The Grassroots Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £447,022 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation/relationship-based)
• Decision Time: Not specified (no public application process)
• Grant Range: Variable based on project needs
• Geographic Focus: International (India, Kenya, Romania, Zambia, Kyrgyzstan, Tanzania)
• Total Children Supported: 3,000+

Contact Details

Address: 8 Meadow Way, Rowledge, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 4DY

Phone: +44 (0)1252 792387

Email: admin@grassroots.org.uk

Website: www.grassroots.org.uk

Charity Registration: England & Wales Charity No. 1060034; Scottish Charity No. SCO46121

Overview

The Grassroots Trust, founded in 1997 and based in Farnham, Surrey, is a Christian charity officially registered as a grant-making organization with the Charity Commission. With an annual expenditure of £447,022 (2024) and total income of £470,783, the Trust operates worldwide to “advance the Kingdom of God, wherever He calls” and to “relieve poverty, sickness and distress throughout the world.” The charity makes grants to local Christian organizations and churches in India, Kenya, Romania, Zambia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tanzania to operate child sponsorship programs supporting over 3,000 children. Operating names include MOUTHPEACE and WALK THE WALLS. The Trust's distinctive model channels 100% of child sponsorship donations directly to programs, with all seven trustees serving without remuneration and 20 volunteers supporting operations. Unlike traditional grant-makers, the Trust does not operate a public application process; instead, it identifies and funds partner organizations through established relationships within Christian church networks and through annual mission trips.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Grassroots Trust makes grants to local Christian organizations and churches to deliver programs in the following areas:

Child Sponsorship Programs (£3.50-£20 per month per child)

• School fees, uniforms, and equipment
• Educational support and after-school programs
• GP-level medical care and dental care
• Regular meals and nutrition programs
• Birthday gifts and personal items
• Accommodation support where needed

Community Feeding Programs (approximately £100 per month per church in Zambia)

• Regular meals for children in poverty
• Operated through local church networks
• Supports children beyond formal sponsorship

Housing Projects (Romania)

• Building or repairing homes for impoverished families
• Approximately £15,000 per 2-3 room house
• Focus on rural areas with extreme poverty

Vocational Training Support

• Partnership with KEVTC (Kabushi Entrepreneurship and Vocational Training Centre) in Zambia
• Support for training in tailoring, carpentry, bricklaying, plumbing, and welding

Priority Areas

• Christian Mission: All funded projects advance the Christian gospel in accordance with the Trust's statement of faith
• Child Welfare: Direct support for children living in extreme poverty
• Education: School fees, equipment, and after-school support
• Healthcare: GP-level medical care for sponsored children
• Poverty Relief: Food security, housing, and basic needs
• Community Development: Supporting local churches and organizations as delivery partners
• Geographic Focus: India, Kenya, Romania, Zambia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tanzania

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Trust's focus indicates they do not fund:

• Non-Christian organizations
• Projects outside their established geographic areas
• Capital appeals unrelated to their core mission
• Organizations not aligned with their evangelical Christian statement of faith
• Projects that cannot demonstrate local Christian leadership
• Individual applications (they fund organizations, not individuals directly)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Grassroots Trust is governed by seven trustees who serve without remuneration:

• Robert Sweatman
• Rob Anderson
• Stuart Boreham
• Claire Corley
• Mark Price
• Jamie Walker
• Bethany Rawding

The Trust operates with 20 volunteers and no paid employees, ensuring minimal overhead costs.

Key Partner Organizations

The Trust works with established local partners including:

• KEVTC (Kabushi Entrepreneurship and Vocational Training Centre), Zambia - NGO partner coordinating work with five local churches in the Ndola region
• BENITA, Romania - Founded by Lidia and Iakob Murza, focuses on home building and child sponsorship
• Good Neighbours, Kenya - Led by Pastor George Kibe in Theta
• Watu Wa Maana Children's Centre, Kenya - Rehabilitation center for street children and orphans in Ruiru (supported since 2004)
• Kevin and Debra Kamalraj, India - Operating daily children's club in Chennai slum
• Multiple local churches across Tanzania, particularly in Mbeya including Airport Stable church

How to Apply to The Grassroots Trust

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The Grassroots Trust does not have a public grant application process.

Despite being officially classified by the Charity Commission as a grant-making charity that “makes grants to organisations,” the Trust does not accept unsolicited applications through their website or any public portal. Their website focuses exclusively on:

• Child sponsorship opportunities for individual donors
• Volunteer opportunities for mission trips
• Information about existing partner projects

All grant-making decisions appear to be made by trustees based on:

• Existing relationships with local Christian churches and organizations
• Assessment visits during annual mission trips
• Recommendations from trusted partners in their network
• Alignment with the Trust's Christian statement of faith

Organizations seeking funding would need to be identified and invited by the trustees rather than applying through a formal process.

Getting on Their Radar

While the Trust doesn't accept public applications, organizations working in their geographic focus areas might increase visibility through:

Mission Trip Engagement: The Trust conducts annual mission trips to India, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, Zambia, Romania, and Tanzania. During these trips, trustees and volunteers “interview sponsored children, check things are being organised with integrity, deliver alternative gifts, decide which opportunities to prioritise and meet with their amazing partners and friends.” Organizations demonstrating effective work in these countries may be observed during these visits.

Church Network Connections: The Trust explicitly states they partner “with churches and Christian organisations to share the love of Jesus in deed and word.” Local churches in their focus countries, particularly those already connected to UK-based churches, may serve as introduction points.

Speaking Engagements: The Trust welcomes opportunities to “come and speak to your church, school or organisation” about topics including “poverty, aid, faith in an age of consumerism, sustainability, prayer, school linking and many other subjects.” Inviting them to speak could create relationship-building opportunities.

Demonstration of Christian Leadership: All partner projects are “organized by a local Christian organization or church and led by indigenous people.” Organizations with strong local Christian leadership demonstrating integrity and transparency in poverty relief work align with their model.

Contact for Relationship Building: While not a formal application route, contacting admin@grassroots.org.uk to introduce your organization's work in their focus areas might be appropriate for organizations with strong Christian credentials working in child poverty relief.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the Trust operates on a relationship and trustee-discretion basis rather than application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - there is no public application process to generate success rate data.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a formal application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Trust operates on relationship-based funding rather than competitive applications, the following factors appear critical for organizations seeking to become grant recipients:

Essential Alignment Factors:

1. Christian Foundation: All partner projects must be “run by local Christian organisations” or churches. The Trust's objectives include advancing “the Christian gospel in accordance with the statement of faith.” Non-Christian organizations or those with secular missions would not align.

1. Local Indigenous Leadership: The Trust emphasizes that projects are “led by indigenous people” with the UK team providing “ongoing support, management and directional input.” They seek local ownership rather than expatriate-led initiatives.

1. Demonstrated Integrity and Transparency: Mission trips include specific objectives to “check things are being organised with integrity.” Partners must demonstrate financial accountability and transparent operations, particularly in how sponsorship money is used.

1. Child-Focused Programming: The Trust's primary mechanism is child sponsorship. Organizations must be able to deliver structured programs providing education, nutrition, medical care, and personal support to individual children who can be sponsored.

1. Sustainability and Efficiency: The Trust emphasizes that “100% of the sponsorship money is spent on the children, with none taken for charity administration or advertising.” Partner organizations must operate efficiently and demonstrate that funds directly benefit beneficiaries.

Operational Indicators from Successful Partners:

• KEVTC, Zambia coordinates work across 145 churches and five main church bases, demonstrating capacity for multi-site coordination
• Watu Wa Maana, Kenya has received continuous support since 2004, indicating the Trust values long-term partnerships
• Romanian project with BENITA delivers both child sponsorship and capital projects (house building), showing flexibility in program types
• Chennai, India program operates “365 days a year,” demonstrating consistent, year-round service delivery

What the Trust Values Based on Their Language:

The Trust describes their work using phrases like:

• “Where a little goes a long way” - indicating they value cost-effectiveness and high impact per pound
• “Alleviating poverty, partnering with churches, sponsoring children, changing lives” - their four-pillar mission statement
• “Relieve poverty wherever we can and tell people about Jesus through word and deed” - dual focus on practical help and evangelism

Relationship Development Approach:

Since trustees make all funding decisions and conduct annual site visits, organizations should:

• Demonstrate track record over time rather than seeking immediate funding
• Welcome and facilitate trustee/volunteer visits to demonstrate transparency
• Build relationships through church networks rather than formal pitches
• Show alignment with evangelical Christian values and mission
• Prepare to engage with volunteers on mission trips who “help with the administration of the child sponsorship”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not a Traditional Grant-Maker: Despite official classification as grant-making charity, the Trust does not operate a public application process - all funding is relationship-based and trustee-directed
• Christian Mission Essential: Only organizations with explicit Christian mission and evangelical alignment will be considered; the Trust exists to “advance the Christian gospel” alongside poverty relief
• Geographic Limitations: Focus is exclusively on six countries (India, Kenya, Romania, Zambia, Kyrgyzstan, Tanzania) - organizations outside these areas unlikely to receive funding
• Child Sponsorship Model: The primary funding mechanism supports individual child sponsorship programs; organizations must be able to track and report on individual sponsored children
• Local Leadership Required: Partner organizations must be locally led with “indigenous” leadership; the UK Trust provides oversight and funding but not direct implementation
• Long-Term Relationships: Evidence suggests the Trust maintains partnerships over many years (e.g., Kenya since 2004); they seek sustainable long-term partners rather than one-off projects
• Access Through Mission Trips: Annual mission trips to all focus countries provide the primary mechanism for trustees to identify, assess, and maintain relationships with partners
• 100% Direct Delivery: Partners must demonstrate that all sponsorship funds go directly to children/programs with minimal administrative overhead
• Church Network Entry Point: Relationships with UK churches or Christian organizations may provide introduction pathways; the Trust actively speaks to churches about their work
• No Formal Applications Accepted: Organizations cannot apply through website, email applications, or formal proposals - relationship development is the only pathway to funding consideration

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Project Possible
• The Jerusalem Trust
• Fiftyfour Two Foundation (54:2 Foundation)
• Links International
• The Milk And Honey Trust
• The Friendly Hand
• The Farthing Trust
• The Brownlee Charitable Trust
• Ulting Overseas Trust
• Heb Ffin (without Frontier)

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales, “THE GRASSROOTS TRUST - 1060034,” Register of Charities, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1060034&subid=0
• Charity Commission, “THE GRASSROOTS TRUST - Full Print,” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1060034/full-print
• The Grassroots Trust, “About Us,” https://grassroots.org.uk/about-us/
• The Grassroots Trust, “Sponsor a Child,” https://grassroots.org.uk/sponsor/
• The Grassroots Trust, “Zambia,” https://grassroots.org.uk/zambia/
• The Grassroots Trust, “Kenya,” https://grassroots.org.uk/kenya/
• The Grassroots Trust, “India,” https://grassroots.org.uk/india/
• The Grassroots Trust, “Romania,” https://grassroots.org.uk/romania/
• The Grassroots Trust, “Join a mission team with the Grassroots Trust,” https://grassroots.org.uk/mission-trips/
• The Grassroots Trust, “Contact,” https://grassroots.org.uk/contact/
• The Grassroots Trust, “Policies and Documents,” https://grassroots.org.uk/policies-and-documents/
• Charity Commission, “Accounts and annual returns, THE GRASSROOTS TRUST - 1060034,” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/1060034/accounts-and-annual-returns