The J J Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1015792

Annual Expenditure: £2.2M
Throughout England, Italy, United States

Contact Info

Website: www.sfct.org.uk

Phone: 020 7410 0330

Email: info@sfct.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £912,895 (latest income 2024)
  • Total Grants (Historic): £9,135,500 (255 grants, 2015-2025)
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months (quarterly review cycles)
  • Grant Range: £5,000 - £20,000 (Literacy Small Grants)
  • Geographic Focus: UK (literacy programme); England, Italy, USA (catalysing change)

Contact Details

Website: www.sfct.org.uk

Email: info@sfct.org.uk

Phone: 020 7410 0330

Application Portal (Literacy Grants): https://sfct.powerappsportals.com/jjapplication/

Overview

The JJ Charitable Trust was founded in 1992 by Julian Sainsbury and is part of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts network. The Trust has made 255 grants totalling over £9.1 million since 2015, ranging from £371 to £950,000. The Trust operates with a dual focus: catalysing systemic change towards a truly sustainable future through invited partnerships, and improving literacy education for children with learning difficulties through an open grants programme. The Trust works collaboratively with the Aurora Trust and Mark Leonard Trust as part of the Climate Change Collaboration. The Trust publishes its grants data openly through the 360Giving platform, demonstrating a commitment to transparency in philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Catalysing Change (Invitation Only - NOT OPEN TO APPLICATIONS)

  • Focuses on tackling deep-rooted systems of education, economics, and culture
  • Supports social and community experimentation around regenerative and circular economies
  • Works through proactive grantmaking and partnerships
  • Grant amounts vary significantly (historic range: £371 - £950,000)

2. Literacy Small Grants Scheme (OPEN TO APPLICATIONS)

  • Amount: £5,000 - £20,000 per year
  • Duration: Single or multi-year grants (maximum 3 years)
  • Application Method: Online portal, rolling applications with quarterly review cycles (March, June, September, December)

3. Frankopan Fund

  • Supports Croatian students pursuing postgraduate courses in the UK and internationally
  • Managed separately within the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts structure
  • Contact: frankopan@sfct.org.uk

Priority Areas

Literacy Programme Focus:

  • Improving effectiveness of literacy teaching in primary and secondary education
  • Supporting children with learning difficulties, including dyslexia
  • Areas of social need and those at risk of non-inclusion in society and the world of work
  • Projects using volunteers and reading mentors
  • Support during transitional points (primary to secondary school, to further education/college/workplace)

Catalysing Change Focus (not open to applications):

  • Systemic change towards sustainability
  • Regenerative and circular economy initiatives
  • Climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Transforming values, beliefs, and narratives in education, economics, and culture

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not explicitly stated, but key limitations include:

  • No unsolicited applications for the “Catalysing Change” programme
  • Literacy grants restricted to UK registered charities, CICs, CIOs, or exempt charities
  • Focus is specifically on literacy for children with learning difficulties (not general literacy work)

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • John Julian Sainsbury – Chair of the JJ Charitable Trust, Trustee of the Mark Leonard Trust
  • Mark Sainsbury – Chair of the Mark Leonard Trust, Trustee of the JJ Charitable Trust
  • Lucy Guard – Trustee
  • Claudia Gonella – Trustee

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Trust operates with an endowment fund which generates much of its income.

Leadership Philosophy:

The Trust emphasizes collaborative working, as evidenced by its participation in the Climate Change Collaboration, demonstrating a strategic approach to systemic change through partnership rather than individual grantmaking.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Literacy Small Grants ONLY:

  • Online application via: https://sfct.powerappsportals.com/jjapplication/
  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
  • Required Documents:
  • Financial accounts (if not available on Charity Commission website, provide audited accounts, current management accounts, or projected budget forecast/business plan for new charities)
  • Safeguarding/child and/or vulnerable adult protection policy

For Catalysing Change Work:

  • No applications accepted – invitation only
  • The Trust proactively seeks out organisations and initiatives through partnership work and research

Decision Timeline

Literacy Small Grants:

  • Applications reviewed quarterly in March, June, September, and December
  • Applications received during these months will be reviewed in the next round
  • Applicants informed of final decision within 4 months of review (though sometimes longer)
  • Typical timeline: 3-4 months from submission to decision

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the Trust has made 255 grants to 168 different recipients between 2015-2025, indicating they do fund repeat applicants.

Reapplication Policy

Yes, organisations can reapply. The eligibility criteria explicitly state: “You can apply again if you have previously received a grant.”

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors for Literacy Grants:

  1. Focus on Learning Difficulties: Strong emphasis on dyslexia and specific learning difficulties, not general literacy improvement
  • Primary to secondary school
  • Secondary to further education
  • School to college or workplace
  1. Volunteer and Mentor Models: The Trust specifically states it is “keen to see applications for projects that use volunteers and reading mentors”
  1. Social Need: Demonstrate focus on areas of social need and those at risk of non-inclusion in society and the workplace
  1. Safeguarding: Must have robust safeguarding policies in place – this is a mandatory requirement
  1. Financial Clarity: Ensure financial documents are clear and readily available (ideally on Charity Commission website)
  1. Multi-Year Planning: Don't hesitate to apply for multi-year funding (up to 3 years) if your project warrants it

Language and Terminology to Use:

  • “Learning difficulties” and specifically “dyslexia”
  • “Literacy teaching effectiveness”
  • “Transitional support”
  • “Social need” and “non-inclusion”
  • “Volunteers” and “reading mentors”

What to Avoid:

  • General literacy improvement programmes without specific focus on learning difficulties
  • Projects without clear safeguarding policies
  • Applications outside the stated grant range (£5,000-£20,000 per year)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Only the Literacy Small Grants Scheme accepts applications – do not waste time applying for climate/sustainability work, which is invitation-only
  1. Specificity is critical – this is not a general literacy funder; your project must specifically support children with learning difficulties, particularly dyslexia
  1. Volunteer/mentor models are favoured – if your project can incorporate volunteer reading mentors, highlight this prominently in your application
  1. Timing matters – applications are reviewed quarterly, so plan your submission timing strategically around March, June, September, or December review cycles
  1. Think multi-year – the Trust offers up to 3 years of funding, so if your project has sustainable impact over time, request multi-year support
  1. Safeguarding is non-negotiable – ensure your safeguarding policy is robust and up-to-date before applying
  1. Reapplication is welcomed – if you've received funding before and delivered well, you can apply again, which suggests the Trust values ongoing relationships with effective organisations

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

  • The Clore Duffield Foundation
  • Edwin Fox Foundation
  • The John Caudwell Foundation
  • The Richard Attenborough Charitable Trust
  • The Risman Foundation
  • The Span Trust
  • Zilberman Film Foundation
  • The Mark Leonard Trust
  • Connect Support Limited
  • The David Lean Foundation

References