The Bishop Radford Trust

Charity Number: 1113562

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £200,000+ (£50,000 per quarter in Foundation Grants, plus Partnership grants)
  • Success Rate: High approval rate (typically 20-25 grants per quarter from £60,000 in applications)
  • Decision Time: 8-12 weeks (quarterly trustee meetings with decisions within 1 week of meeting)
  • Grant Range: Up to £2,000 (Foundation level); larger amounts by invitation only
  • Geographic Focus: UK and International (through UK registered charities)

Contact Details

Website: www.bishopradfordtrust.org.uk

Email: enquiries@bishopradfordtrust.org.uk

Phone: 020 7304 2000

Pre-Application: Complete eligibility quiz on website before applying

Overview

Founded in 2006, The Bishop Radford Trust is a family-run Christian grantmaker that has distributed over £9 million through 650+ grants to support Christian ministry in the UK and internationally. Named after Bishop Andrew Radford, a family friend, the Trust operates with a clear commitment to supporting Christian charities and churches, particularly smaller organizations where their contribution makes a significant difference. The Trust is led by Managing Director and Trustee Suzannah O'Brien, who has overseen operations since 2018. The Trust is an active member of the Christian Funders Forum, with Suzannah serving as Chair, and has pioneered impact investing aligned with Christian values. All activities are carried out through a Christian lens, with both donation and investment strategies aligned to their charitable objectives and the Church of England investment mandates.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Foundation Grants (Up to £2,000): Rolling applications throughout the year

  • £50,000 allocated per quarter (approximately 20-25 grants)
  • Revenue grants for UK registered charities supporting Christian ministry
  • Applications close when £60,000 in requests received each quarter
  • One-off grants, typically not recurring
  • Application reopening dates published on homepage

Strategic, Development, and Partnership Grants: By invitation only

  • For organizations with income under £1 million
  • Typically 3-5 years of partnership-level support
  • Higher grant amounts available
  • Requires prior relationship or Foundation Grant history

Together Fund: Annual match funding participation

  • Part of Big Give Christmas Challenge
  • Collaborative funding with Christian Funders Forum members
  • In 2024: £190,000 awarded to 59 charities through this initiative

Priority Areas

  • Projects in areas of high deprivation: Using Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) rating scale
  • Christian ministry and church work: Both UK and international
  • Smaller charities: Particularly those with income under £1 million where contribution has significant impact
  • Projects with substantial impact: Work that sparks interest and passion among trustees
  • Education of priests, future priests, and church workers
  • International work: Through established UK registered Christian charities
  • Church planting and evangelism initiatives
  • Community support programs with Christian ethos
  • Health and social care programs with Christian foundation

What They Don't Fund

  • Building/capital projects (including renovation, restoration, boilers, stained glass)
  • Non-UK registered charities for direct funding
  • Organizations without Christian ethos and Christian ministry in charitable objectives
  • Retrospective funding (activities already completed)
  • Pilot schemes (except where charity previously funded or known to trustees)
  • Charities without at least one set of accounts filed with Charity Commission
  • Advocacy work, campaigning, and lobbying activities (usually not supported)
  • Applications from organizations funded within last 3 years
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Governance and Leadership

Managing Director and Trustee: Suzannah O'Brien (since April 2018)

Trust Manager: Danielle (since April 2018)

The Trust was established by Suzannah's mother in 2006, with Suzannah taking over operations in 2018. The Board is well diversified in terms of gender, with at least four trustees plus two external advisors involved in strategic decisions. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Suzannah O'Brien serves as Chair of the Christian Funders Forum, demonstrating the Trust's commitment to collaborative Christian philanthropy.

On Christian Impact Investing: Through their work with Tribe Impact Capital, the Trust has pioneered aligning investment portfolios with charitable values, stating: “Having a tranche of impact within our overall investment strategy gives us the opportunity to bring the grant-giving and the investment side of things into alignment.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Take Eligibility Quiz: Complete online quiz at bishopradfordtrust.org.uk before applying
  2. Check Three-Year Rule: Do not apply if you received a grant within last 3 years
  3. Submit Application: Online application form (when open)
  4. Applications Close: When £60,000 in grant requests received for the quarter
  5. Check Reopening Dates: Published on homepage after each trustee meeting

Application Type: Rolling basis with quarterly closures

Decision Timeline

  • Quarterly Trustee Meetings: Applications reviewed four times per year
  • Response Time: Aim to notify within 8 weeks of applications closing
  • Decision Notification: Within 1 week of trustee meeting
  • Total Process: Typically 8-12 weeks from submission to decision

Success Rates

The Trust reports a “generally high approval rate” for Foundation Grants:

  • £50,000 allocated per quarter
  • Applications close at £60,000 in requests
  • Typically 20-25 grants awarded per quarter
  • This structure suggests an approval rate of approximately 65-85%

Since 2006, the Trust has awarded 650+ grants totaling over £9 million, demonstrating consistent and substantial grantmaking activity.

Reapplication Policy

Three-Year Waiting Period: Organizations that have received a grant must wait 3 full years before reapplying.

New Projects Only: Applications must be for a new project not previously funded by the Trust within the last three years.

Unsuccessful applicants may reapply sooner if circumstances change or for a different project, though this is not explicitly stated in their guidance.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Trust

On Matched Funding: "While matched funding isn't essential, the Trust is more likely to favour applicants that have sought and secured funding from other sources prior to applying, particularly if they can evidence that at least 50% of the total project cost is covered by matched funding."

On Multiple Funding Sources: The Trust believes “it is good practice to look for other sources of funding, and if a portion of the total project funding has been secured, this increases the likelihood of them supporting the grant.”

Recent Projects Funded

  • Cairn Movement (Scotland): “Give us Scotland” church planting project supporting 9 new church plants with Forge Pioneer Course training
  • Faith in Later Life: Training delivery to over 250 volunteers from around 60 organizations
  • Go! Youth Trust Scotland: Free drop-in space for marginalized young people in deprived communities
  • Gogo Olive Zimbabwe: Employment creation for Zimbabwean women and support for ladies in prison, including outdoor kitchen at knitting workshop
  • Juntos para Saude (Mozambique): Health program supporting 18,800 people in Chimbunila district in partnership with government health department
  • ACF Fund: Strategic initiatives, representation grants, and emergency grants to Anglican Communion provinces internationally

Language and Terminology

The Trust responds well to language emphasizing:

  • Christian ministry and evangelism
  • High impact and substantial need
  • Deprivation indicators (IMD ratings)
  • Partnership approaches
  • Measurable outcomes and detailed budgets
  • Environmental and diversity considerations
  • Alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals (particularly environment, ecology, education, equality)

Standing Out

  • Evidence of matched funding: Demonstrate at least 50% of project costs secured elsewhere
  • Demonstrate high impact: Show how the grant will make substantial difference
  • Target deprived areas: Use IMD data to show working in areas of high deprivation
  • Provide detailed budgets: Break down exactly how funds will be used
  • Set measurable targets: Include specific, quantifiable impact measures
  • Show sustainability: Explain how project continues beyond grant period
  • Small charity advantage: Organizations under £1 million income particularly favored
  • Established UK charities for international work: Partner with recognized organizations for overseas projects

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Three-year exclusivity: Cannot reapply for 3 years after receiving a grant—plan carefully and consider requesting the full £2,000 if justified
  • First-come, first-served: Applications close when £60,000 received, so apply early in each quarter cycle
  • High success rate: With 65-85% approval rate, eligible applicants have strong chances if they meet criteria
  • Matched funding matters: Securing 50%+ from other sources significantly strengthens applications
  • Christian mission essential: Organization must have Christian ethos and ministry in charitable objectives—this is non-negotiable
  • Quarterly planning: With only 4 funding rounds annually, time applications strategically and monitor homepage for reopening dates
  • Deprivation data strengthens applications: Use IMD ratings to demonstrate working in areas of high need
  • Relationship potential: Strong Foundation Grant recipients may be invited to Partnership level with multi-year, larger support

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