: The lack of publicly available information about grant sizes, recipients, or success rates means applicants are making enquiries without benchmark data. Be prepared to have exploratory conversations.

• Sustained income: Strong donations and legacies income (£781,250 in 2023-24) suggests ongoing financial stability and capacity to make grants into the future.

References

• The Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Almond Trust (Charity No. 328583), Register of Charities. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=328583 (Accessed: 12 January 2025)

• The Charity Commission for England and Wales, The Almond Trust Financial Information for Year Ending 31 March 2024. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=328583 (Accessed: 12 January 2025)

• Evangelical Alliance, “List of grant-making trusts and organisations that are taking applications from Christian charities”. Available at: https://www.eauk.org/list-of-grant-making-trusts-and-organisations-that-are-taking-applications-from-christian-charities (Accessed: 12 January 2025)