The Brindle Foundation

Charity Number: 1135107

Annual Expenditure: £2.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £2,404,714 (FYE 29 Feb 2024)
  • Total Income: £2,896,797
  • Total Assets: £2,396,797 (as of 29 Feb 2024)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales
  • Application Process: No public application process - invitation only

Contact Details

Address: Ludlow Trust Co Ltd, Tower Wharf, Cheese Lane, Bristol BS2 0JJ

Phone: 0117 313 8200

Email: charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com

Note: The trustees do not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Brindle Foundation, formerly known as The Muriel Jones Foundation, was established in 2010 by Richard and Katie Brindle as a private charitable trust. Registered with the Charity Commission (charity number 1135107), the foundation is professionally managed by Ludlow Trust Company Ltd in Bristol. The foundation makes grants to organisations throughout England and Wales with a focus on environmental issues, animal welfare and rights, human rights, and local charitable causes. With annual charitable expenditure exceeding £2.4 million, the foundation operates with substantial investment income supporting its grant-making activities. The trust deed, established on 24 February 2010 and amended on 13 June 2024, provides the trustees with broad discretion to support “such objects or purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales in any part of the world.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specified amounts. Grants are awarded at the absolute discretion of the trustees based on the foundation's strategic priorities.

Priority Areas

The Muriel Jones Foundation predominantly supports:

  • Environmental Issues: Conservation, climate action, and environmental protection
  • Animal Welfare and Rights: Animal protection charities and welfare organizations
  • Human Rights: Civil liberties, justice, and human rights advocacy
  • Local Charities: Community organizations and local initiatives

Known Recipients:

  • Free Range Dairy (animal welfare, 2014)
  • Reprieve (both founders serve as ambassadors for this human rights organization)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, as a private foundation operating at trustee discretion, they fund causes aligned with their documented priority areas only.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Richard David Henry Brindle (Director): Co-founder of the foundation with over 35 years in the insurance industry. He founded Lancashire Insurance in October 2005 and served as CEO until April 2014, before founding Fidelis Insurance. Richard serves as an ambassador for Reprieve, a human rights organization.
  • Katie Louise Cressy Brindle: Co-founder and trustee, professional Chinese medicine practitioner and founder of Hayo'u. Katie also serves as an ambassador for Reprieve.
  • Ludlow Trust Company Ltd: Appointed as corporate trustee in 2021, providing professional trust management services.

Richard Brindle has stated that he “strongly believes in giving back to local communities” and is involved in various philanthropic projects both within and outside of his business ventures.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The trustees do not accept unsolicited applications from organizations. Grants are awarded entirely at the discretion of the trustees based on their strategic priorities and existing relationships.

All grant decisions are made by the trustees without any formal application procedure, submission deadlines, or public grant guidelines.

Application Success Factors

As this foundation operates without a public application process, the typical success factors do not apply. However, based on the foundation's documented activities:

  • Alignment with core priorities: The foundation has a clear focus on environmental issues, animal welfare, human rights, and local charities. Organizations working in these areas appear to be the primary beneficiaries.
  • Trustee connections: Given the invitation-only nature of grants, having existing connections to the trustees or being within their professional or personal networks appears to be the primary pathway to receiving support.
  • Ambassadorships and board roles: Both founders serve as ambassadors for Reprieve, suggesting that organizations where trustees have formal relationships may receive consideration.
  • Established organizations: Known grant recipients like Free Range Dairy and Reprieve are established charities with clear track records in their respective fields.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation cannot be approached through standard grant application channels - they operate solely through trustee discretion and invitation.
  • Significant grant-maker: Despite the closed application process, this is a substantial foundation with over £2.4 million in annual charitable expenditure.
  • Clear thematic focus: The foundation consistently supports environmental, animal welfare, human rights, and local charitable causes - these themes guide all funding decisions.
  • Professional management: Grants are administered through Ludlow Trust Company Ltd, suggesting a structured approach to grant-making despite the lack of public application process.
  • Founder involvement: Both Richard and Katie Brindle remain actively involved as trustees and maintain ambassador roles with organizations like Reprieve, indicating hands-on philanthropic engagement.
  • Long-term relationships: The foundation appears to support causes and organizations with which the trustees have established relationships rather than responding to broad solicitations.
  • Transparency in priorities: While applications are not accepted, the foundation's focus areas are publicly documented, allowing organizations to understand whether they align with funding priorities.

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