The Foundation Of St. Benedict Of Nursia

Charity Number: 1077627

Annual Expenditure: £0.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £520,543 (expenditure 2024)
  • Annual Income: £238,487 (2024)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: International (England, Wales, Africa, Asia)
  • Application Process: No public application process

Contact Details

No public website, phone, or email available. This is a private foundation.

Charity Registration: 1077627 (England and Wales)

Overview

The Foundation of St. Benedict of Nursia was registered as a UK charity in 1999. The foundation operates as a private grant-making trust supporting the advancement of the Roman Catholic faith throughout the world, with particular focus on promoting the Benedictine Order. With expenditure of £520,543 significantly exceeding income of £238,487 in the year ending June 2024, the foundation demonstrates active grant distribution from its endowment to support Benedictine institutions and Catholic causes internationally, including operations in England, Wales, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, and Senegal.

The foundation is governed by a small board of four trustees from prominent Catholic families with longstanding connections to Benedictine and Catholic charitable causes. The trustees operate with discretion in selecting beneficiary institutions and causes, rather than accepting public applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal named grant programs. Grant-making decisions are made by trustees based on their knowledge of Benedictine and Catholic institutional needs.

Priority Areas

  • Support for Benedictine monasteries and religious communities
  • Advancement of the Roman Catholic faith globally
  • Support for Catholic institutions in developing countries (particularly Africa and Asia)
  • Preservation and promotion of Benedictine spirituality and tradition

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation focused on Catholic and Benedictine causes:

  • Non-Catholic religious organizations
  • Secular projects
  • Individual applicants
  • Projects outside their Catholic and Benedictine mission
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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by four trustees appointed since 1999:

Simon Patrick Weil (appointed 1999) - A solicitor specializing in charity law, philanthropy, and capital tax planning with over 40 years in private practice. Partner at Charles Russell Speechlys, Mr. Weil is a leading figure in UK philanthropy, having chaired the European Association for Philanthropy and Giving. He serves as trustee or consultant to numerous Catholic charities including The Foundation of Saint François, The Zita Memorial Foundation, and SickKids Foundation UK.

Xavier Jacques Jean-Paul de la Rochefoucauld (appointed 1999) - Member of the historic French La Rochefoucauld family with centuries of Catholic Church involvement. Also serves as trustee of The Foundation of Saint François, The Friends of Solesmes, and Our Lady of Good Help Foundation.

Stanislas de la Rochefoucauld (appointed 2014) - Also serves as trustee of Our Lady of Good Help Foundation, continuing the family's tradition of Catholic philanthropy.

Amaury de la Rochefoucauld (appointed 2018) - The most recently appointed trustee, representing the continued family involvement in Catholic charitable work.

The La Rochefoucauld family has produced cardinals and bishops throughout history, with François XII (1747-1827) noted as an eminent philanthropist who devoted himself to charitable work.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Foundation of St. Benedict of Nursia operates as a private grant-making foundation where trustees identify and support Benedictine and Catholic causes through their own networks and knowledge of institutional needs. Grants are awarded at trustee discretion to specific institutions and causes chosen by the board.

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, operate a grants portal, or maintain public communication channels for potential applicants.

Getting on Their Radar

The trustees maintain extensive networks within Catholic and Benedictine circles. The foundation's trustees are connected to related Catholic charities including The Foundation of Saint François, The Friends of Solesmes, and Our Lady of Good Help Foundation, suggesting a focus on supporting institutions within their established network of Catholic philanthropic activity.

Organizations working within Benedictine communities or Catholic institutions in the foundation's geographic areas of interest (particularly developing countries in Africa and Asia) may come to the trustees' attention through:

  • Connections with the English Benedictine Congregation and wider Benedictine Confederation
  • Networks associated with Solesmes Abbey and related Benedictine communities
  • Catholic philanthropic networks in the UK where trustee Simon Weil is a prominent figure

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion on an ongoing basis rather than through application cycles.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this foundation, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding the foundation's focus areas and trustee connections provides insight:

  • Benedictine focus: The foundation's objects specifically mention promoting the Benedictine Order, suggesting priority for Benedictine monasteries and communities
  • International development emphasis: With operations spanning Africa and Asia, the foundation appears particularly interested in supporting Catholic and Benedictine work in developing countries
  • Trustee networks: The foundation operates within established Catholic philanthropic circles, with trustees connected to multiple related Catholic charities
  • Institutional support: The foundation's structure suggests it supports established institutions rather than individual projects or start-up initiatives
  • Preservation of tradition: Support for communities like the Solesmes Congregation (through trustee connections to Friends of Solesmes) suggests interest in preserving traditional Benedictine monasticism and Gregorian chant

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is not a funder that accepts public applications - it operates as a private foundation with grants made at trustee discretion
  • The foundation supports Benedictine and Catholic causes internationally, with particular emphasis on developing countries
  • Trustees are deeply embedded in UK Catholic philanthropic networks and have connections to multiple related Catholic charities
  • Organizations would need pre-existing relationships with trustees or connections through Benedictine networks to be considered for support
  • The foundation's annual expenditure exceeding income demonstrates active grant distribution from endowment
  • Geographic focus includes Africa and Asia, suggesting interest in supporting Church development in these regions
  • Beneficiary institutions are likely identified through trustees' extensive networks within Benedictine and Catholic circles rather than through any application process

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