The M J Samuel Charitable Trust
Charity Number: 327013
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £794,000 (2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: Not publicly specified
- Geographic Focus: England and Wales, with international aid component
Contact Details
Address: Mells Park, Mells, Frome, Somerset BA11 3QB
Phone: 020 7402 0602
Email: CLEMENCY@MELLSPARK.COM
No website available. Contact directly via email or phone for application enquiries.
Overview
The M J Samuel Charitable Trust was registered with the Charity Commission on 21 March 1986 (charity number 327013). The trust is a private family charitable foundation established by deed of settlement dated 2 December 1985. With annual grant expenditure of £794,000 (year ending April 2024), the trust operates through making grants to charitable organizations across England and Wales. The trust has particularly strong expenditure relative to income over recent years, indicating active grant-making from capital reserves. Key trustee Hon Michael John Samuel also chairs Somerset Community Foundation and is involved with several related family charitable trusts including the Peter Samuel Charitable Trust and Peter Samuel Royal Free Fund. The trust's broad charitable objects give trustees wide discretion to support charitable bodies and purposes as they see fit.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The trust operates with broad charitable purposes and does not appear to have formally structured grant programs. Grant-making decisions are at the discretion of the trustees based on the trust's wide charitable objects.
Known Grant Examples:
- Full Fact (fact-checking charity): £30,000 (2016)
- Full Fact: £17,500 (2021)
Grant applications appear to be considered on a case-by-case basis. Application method and timing are not publicly specified; contact the trust directly.
Priority Areas
The trust's registered areas of activity include:
- Education and training
- Advancement of health or saving of lives
- Disability support
- Prevention or relief of poverty
- Overseas aid and development
The broad charitable objects state the trust can benefit “such charitable bodies associations and organisations or for such other charitable purposes or objects as the trustees think fit.”
What They Don't Fund
No specific exclusions are publicly documented, though the trust's method of operation is focused on making grants to organisations rather than individuals.
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Governance and Leadership
Trustees: The trust has 3 trustees (as of 2024), none of whom receive remuneration.
Key Trustee: Hon Michael John Samuel serves as a trustee and is connected to several related family charitable trusts:
- Peter Samuel Charitable Trust
- Peter Samuel Royal Free Fund
- Hon A.G. Samuel Charitable Trust
- Michael Samuel Charitable Trust
- Col. W.H Micholls Trust
Michael Samuel became Chairman of Somerset Community Foundation in September 2022, demonstrating active engagement in charitable grant-making and philanthropy in Somerset and beyond. He was awarded an MBE for his philanthropic work.
The trust operates with 4 volunteers and appears to have minimal administrative staff.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
The trust does not provide public application guidelines or an online application portal. Prospective applicants should contact the trust directly:
Email: CLEMENCY@MELLSPARK.COM
Phone: 020 7402 0602
It is advisable to make initial contact to discuss eligibility and application requirements before submitting a full proposal.
Decision Timeline
Decision timelines are not publicly available. Enquire directly with the trust for information on board meeting schedules and decision timeframes.
Success Rates
Success rates and application volume data are not publicly available.
Reapplication Policy
Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Contact the trust directly for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.
Application Success Factors
Given the limited public information about this trust's grant-making criteria and processes, the following factors are likely important based on the trust's structure and known activities:
Personal Connection and Discretionary Grant-Making: As a private family trust with broad charitable objects, trustees have significant discretion. The trust may prioritize causes and organizations known to the trustees or recommended through trusted networks.
Alignment with Trustee Interests: Given Michael Samuel's role with Somerset Community Foundation and family connections to medical research (Peter Samuel Royal Free Fund), organizations in Somerset or with health/medical focus may align well with trustee interests.
Organizational Credibility: The trust has supported established organizations like Full Fact, suggesting a preference for credible, well-governed charitable organizations with clear impact.
Varied Cause Areas: The trust's registered activities span education, health, disability, poverty, and overseas aid, indicating openness to diverse charitable purposes rather than narrow thematic focus.
No Public Application Pressure: Without publicized application processes or deadlines, the trust may prefer to operate through invitation or relationship-based grant-making rather than open applications.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Private family trust with discretionary grant-making: This is not an open, competitive grant program but rather a private charitable trust where trustees exercise significant discretion
- Direct contact essential: No public application guidelines exist; you must contact the trust directly to discuss potential funding
- Significant grant-making capacity: With £794,000 in expenditure (2024) and historical expenditure far exceeding income, the trust actively makes grants from capital
- Broad charitable remit: The trust's objects are intentionally wide, allowing support across multiple cause areas from education to overseas aid
- Somerset connections may help: Given the trustee's chairmanship of Somerset Community Foundation and the trust's base at Mells Park, Somerset-based organizations may have natural alignment
- Relationship-based funding: As a private trust without public programs, building a relationship with trustees or securing a recommendation may be more effective than cold applications
- Be patient and flexible: Without published timelines or processes, be prepared for a potentially longer or less structured decision-making process
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References
- Charity Commission Register of Charities, The M J Samuel Charitable Trust (Charity Number 327013), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/327013
- Charity Commission Financial History for Charity 327013, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/327013/financial-history
- Full Fact Funding Archive, https://fullfact.org/about/funding/archive/(documented grants: £30,000 in 2016, £17,500 in 2021)
- The Marque, Michael Samuel Official Profile, https://www.themarque.com/profile/michael-samuel
- Somerset Community Foundation, Our Supporters, https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/our-supporters/