The Farthing Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £539,550 charitable expenditure (year ending April 2025)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: £500 - £6,000 (based on secondary sources; not stated on Trust's own website)
• Typical Grant: £2,000 (based on secondary sources; not stated on Trust's own website)
• Geographic Focus: International (UK and 10+ countries globally)
• Total Grants Awarded: 232 grants (2019 reference year, via Giving is Great)

Contact Details

• Address: PO Box 276, Newmarket, CB8 1GW
• Phone: 07598565623 (via Charity Commission register; not listed on Trust's own website)
• Email: thefarthingtrust@gmail.com
• Website: www.thefarthingtrust.org
• Charity Number: 268066

Overview

The Farthing Trust was established in August 1974 as a family-run charitable foundation originating in the Fens of Eastern England, designed to support charitable causes in any area of the world. The Trust operates with a distinctive “seed corn” funding approach, prioritising small projects that need initial startup or early-stage support. With annual charitable expenditure of £539,550 (year ending April 2025) and total income of £500,935, the Trust demonstrates consistent commitment to supporting grassroots initiatives. The Trust operates internationally, with projects spanning England, Wales, Scotland, and countries including India, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Philippines, Malawi, Zambia, Senegal, and Syria. All trustees serve without remuneration, reinforcing the Trust's commitment to maximising funds available for charitable work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single grant program with rolling applications:

• General Grants: £500 - £6,000 (typical grant: £2,000) — note: these figures are from secondary sources and are not confirmed on the Trust's own website
• Application method: Written applications submitted by email or post
• Rolling basis with no fixed deadlines specified

Priority Areas

The Trust supports “all manner of charitable causes” but predominantly focuses on:

• Education: Educational projects and initiatives (excluding GAP year students and most educational course fees)
• Faith: Non-proselytising faith organisations and projects
• Health: Health advancement programs and medical initiatives
• Human Rights and Reconciliation: Projects promoting human rights, peace-building, and the reconciliation/promotion of religious or racial harmony
• Equality and Inclusion: Projects supporting racial, religious, LGBTQ+, and disability inclusion
• Relief of Need: Poverty relief and support for vulnerable populations, including elderly people, people with disabilities, children, and young people

What They Don't Fund

• GAP year students (rarely supported)
• Applications for educational courses (rarely supported)
• Very large organisations
• Disaster relief appeals
• Political campaigns
• Projects not aligned with their core charitable purposes

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Trust is governed by four trustees who serve without remuneration. Sources differ on current trustee names:

• Mr C H Martin (per Powerbase and OpenCharities)
• Mrs E Martin (per Powerbase; listed as “Ms E Bell” on Giving is Great — may be an error or name change)
• Mrs J Martin (per Powerbase and OpenCharities)
• Mrs A White (per Powerbase and OpenCharities)

Note: Trustee information should be verified directly with the Charity Commission register or the Trust itself, as third-party sources appear to conflict.

The Trust maintains strong governance practices including policies on conflicts of interest, financial reserves, and risk management.

How to Apply to The Farthing Trust

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted in writing to the Trust. The Trust's own website lists two contact methods:

• Email applications to: thefarthingtrust@gmail.com
• Post applications to: PO Box 276, Newmarket, CB8 1GW

There is no online application portal. The Trust recommends reviewing their funding priorities before applying to ensure eligibility. Due to the volume of correspondence, the Trust is not able to reply to all appeals. If an appeal is within the Trust's remit, a trustee will be in contact.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available.

Success Rates

Based on 2019 data, the Trust awarded 232 grants from an unknown number of applications. Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated.

Application Success Factors

The Farthing Trust's distinctive approach provides several insights for applicants:

“Seed Corn” Funding Focus: The Trust explicitly prioritises small projects needing initial startup funding. Applications should emphasise how seed funding will enable a project to get started, establish proof of concept, or leverage additional funding. This is a core part of their identity.

Small Grant Mentality: With most grants reportedly around £2,000, successful applicants likely demonstrate how modest funding can achieve significant impact. Budget efficiency and clear outcomes for limited funds are likely important.

International Scope with Grassroots Impact: The Trust operates globally but maintains a personal, family-run approach. Applications from diverse geographic locations are welcomed, particularly from areas where the Trust has historic connections.

Inclusive Values: The Trust supports equality across racial, religious, LGBTQ+, and disability dimensions, alongside non-proselytising faith organisations. Applications should reflect these inclusive values.

No-Frills Application: The absence of an online portal and preference for written applications suggests the Trust values substance over presentation. Clear, concise written applications focusing on need, impact, and alignment with priorities are likely most effective.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Target the “seed corn” angle: Frame your request as startup or early-stage funding that will enable a project to launch or prove viability. Demonstrate how this initial investment will unlock future sustainability or additional funding.

• Request modest amounts strategically: With typical grants reportedly around £2,000, pitch projects scaled appropriately. Show how relatively small funding can achieve disproportionate impact.

• Align with core priorities: Strongest alignment appears in education, non-proselytising faith work, health, human rights/reconciliation, equality/inclusion, and poverty relief. Clearly articulate which priority area(s) your project addresses.

• Emphasise grassroots impact: As a family-run trust supporting small projects globally, demonstrate direct impact on beneficiaries rather than organisational overheads or large-scale programmes.

• Geographic diversity welcomed: International projects are explicitly welcome. The Trust has funded work across 10+ countries, so don't be deterred by geographic distance from the UK.

• Simple, direct applications: No complex online forms or excessive documentation. Focus on clear written communication about need, approach, and impact.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Michael And Betty Little Trust
• The Jephcott Charitable Trust
• The Brownlee Charitable Trust
• The Watson Family Charitable Trust
• The Angus Lawson Memorial Trust
• The Jerusalem Trust
• The Cumber Family Charitable Trust
• The Dulverton Trust
• The Rhododendron Trust
• N And R Karnani Trust

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales - THE FARTHING TRUST (268066). Register entry and financial data for year ending 05 April 2025. Accessed via https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/268066

• Giving is Great - THE FARTHING TRUST Charity Factsheet. Grant-making data for year ended 31 December 2019 showing 232 grants totalling £494,000. Accessed via https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=268066

• The Farthing Trust official website. About Us, Contact, and Projects pages. www.thefarthingtrust.org

• OpenCharities - THE FARTHING TRUST (268066). Trustee information and charitable activities. Accessed via http://opencharities.org/charities/268066 (note: last updated August 2020)

• Together Network - Funders Sensitive to Faith Based Projects resource document. Information about faith-based funding priorities.

• Powerbase - The Farthing Trust. Trustee listing and background information. Accessed via https://powerbase.info/index.php/The_Farthing_Trust