The Angus Lawson Memorial Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £700,000+ (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 3-6 months (board meets 3 times per year)
• Grant Range: £3,000 - £25,000
• Average Grant: £14,839 (2023)
• Geographic Focus: UK and International (38 countries)

Contact Details

Website: www.almt.org

Email: admin@almt.org

Phone: 07786062288

Registered Charity Number: 1117735

Pre-application Contact: Required - interested organisations should contact ALMT with project ideas before completing an application

Overview

Founded in 2006 by Kara and Nick Lawson following the tragic death of their son Angus, The Angus Lawson Memorial Trust (ALMT) has over 19 years of experience funding small charities working to improve the lives of the world's most marginalized children and young people. The Trust has supported 356+ projects across 38 countries, working with 128 charity partners. In 2023, ALMT funded 33 projects reaching 15,087 children and young people, providing an average of 223 hours of targeted support per person. With annual income of £710,351 (2024), the Trust focuses on innovative, grassroots solutions that address root causes of inequality. Nick Lawson's founding vision was clear: "The overarching aim from day one of the ALMT was we would strive to mitigate the suffering of the world's most marginalised children regardless of faith, geography or colour."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• First-time Grants: £3,000 - £25,000 annually (most grants below £25,000)
• Multi-year Grants: Existing partners may apply for up to 3 years of funding
• Average Grant: £14,839 (2023)
• Application Method: Rolling, solicited applications only. Board meets three times per year (February, June, October)

Priority Areas

ALMT prioritizes early intervention projects addressing root causes of inequality, specifically:

• Bereavement and palliative care for children and young people
• Social inclusion projects enabling disadvantaged or vulnerable children to participate fully in society
• Educational scholarships and learning support for marginalized young people
• Innovative and creative solutions to proven problems affecting children up to age 18
• Vulnerable young people up to age 25 (care leavers, young offenders, homeless/at risk, teenage parents, those with disabilities or SEN)

What They Don't Fund

• Grant-making bodies
• Construction projects
• Research
• Religious promotion
• Party political activities
• Projects with disproportionate overhead costs
• Organizations with annual income over £1,000,000 (contact before applying if above this threshold)

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Governance and Leadership

Founders: Nick and Kara Lawson

Trustees:

• Fiona Fairbairn
• Debbie Hofmeyr
• Edward Hutton
• Jonathan Potter
• Wasim Rehman
• Silvie Tonellotto
• Alex de Winton

Staff:

• Rebecca Pirt – Trust Director
• Kate Richardson – Grants Officer
• Jenni Thomas – Bereavement Counsellor

Patron: Jenni Thomas OBE (Founder, Child Bereavement Charity)

Celebrity Ambassador: Rachel Riley (Channel 4, Countdown)

The board represents expertise in accountancy, corporate social responsibility, finance, investments, and the Third Sector. No trustees receive remuneration. Nick Lawson emphasizes efficiency: “I wanted there to be no cost to any donation – to create a perfect transmission mechanism for each £1 from donor to child.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Initial Contact: Contact ALMT at admin@almt.org with project ideas for suitability assessment before applying (REQUIRED)
2. First Stage Application: Complete and submit first stage application with project outline
3. Partnership Committee Meeting: If successful, charity representative meets with ALMT Partnerships Committee member
4. Board Decision: Board of trustees reviews and decides on funding

Important: ALMT only accepts solicited applications from organizations recommended through their network of friends, partners, trustees, and contacts.

Decision Timeline

• Board meets three times per year (approximately February, June, October)
• ALMT contacts applicants promptly after board decisions
• Typical timeline: 3-6 months from initial contact to decision

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. In 2023, 33 projects were funded.

Reapplication Policy

• Unsuccessful applicants: May reapply with a different project after requesting feedback
• Successful partners: Can reapply for same or different project for up to four consecutive years
• After four years: Must wait two years after final project report before reapplying

Application Success Factors

What ALMT Looks For:

• “Innovative and creative solutions to proven problems”
• “Early intervention projects which address the root causes of inequality”
• “Clearly identified objectives where outcomes can be monitored and evaluated”
• “Exceptional monitoring and evaluation processes”
• “Measurable results” and “stringent report writing”
• Projects that “effect longer-term change for disadvantaged young people”
• Grassroots organizations with annual income under £1,000,000

Example Funded Projects:

• S.A.F.E. (Kenya) - interactive theatre and film for education
• Footsteps - physiotherapy for children with cerebral palsy
• Epic Partners - community-based support for children and families
• Mission Mozambique - health and education projects
• The Ben Kinsella Trust - knife crime prevention
• The Children's Book Project - tackling book poverty
• Friends of Ibba Girls' School - boarding school in South Sudan

Additional Support: ALMT offers pro bono support to partners including database training, funding application advice, fundraising expertise, and digital media development.

Alignment with UN SDGs: Projects aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals are prioritized.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Make initial contact first: ALMT only accepts solicited applications - contact admin@almt.org with your project idea before applying to ensure suitability
• Focus on innovation and early intervention: Emphasize creative solutions addressing root causes of inequality, not just symptoms
• Demonstrate strong M&E: “Exceptional monitoring and evaluation processes” and “measurable results” are critical - show you can track and report outcomes rigorously
• Target grassroots scale: Organizations with income under £1,000,000 are prioritized; larger organizations should contact ALMT before applying
• Plan for relationship building: Successful first-time applicants can receive multi-year funding (up to 3 years) and reapply for up to four consecutive years
• Be patient with timing: Board meets only three times annually - factor this into your funding timeline
• Emphasize efficiency: Nick Lawson's vision of “perfect transmission” from donor to child means demonstrating low overhead and maximum impact is essential

References

• The Angus Lawson Memorial Trust Official Website: www.almt.org
• ALMT Funding Guidelines: https://www.almt.org/funding-guidelines/
• ALMT About Us: https://www.almt.org/about-us/
• Message from Nick Lawson: https://www.almt.org/news/message-from-nick-lawson/
• UK Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1117735
• TripleFunds Grant Information: https://triple-funds.com/tf-entry/grants-from-angus-lawson-memorial-trust/

Quote sources:

• "The overarching aim from day one of the ALMT was we would strive to mitigate the suffering of the world's most marginalised children regardless of faith, geography or colour." - Nick Lawson, Founder
• “I wanted there to be no cost to any donation – to create a perfect transmission mechanism for each £1 from donor to child.” - Nick Lawson, Founder