The Benham Charitable Settlement

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £304,000 (approx.)
• Grant Range: Up to £2,000 (typically)
• Decision Time: 6 months (bi-annual trustee meetings)
• Geographic Focus: Northamptonshire (primary emphasis), UK and overseas
• Application Method: Written letter applications
• Registered Charity Number: 239371

Contact Details

Address: The Secretary, The Benham Charitable Settlement, 1 Virginia Drive, Virginia Water, Surrey GU25 4RX

Phone: 020 7631 4754

Website: Not available

Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Benham Charitable Settlement was established by the late Cedric and Hilda Benham to support other charities and diverse good causes in Northamptonshire. Operating as a small, volunteer-led grant-making trust with four trustees, the charity had a total income of £302,525 and total expenditure of £304,409 in the financial year ending April 2024. The Settlement provides small grants to UK registered charities working across a diverse range of causes both domestically and internationally. While the charity places special emphasis on supporting churches and charitable organizations within Northamptonshire—where the trust was founded—it also funds charities working in other parts of the UK and overseas. All trustees serve on a voluntary basis with no remuneration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Small Grants Programme: Up to £2,000 (typical grant size)
• Rolling applications accepted by written letter
• Bi-annual decision-making process

Priority Areas

The Settlement supports registered charities working in a wide range of fields:

• Medical research
• Disability support
• Elderly care
• Children and young people
• Support for the disadvantaged
• Overseas aid
• Missions to seamen
• Welfare of ex-servicemen
• Wildlife conservation
• Environment protection
• The arts
• Church maintenance and support
• Church of England activities
• Christian mission work worldwide
• General charitable purposes
• Education and training
• Advancement of health or saving of lives
• Religious activities
• Environment, conservation and heritage
• Sport

Special Emphasis: Churches and charitable organizations within the County of Northamptonshire

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available, though the charity requires applicants to be UK registered charities.

Ready to write a winning application for The Benham Charitable Settlement?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Join the Launch List

Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by four trustees who serve on a voluntary basis with no remuneration, payments, or benefits received from the charity. The charity operates with no employees receiving benefits over £60,000 and maintains a lean operational structure. Specific trustee names are not publicly disclosed in available documentation.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis by written letter. Applications should be sent to:

The Secretary

The Benham Charitable Settlement

1 Virginia Drive

Virginia Water

Surrey GU25 4RX

Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year.

Decision Timeline

• Trustee Meetings: The trustees meet formally twice a year (every 6 months) to review requests for grant support
• Informal Consideration: Trustees also meet informally whenever necessary to consider new grant applications
• Notification: Successful applicants will be notified of the decision. Note that unsuccessful applicants will not receive notification

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Based on the charity's stated priorities and operational approach:

• Geographic Connection: Organizations based in or serving Northamptonshire appear to have priority consideration given the charity's “special emphasis” on the county
• Registered Charity Status: Must be a UK registered charity to be eligible
• Grant Size Expectations: Keep funding requests under £2,000 as this is the typical grant size
• Clear Charitable Purpose: Applications should clearly articulate how the work falls within the charity's broad funding categories
• Church and Christian Mission Focus: The charity has a particular interest in Church of England activities and Christian mission work, especially in Northamptonshire
• Written Application Quality: As applications are by letter only, a well-written, concise application is essential
• Patience Required: With bi-annual formal meetings and no notification for unsuccessful applications, applicants should be prepared for potentially long waiting periods

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Small grants only: This funder typically provides grants under £2,000, so tailor requests accordingly
• Northamptonshire advantage: Organizations with connections to Northamptonshire have a clear advantage given the charity's founding mission and stated emphasis
• Wide charitable remit: The charity funds an unusually broad range of causes, from medical research to the arts to church maintenance
• Simple application process: Written letter applications only—no complex forms or online portals
• Bi-annual cycle: Formal decisions made twice yearly, so plan your cash flow accordingly
• No rejection letters: Unsuccessful applicants will not be notified, so you may need to follow up if you haven't heard back after several months
• Faith-based interest: The charity has strong links to Christian and Church of England causes, particularly in Northamptonshire

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Provincial Grand Charity of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire
• Leicester Charity Organisation Society (Charity Link)
• Northampton Municipal Church Charity
• Feoffee or Town Estates
• Margaret Giffen Charitable Trust
• THE MAUD ELKINGTON CHARITABLE TRUST
• GOODWILL SOLUTIONS CIO
• Beckett's and Sargeant's Educational Foundation
• The Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust
• THE JONES 1986 CHARITABLE TRUST

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, “THE BENHAM CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT - 239371,” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=239371&subid=0
• Bath and North East Somerset Council, “The Benham Charitable Settlement,” https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/node/88599
• NBCT, “Funding – NBCT,” https://www.nbct.org.uk/funding/
• SNVB, “The Benham Charitable Settlement,” https://www.snvb.org.uk/news/the-benham-charitable-settlement/
• Charity Commission financial records for financial year ending April 2024