The J Van Mars Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. Don't spend time on an approach; the similar funders below support the same kind of work.
Key takeaways
- The foundation takes requests by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications, so a cold application is not a route to it and a small nonprofit should not send one.
- Its stated purpose is any exclusively charitable purpose anywhere in the world, and its listed awards include environmental, religious and music-related organisations, so check whether your work sits within that.
- The typical grants reported in its annual report fall between £75,000 and £3,750,000, with a median of £300,000, so weigh whether an award of that scale would meet your needs, and do not assume a modest request is what it normally gives.
- Its public material gives no route into a relationship beyond the invitation, so put your effort into making your work known rather than into preparing an application.
Overview
The J Van Mars Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1131389).
The J Van Mars Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales under charity number 1131389. Its objects are to further exclusively charitable purposes according to the law of England and Wales, anywhere in the world. It applies its income and, at the trustees' discretion, its capital as grants to charitable organisations, and its annual report gives annual giving of £4,689,200. Its named grants went to five organisations, and a further £220,000 was given in grants the report does not itemise.
What they fund
Profile based on the charity's Charity Commission register entry and annual report (year to 31 May 2025) only: no website or other web source for the charity was found. Every statement is checked against them. Sources read on 30 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation’s objects permit exclusively charitable purposes recognised under the law of England and Wales anywhere in the world, in the manner the trustees decide. It applies its income and, at the trustees’ discretion, its capital as grants to charitable organisations. Its listed awards went to a tree-planting organisation, an environmental organisation, a body concerned with unlocking potential, a Dominican missionary order, a music-support organisation and other charitable organisations. Its recipients therefore span environmental activity, religious work and music-related support, alongside organisations with broader charitable purposes; its stated remit is the furtherance of charitable purposes in general.
Geographic Focus
Any part of the world.
What they don't fund
- Unsolicited applications
How to apply
The charity states that it takes applications by invitation only.
Who can apply:
- The charity makes grants to charitable organisations.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- International
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to The J Van Mars Foundation.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 5 grants in year to 31 May 2025 by size
Median £300k (year to 31 May 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- One Tree Planted£3,700,866year to 31 May 2025
- ClientEarth£300,000year to 31 May 2025
- UP - Unlocking Potential£300,000year to 31 May 2025
- Dominican Missionary Sisters of The Sacred Heart of Jesus CIO£93,334year to 31 May 2025
- Music Support UK£75,000year to 31 May 2025
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts. Not included above: 1 line covering other, unnamed recipients (£220k).
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 May 2021 | £1,575,523 | £2,135,451 | £2,124,452 | Accounts for year to 31 May 2021 |
| year to 31 May 2022 | £377,532 | £615,536 | — | Accounts for year to 31 May 2022 |
| year to 31 May 2023 | £2,942 | £362,244 | — | Accounts for year to 31 May 2023 |
| year to 31 May 2024 | £5,944,557 | £5,591,701 | — | Accounts for year to 31 May 2024 |
| year to 31 May 2025 | £4,418,070 | £4,707,947 | £4,689,200 | Accounts for year to 31 May 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
In 2 of the 2 years shown, grants paid exceeded income.
- Grants paid, year to 31 May 2021: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 May 2025: the accounts do not say whether this is grants awarded or paid.
— No grants figure for that year.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
- Annual report (year to 31 May 2025)
This profile rests on the charity’s filed accounts and register entry only, so check with the funder directly before applying.
Sources last checked on 30 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to The J Van Mars Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.comsource
- Ludlow Trust Co Ltd, Tower Wharf, Cheese Lane, BRISTOL, BS2 0JJsource
Applying to The J Van Mars Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.comsource
- Ludlow Trust Co Ltd, Tower Wharf, Cheese Lane, BRISTOL, BS2 0JJsource