The John Mason Family Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £51,685 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Quarterly review cycles
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £3,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide, with particular emphasis on North West England

Contact Details

• Website: www.jmfamilytrust.uk
• Email: jmfamilytrust@gmail.com
• Phone: 01244 405555
• Address: 5-7 Grosvenor Court, Foregate Street, Chester, CH1 1HG
• Note: Operated by volunteers; response times may vary

Overview

The John Mason Family Trust (JMFT) is a small charitable trust established in 2010 and registered with the Charity Commission (No. 1136856). With annual expenditure of approximately £52,000, the trust makes targeted grants to small and medium-sized charities where modest funding can create a material difference. JMFT focuses on three core areas: sustainable poverty relief (particularly through education and training for economic self-sufficiency), health education and awareness-raising, and supporting the Church of England's charitable work alongside interfaith dialogue. The trust particularly prioritizes socially and economically disadvantaged communities in the UK North West, especially within the Diocese of Chester, while also supporting UK-wide initiatives aligned with its charitable objects.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme: £1,000 - £3,000 per award

• One-year project grants reviewed quarterly on an unsolicited rolling basis
• Target organizations: UK registered charities with annual income below £2 million
• Focus on specific programmes or projects with measurable objectives
• Successful grantees may reapply in subsequent years
• International applications currently suspended pending strategic review

Priority Areas

1. Sustainable Poverty Relief

• Education provision and infrastructure support
• Training and capacity building for sustainable income generation
• Self-sufficiency programmes
• Focus on economically disadvantaged communities in UK North West
• Recent example: Citizens Advice foodbank support

2. Health & Wellbeing

• Public education and awareness-raising to prevent or ameliorate illness
• Research supporting early diagnosis and improved health outcomes
• Patient support and advocacy organizations
• Recent example: Oesophageal Patients Association

3. Religious Harmony & Community Cohesion

• Church of England charitable works, particularly in Chester Diocese
• Interfaith dialogue and understanding initiatives
• Community integration programmes
• Recent examples: Fatima Women's Association English language courses, Anne Frank Trust Holocaust education

What They Don't Fund

• General operating costs or core funding (project-specific funding preferred)
• Capital projects (generally not supported)
• International programmes (currently suspended)
• Organizations with annual income exceeding £2 million
• Applications outside stated charitable objects

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by five trustees who serve on a voluntary basis with no remuneration or benefits. Trustees identified in public records include:

• Dr John Philip Mason
• Joan Linda Mason
• Rick Gates

The trust operates with volunteer staff, reflecting its commitment to directing maximum resources toward charitable grants rather than administrative overhead.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Submit via Email: Send to jmfamilytrust@gmail.com
2. Review Process: Applications reviewed quarterly on unsolicited basis

Decision Timeline

• Review Frequency: Quarterly
• Notification: Trustees exercise absolute discretion in awarding grants
• Important: Applications outside trust objects will not receive a response
• Response Time: Variable due to volunteer-operated structure

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The trust distributed approximately £52,000 across multiple grants in 2023-24, suggesting capacity for 15-25 grants annually at typical award levels.

Reapplication Policy

• Successful grantees may apply again in subsequent years
• Feedback reports on effective use of grants are encouraged, especially if seeking further funding
• Rejected applications will not be reconsidered if resubmitted identically
• Applicants should address reasons for any previous rejection when reapplying

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment

Target Profile: The trust explicitly states it seeks to make grants where “modest grants create material difference.” This suggests:

• Small to medium-sized charities (under £2m income) are preferred
• Projects where £1,000-£3,000 represents meaningful impact
• Organizations operating efficiently without large reserves or funding bases

Geographic Preference: While UK-wide applications are accepted, the trust shows particular interest in:

• North West England initiatives
• Chester Diocese and surrounding areas
• Socially and economically disadvantaged communities in these regions

Application Best Practices

Essential Requirements:

• Use the official application template (critical for processing)
• Focus on “specific programmes or projects with measurable objectives”
• Demonstrate clear, quantifiable outcomes
• Show how the grant creates sustainable impact (particularly for poverty relief work)

What Makes Applications Stand Out:

• Education, training, and capacity-building elements (especially for poverty relief)
• Public awareness and preventative health education approaches
• Interfaith or community cohesion dimensions
• Evidence of working with disadvantaged communities in North West England
• Clear budget showing how modest funding achieves significant results

Recent Funding Examples

The trust's recent grants demonstrate breadth across all three priority areas:

• Poverty Relief: Citizens Advice foodbank programmes
• Health Awareness: Oesophageal Patients Association education initiatives
• Community Cohesion: Fatima Women's Association English language courses, Anne Frank Trust Holocaust education

Relationship Building

• Successful grantees should provide feedback reports on grant effectiveness
• Reports especially important if seeking repeat funding
• Multi-year relationships possible through annual reapplication
• Trust values evidence of impact over time

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Applying for general operating costs rather than specific projects
• Submitting applications without using official template
• Capital project applications (generally outside scope)
• Applications from large organizations (over £2m income)
• Resubmitting identical rejected applications
• Failing to demonstrate measurable objectives
• International programmes (currently suspended)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Small is strategic: This trust specifically targets smaller charities where £1,000-£3,000 makes a real difference. Emphasize how modest funding creates disproportionate impact.

• Triple-check alignment: With only £52,000 to distribute annually, trustees can be highly selective. Ensure crystal-clear fit with at least one of three priority areas: poverty relief, health education, or religious/interfaith work.

• North West advantage: While UK-wide applications accepted, North West England location (especially Chester area) or service delivery offers strategic advantage.

• Measurable outcomes essential: “Specific programmes or projects with measurable objectives” is explicitly required. Include clear metrics and evaluation plans.

• Use the template: Non-negotiable requirement. Template use ensures processing without delay; non-compliance likely results in rejection.

• Project-specific focus: Avoid requesting general operating support. Frame applications around discrete projects with defined deliverables and timelines.

• Build long-term relationships: Successful grantees can reapply annually. Provide excellent feedback reports to strengthen case for continued funding.

References

• Application Guidelines page: http://www.jmfamilytrust.uk/application-guidelines
• About JMFT page: http://www.jmfamilytrust.uk/about-jmft
• Contact page: http://www.jmfamilytrust.uk/contact-us

• Charity Number 1136856: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5009732
• Financial year ending 31 March 2024

• http://opencharities.org/charities/1136856

• https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-john-mason-family-trust-29102