The International Bankers Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £235,592 (2023/24 expenditure)
• Total Distributed: Over £1.4 million to 100+ causes since 2003
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified - contact required
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £2,000+ (new charities typically start at £1,000)
• Geographic Focus: London (particularly underprivileged young people), with wider UK reach

Contact Details

Address: c/o Worshipful Company of International Bankers, Wax Chandlers' Hall, 6 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7AD

Phone: 07538 230438

Email: clerk@internationalbankers.co.uk

Website: www.internationalbankers.org.uk

Clerk and CEO: Carole Seawert (also serves as Secretary of the charitable trust)

Overview

The International Bankers Charitable Trust was constituted under a Trust Deed dated 28 June 2001 (amended 29 February 2008) and registered as a charity in England and Wales (No. 1087630). Since distributing its first grants in 2003, the Trust has awarded over £1.4 million to more than 100 charitable causes. With annual expenditure of approximately £235,592, the Trust operates through the Worshipful Company of International Bankers (WCIB), which serves as the sole corporate trustee. The Trust's mission focuses on supporting vocational training in the financial services industry and promoting charitable works aligned with the WCIB's aims, with particular emphasis on positively impacting underprivileged young people in London. The organisation maintains a small, volunteer-driven operation with 50 volunteers and no salaried employees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Grants Programme: The WCIB makes grants annually to charitable causes. Typical donations to new charities normally start at up to £1,000, but larger awards are considered when funding can make a clear difference in accordance with Company aims.

Pitch Your Charity Initiative: Members propose charities for support, with £2,000 grants awarded to selected organisations. Recent recipients include Greenhouse Sports and King Henry's Walk Garden.

Relationship Charities: Most grants go to long-term relationship schools, universities, and charities with ongoing programmes, though the WCIB actively seeks to develop new relationships with charities operating in areas that meet their aims.

Major Fundraising Events: The organisation hosts gala dinners and special fundraising events that can raise significant sums (e.g., £20,000 in 2013 and £50,000 in 2015 for Ark-MyBnk projects).

Priority Areas

The Trust supports charities working with young people in:

• Education and Financial Literacy: Teaching financial skills and supporting educational achievement, particularly for disadvantaged youth
• Employability and Career Development: Raising aspirations for education and employment, improving job prospects
• Vocational Training in Financial Services: Supporting training programmes that build skills for careers in banking and finance
• Disadvantaged Individuals: Projects with a clear purpose and measurable impact
• City of London Initiatives: Financial services-linked charitable initiatives and support for communities surrounding the City of London

Current Relationship Charities include:

• The Brokerage: “Pathways to the City” employability programme engaging 3,750 young people across 100+ schools with 1,500 volunteers
• Share Foundation: “Stepladder Plus” programme for youth in care (ages 15-17), focusing on literacy, numeracy, and financial skills
• Clement James: Education and employment support serving 1,500 young people and 1,100 adults, with specialist legal and trauma advice
• School Home Support: Economic Well Being (EWB) program using social media and training
• Uprising: “Making Change Happen” leadership programme for 200-250 young people aged 18-25 in East London
• Greenhouse Sports: Sport-based programmes for over 7,000 young people in 50 schools across 17 London boroughs

Educational Partnerships

The Company maintains relationships with 17 business schools and universities, providing prizes (including the WCIB Lombard Prize) and opportunities for interaction. It also funds bursaries at City of London School, City of London School for Girls, and Dulwich College.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Trust's focus is clearly on youth development, education, and financial services-related causes. Projects outside these areas or not aligned with supporting disadvantaged young people in London are unlikely to be considered.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee Structure: The Worshipful Company of International Bankers serves as the sole corporate trustee. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Governance: The Company is governed by a Court of Assistants consisting of:

• Master (elected annually, typically serves June/July to the following year)
• Senior Warden (Deputy Master)
• Middle Warden
• Junior Warden
• Past Masters
• Liverymen

The Court typically meets four times per year.

2024-2025 Leadership:

• Master: Angela Knight CBE (installed October 2024, first female Master of the WCIB)
• Senior Warden: Nick Garnish
• Middle Warden: Tim Skeet
• Junior Warden: Ali Miraj
• Clerk and CEO: Carole Seawert (responsible for efficient running of the Company and serves as Secretary of the charitable trust)

Charity & Education Committee: Chaired by Shamir Sanghrajka, who has over 25 years of financial services experience and is passionate about supporting the next generation of students and business startups. This committee is one of seven standing committees at the heart of the organisation.

Other Standing Committees: Associates Committee, Communications Committee, Events Committee, Finance Committee, Membership Committee, and Livery Committee.

Strategic Priorities: As articulated by the current leadership, the priority is “helping underprivileged young people by increasing financial literacy, supporting education, raising aspirations for education and employment, and improving the likelihood of employment.” The organisation also supports the Lord Mayor's Appeal and other historic City of London charities.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Trust accepts applications from charitable organisations aligned with their objectives. While there is a grant application page on the WCIB website (internationalbankers.org.uk/charity&education/apply-grant), specific application deadlines and detailed submission requirements are not publicly available.

Key Application Information:

• The WCIB makes grants annually to charitable causes
• Most grants go to long-term relationship charities, schools, and universities with ongoing programmes
• The organisation also seeks to develop new relationships with charities meeting their aims
• The Charity & Education Committee welcomes suggestions from members for charities that meet core objectives
• Initial contact should be made via email (clerk@internationalbankers.co.uk) or phone (07538 230438)

Getting on Their Radar

Member Recommendations: The “Pitch Your Charity” initiative allows WCIB members to propose charities for £2,000 grants. Building relationships with members of the Worshipful Company may provide a pathway to support.

Committee Engagement: Shamir Sanghrajka, Chair of the Charity & Education Committee, is the key decision-maker for charitable grants. Organisations aligned with the Trust's focus on youth development, financial literacy, and employability should consider making contact through the Clerk's office.

Long-term Partnerships: The Trust explicitly states its preference for developing long-term relationships with charities that have ongoing programmes. Demonstrating sustainability and measurable impact over time is valued.

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines from application to decision are not publicly available. Given that grants are made annually and the Court meets four times per year, charities should expect decision-making to align with the Court's meeting schedule.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. However, with over £1.4 million distributed to 100+ causes since 2003, this suggests an average of approximately 5-10 grants per year, though this may vary significantly.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. The emphasis on long-term relationship building suggests that unsuccessful applicants could reapply, particularly if they can demonstrate stronger alignment with the Trust's priorities or enhanced programme outcomes.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated priorities and funded projects, successful applications should demonstrate:

Alignment with Core Mission: “The current priority is helping underprivileged young people by increasing financial literacy, supporting education, raising aspirations for education and employment, and improving the likelihood of employment.”

Geographic Focus: Strong preference for charities working with disadvantaged young people in London, particularly in the City of London and surrounding communities. All five relationship charities operate London-based programmes.

Measurable Impact: The Trust explicitly seeks to support “disadvantaged individuals for a clear purpose and measurable impact.” Applications should include clear metrics and outcomes.

Financial Services Connection: Given the Trust's objective to support “vocational training in the financial services industry,” programmes that help young people access careers in banking, finance, or professional services in the City are particularly aligned.

Sustainability and Scale: Relationship charities demonstrate significant reach (e.g., Greenhouse Sports works with 7,000 young people; The Brokerage engages 3,750 young people). Programmes with proven track records and capacity for impact are favoured.

Evidence-Based Programmes: Funded charities deliver structured, well-designed interventions (e.g., Share Foundation's six-step learning programme, MyBnk's financial literacy curriculum). Applications should demonstrate programme quality and effectiveness.

Age Focus: Priority on young people aged 15-25, with particular interest in supporting those in care, from low-income families, or with low educational achievement to access BTEC qualifications and professional careers.

Specific Examples of Funded Work:

• Sport-based mentoring for life skills development (Greenhouse Sports)
• Financial literacy teaching in schools (MyBnk)
• Employability programmes connecting young people to City employers (The Brokerage)
• Support for care leavers developing financial skills (Share Foundation)
• Leadership development for young people in East London (Uprising)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Start small, build relationships: New charities typically receive grants up to £1,000, with larger awards considered once relationships are established. Focus on demonstrating impact to grow the partnership over time.

• Emphasise London youth development: The Trust's “particular focus is to positively impact underprivileged young people in London.” Applications serving this demographic have the strongest alignment.

• Connect to financial services: Projects that build pathways to careers in banking, finance, or the City of London professional sector align with the Trust's core mission of supporting “vocational training in the financial services industry.”

• Demonstrate measurable outcomes: The Trust explicitly seeks “measurable impact.” Include clear metrics, success rates, and evidence of programme effectiveness in your application.

• Leverage the “Pitch Your Charity” route: If you have connections to WCIB members, encourage them to propose your charity through this initiative, which awards £2,000 grants.

• Consider the timing: With grants made annually and the Court meeting four times per year, plan your application timing to align with the organisation's decision-making cycle. Contact the Clerk's office to understand current deadlines.

• Highlight financial literacy and employability: These are explicitly stated priorities. Projects teaching money management, career skills, or raising aspirations for professional employment are strongly aligned.

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: The International Bankers Charitable Trust (1087630) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1087630&subid=0

• The International Bankers Charitable Trust webpage - https://www.internationalbankers.org.uk/the-international-bankers-charitable-trust-ibct

• Worshipful Company of International Bankers: Charity & Education - https://internationalbankers.org.uk/charity&education

• Worshipful Company of International Bankers: Our Relationship Charities - https://www.internationalbankers.org.uk/charity-list

• Worshipful Company of International Bankers: Governance - https://internationalbankers.org.uk/thecompany/governance

• WCIB Blog: First 'Pitch your charity' grants awarded - https://internationalbankers.org.uk/blog/first-pitch-your-charity-grants-awarded

• Wikipedia: Worshipful Company of International Bankers - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_International_Bankers