The Christadelphian Samaritan Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £100,000 (2019 figures)
• Grant Range: Up to £400 per charity
• Number of Charities Supported: 183 charities (2019)
• Geographic Focus: UK registered charities (many operate internationally)
• Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle (January, April, July, October)
• Application Method: Postal applications only

Contact Details

Website: www.christadelphiansf.com

Postal Address: Christadelphian Samaritan Fund, Westhaven House, Arleston Way, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4LH, UK

Phone: 0121 713 7100

Key Contacts:

• Secretary: Mark Halstead (Manchester Old Trafford)
• Treasurer: David Ensell (Stratford upon Avon)

Overview

Established in 1961, The Christadelphian Samaritan Fund (CSF) enables members of the Christadelphian community to contribute financially to the relief of suffering and human need outside the Christadelphian community. Registered charity number 1004457, the fund annually distributes approximately £100,000 to around 183 charities. In the financial year ending December 2024, the fund had an income of £63,363 and total expenditure of £122,167. Named after the Parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-37, CSF demonstrates practical compassion by supporting both small volunteer groups and larger international aid organizations. The fund makes annual donations to about 100 charities involved in relief of suffering or research into causes and treatment of illness and disease, while also responding to emergency appeals from the UK Disasters Emergency Committee.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

CSF operates a single grant program with clear parameters:

• Maximum Grant: £400 per charity
• Application Schedule: Quarterly reviews (January, April, July, October)
• Application Method: Postal applications only

In 2019, CSF gave £33,600 specifically to regional charities in the UK, none of which spend £5M annually and many less than £100K. The fund made a special grant of £2,000 to food banks in response to increased need.

Priority Areas

Core Focus:

• Humanitarian aid and disaster relief
• Relief of suffering
• Medical research into causes and treatment of illness and disease
• Food banks and poverty alleviation
• Support for disabled people
• Education initiatives

Emergency Response: The fund responds to natural disasters and humanitarian crises through established aid agencies such as the Red Cross, Oxfam, Children In Need, Christian Aid, and the UK Disasters Emergency Committee.

Target Organizations: CSF specifically targets smaller charities with less than £5m annual turnover.

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations that are not UK registered charities
• Large charities with annual turnover over £5m (preference, not exclusion)
• Charities with high governance and marketing costs
• Organizations supporting the Christadelphian community (separate fund exists for this)
• Individual applicants (charities only)

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Governance and Leadership

The fund is governed by eight trustees, all members of the Christadelphian community who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. Trustees meet quarterly to discuss donations and oversee the business of the fund.

Current Trustees:

• David Ensell - Treasurer (Stratford upon Avon)
• Mark Halstead - Secretary (Manchester Old Trafford)
• Ruth Deedman - Assistant Secretary (Wardley)
• Elisabeth Briley (Ipswich)
• Pauline Bromage (Shirley)
• Mark Buckler (Ashby)
• Mark Leinster (Hall Green)
• Roger Miles (Doncaster)

The Secretary and Treasurer are empowered to handle urgent one-off donations between quarterly meetings, particularly for emergency appeals from the UK Disasters Emergency Committee.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

CSF accepts applications by post only. There is no online application portal.

Application Requirements:

1. Must be a UK registered charity
2. Send details of your organization and specific appeal by post to:

Christadelphian Samaritan Fund

Westhaven House, Arleston Way

Shirley, Solihull

West Midlands B90 4LH, UK

Important Note: CSF states that they cannot guarantee a response or funding to every appeal received.

Decision Timeline

• Review Schedule: Quarterly (January, April, July, October)
• Notification: CSF will contact charities if they decide to make a donation
• Between Meetings: Urgent one-off donations for disasters can be processed by the Secretary and Treasurer without waiting for quarterly meetings

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not published, CSF receives appeals from hundreds of charities annually and supported 183 charities in 2019 with total donations of nearly £100,000. This suggests a competitive process, though smaller charities with lower overheads appear to have better prospects.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Organizations can submit appeals as needed, subject to the quarterly review schedule.

Application Success Factors

Based on CSF's stated priorities and funding patterns, the following factors increase likelihood of success:

Organization Size and Efficiency:

• CSF explicitly states: “Due to our funds being limited we cannot afford to donate more than £400, so we look to support smaller charities with less than £5m turnover, and we also look carefully at the proportion of money spent on governance and marketing before making a decision.”
• Keep overhead costs low and demonstrate efficient use of funds
• Smaller charities and volunteer-run groups are particularly welcome

Alignment with Mission:

• Focus on humanitarian aid and relief of suffering
• Clear demonstration of need outside the Christadelphian community
• Connection to disaster relief or medical research

Recent Funding Examples:

• In 2019, CSF gave £33,600 to regional UK charities with turnover significantly below £5m
• Special grant of £2,000 to food banks in response to increased need
• Emergency donations to the UK Disasters Emergency Committee for disaster response

Practical Application Tips:

• Be specific about your appeal - what the funds would support
• Demonstrate low governance and marketing costs
• Show how your work directly relieves suffering or supports those in need
• If you're a small, grassroots organization, highlight this advantage
• For emergency appeals, note that urgent donations can be processed between quarterly meetings

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Maximum grant is £400 - do not request more; consider this for project components rather than full project funding
• Small is beautiful - CSF explicitly prioritizes charities with less than £5m turnover; being small is an advantage
• Show lean operations - demonstrate low overhead costs, particularly in governance and marketing
• Postal applications only - no online portal exists; plan for quarterly review schedule
• UK registration essential - must be a UK registered charity (though overseas work is acceptable)
• Humanitarian focus wins - align appeals with relief of suffering, medical research, or disaster response
• No guaranteed response - CSF receives hundreds of appeals and cannot respond to all; do not be discouraged from trying
• Emergency appeals get priority - disaster relief appeals may be processed outside quarterly schedule

References

1. Christadelphian Samaritan Fund official website - “What We Do” page (https://www.christadelphiansf.com/what-we-do/) -
2. Christadelphian Samaritan Fund official website - “About” page (https://www.christadelphiansf.com/about/) -
3. Christadelphian Samaritan Fund official website - “Contact” page (https://www.christadelphiansf.com/contact/) -
4. Christadelphian Samaritan Fund official website - “Trustees” page (https://www.christadelphiansf.com/trustees/) -
5. UK Charity Commission Register - Charity number 1004457 (https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/1004457) -
6. OpenCharities - The Christadelphian Samaritan Fund profile (http://opencharities.org/charities/1004457) -