The Innholders' Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £632,587 (year ending September 2024)
• Annual Income: £484,268
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (highly competitive)
• Decision Time: 2-4 months (meets June and December)
• Grant Range: £500 - £5,000 (small grants), larger amounts for long-term patronage
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales, with preference for City of London and adjoining boroughs

Contact Details

• Website: www.innholders.org.uk
• Email: mail@innholders.co.uk
• Phone: 020 7236 6703
• Address: Innholders' Hall, College Street, City of London
• For Larger Projects: Contact the Clerk's Office at mail@innholders.co.uk

Overview

The Innholders' Charitable Foundation (registered charity number 1158457) was established in 2014 to amalgamate seven charities endowed by generous bequests from Innholders over the centuries. The Foundation is administered by the Court of the Worshipful Company of Innholders, one of London's historic livery companies dating back to 1514 and ranking 32nd in order of precedence. With annual expenditure of £632,587 (2024), the Foundation directs its giving towards three priority areas: the young, the elderly, and the hospitality industry. The Foundation emphasizes supporting small charities where grants will make a demonstrable impact, particularly those with connections to the City of London. The Foundation operates through two committees: the Charity Committee, which awards smaller grants of £500-£5,000 twice annually, and the Patronage Committee, which handles larger and long-term commitments to strategic partners in the hospitality sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme (£500 - £5,000)

• One-off awards totaling approximately £35,000 per annum through the Charity Committee
• Application method: Online application form only (postal applications not accepted)
• Decisions made twice yearly following June and December committee meetings
• Eligibility: Charities, CIOs, CICs, and CASCs with annual income below £1 million

Patronage Programme (Larger awards)

• Long-term commitments to strategic partners
• Requires discussion with the Clerk's Office
• Includes major donations and multi-year partnerships

Specific Programmes:

• Innholder Scholarships: Young managers in hotel industry attending management development courses at Cornell or Cranfield (funded in partnership with The Savoy Educational Trust, Lord Forte Foundation, and Master Innholders Charitable Trust)
• Education Bursaries: Six pupils at City of London School and City of London School for Girls, one scholar at Christ's Hospital, two students at Guildhall School of Music and Drama
• Hospitality Industry Welfare: Grants distributed through Hospitality Action, the Drinks Trust, and the Licensed Trade Charity for those experiencing financial hardship

Priority Areas

The Young:

• Educational support and bursaries
• Youth clubs and respite clubs for disabled children
• Educational skills assistance for young people not in mainstream education
• Mentoring programmes
• Music outreach programmes (London Symphony Orchestra, London Music Fund)
• Recent recipients: Teach First, Jamie's Farm, Spark Inside, Swanlea School (Tower Hamlets)

The Elderly:

• Winter heating costs
• Schemes to relieve social isolation
• Quality of life improvements
• Support through hospitality industry charities for retired workers

Hospitality Industry:

• Professional development scholarships
• Welfare grants for current and former hospitality workers
• Winter fuel grants (£150 one-off payments)
• Golden Friends newsletter and general family support
• Support for hospitality-sector charities

General Welfare (with London focus):

• Food boxes for families in need
• Sporting facilities for disadvantaged communities
• Homelessness alleviation
• Social isolation relief
• Recent major donations: The Clink Charity, Samaritans City Hub

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations operating outside England and Wales
• Large charities with annual income over £1 million
• Postal/paper applications (online only)
• Repeat applications within 12 months
• Projects without clear links to their three priority areas (young, elderly, hospitality)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee: The Court of the Worshipful Company of Innholders (corporate trustee)

Master 2024-2025: Mr Tom Richardson

Upper Warden 2024-2025: Sir James Wates CBE

Charity Committee:

• Meets twice yearly (June and December)
• Members include Liveryman Justyn Herbert, who checks each charity on the Charity Commission website and provides governance synopses
• Members conduct pre-meeting sifting to ensure applications fit within Terms of Reference and represent all three areas of giving
• Recommends awards to the Court for approval

Patronage Committee:

• Handles larger and long-term awards
• Recommends strategic partnerships to the Court

The Foundation emphasizes that “we make grants to small charities where our award will make a demonstrable impact on their work” and notes that “diversity and inclusion priorities are important to us.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Online Portal (Required):

• Applications must be submitted via the online form at www.innholders.org.uk
• Postal applications are not accepted
• Check your application meets their criteria before submission
• Application form includes a section on how your charity supports Diversity and Inclusion

Pre-Application Contact:

• For larger projects, contact the Clerk's Office at mail@innholders.co.uk before applying
• No mention of preliminary conversations for small grants

Decision Timeline

Meeting Schedule:

• Charity Committee meets twice yearly: June and December
• Pre-meeting sifting process occurs before each main meeting
• Court (Trustee) approval required after Committee recommendation

Typical Timeline:

• Submit application in advance of June or December meeting
• Committee review and sifting process
• Decision made at committee meeting
• Court approval
• Notification and payment
• Estimated total time: 2-4 months from submission to decision/payment

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation notes that “the grant making process is very competitive,” suggesting a selective process. The Foundation distributed approximately £35,000 annually through the small grants programme (£500-£5,000 range), which equates to approximately 7-70 grants depending on award size.

Reapplication Policy

12-Month Waiting Period: For both successful and unsuccessful applications, applicants must wait 12 months before applying again.

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Stated Priorities

The Foundation explicitly seeks:

• Small charities where their award will make a “demonstrable impact”
• Organizations with links to the City of London or its adjoining boroughs
• Charities supporting one or more of their three priority areas: the young, the elderly, and the hospitality industry
• Evidence of commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Recently Funded Projects (Examples)

Youth and Education:

• Teach First (educational support)
• Jamie's Farm (youth development)
• Spark Inside (mentoring in justice system)
• Swanlea School in Tower Hamlets
• London Symphony Orchestra music outreach
• London Music Fund

Hospitality and Welfare:

• Hospitality Action (winter fuel grants, Golden Friends newsletter, elderly support)
• The Clink Charity (major donation - prison rehabilitation through hospitality training)
• Samaritans City Hub (major donation)
• The Drinks Trust and Licensed Trade Charity (welfare grants)

Community Support:

• Charities delivering food boxes to families in need
• Organizations providing sporting facilities to disadvantaged communities
• Charities alleviating homelessness and social isolation

Key Application Elements

Demonstrate Impact:

The Foundation's emphasis on “demonstrable impact” suggests successful applications should:

• Clearly show how a £500-£5,000 grant will make a tangible difference
• Provide specific outcomes and measurables
• Explain why your charity's size makes this funding particularly valuable

Geographic Connection:

Applications should highlight any connection to:

• The City of London
• Adjoining London boroughs
• Broader England and Wales operations

Alignment with Priority Areas:

Structure your application to clearly align with one or more of the three priorities:

• The young
• The elderly
• The hospitality industry

Diversity and Inclusion:

The application form specifically asks about D&I, so include concrete examples of:

• How your charity supports diverse communities
• Inclusive practices in service delivery
• Representation in governance and beneficiaries

Process Tips

• Online only: Do not send postal applications; they will not be accepted
• Committee member connections: Applications from charities supported by Company members are encouraged
• Governance matters: One committee member specifically reviews each charity's governance on the Charity Commission website, so ensure your charity's registration is up-to-date and compliant
• Pre-meeting sifting: Applications are reviewed before the main meeting to ensure they fit Terms of Reference, so strict alignment with the three priority areas is essential

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Target small charities with big impact: The Foundation specifically seeks organizations where £500-£5,000 will make a “demonstrable impact” - clearly articulate what difference this funding will make relative to your organization's size
• London connections matter: While they fund across England and Wales, they explicitly favor applications from charities linked to the City of London or adjoining boroughs - highlight any London connections prominently
• Align tightly with the three priorities: Structure your application around the young, the elderly, or the hospitality industry - applications are sifted to ensure representation across all three areas
• Plan for timing: With only two decision points per year (June and December), apply well in advance and factor in the 12-month reapplication waiting period
• Emphasize Diversity and Inclusion: This is explicitly important to the Foundation and included in the application form - provide specific examples of your D&I commitment
• Ensure governance compliance: A committee member checks each charity on the Charity Commission website - make sure your registration and accounts are current and compliant
• Consider member connections: The Foundation encourages applications from charities supported by Company members - if you have any connection to the hospitality sector or Innholders members, mention it
• Use the online portal: Postal applications are not accepted, so familiarize yourself with their online application system and ensure you have all required information before starting

References

1. The Innholders' Charitable Foundation - Charity Applicant Information. Worshipful Company of Innholders. www.innholders.org.uk/charity/

1. The Innholders' Charitable Foundation - Philanthropy and Patronage. Worshipful Company of Innholders. www.innholders.org.uk/philanthropy

1. Charity Committee. Worshipful Company of Innholders. www.innholders.org.uk/charity/charity-committee/

1. The Innholders' Charitable Foundation (Charity Number 1158457). Charity Commission Register of Charities. register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1158457 - Financial year ending 30 September 2024: Income £484,268, Expenditure £632,587

1. Welcome to The Worshipful Company Of Innholders. www.innholders.org.uk

1. Worshipful Company of Innholders - Company Governance. www.innholders.org.uk/company-governance

1. “In from the cold - Winter Fuel Grant Launches.” Hospitality Action. www.hospitalityaction.org.uk/blog-and-news/2019/november/in-from-the-cold-winter-fuel-grant-launches/ - Quote: “The 2019/20 Winter Fuel Grant Scheme is kindly funded by the Worshipful Company of Innholders”

1. Worshipful Company of Innholders. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Innholders - Historical context: Founded 1514, 32nd in order of precedence