The Mabs Mardulyn Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £655,197 (2023-24 expenditure)
• Annual Income: £209,199 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (known major grant: £550,000 to Oxford University)
• Geographic Focus: UK (particularly England and Wales) and Hong Kong SAR

Contact Details

• Address: Alexandra House, St Johns Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 2SB
• Phone: 01722 412412
• Email: joyce.salkeld@wilsonsllp.com
• Correspondence: Contact via Wilsons LLP Solicitors (the foundation's registered address)

Overview

THE MABS MARDULYN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION (registered 1140648) was established under a trust deed dated 16 July 2006 and formally registered as a charity on 2 March 2011. The foundation operates as a private grant-making trust with one trustee and makes grants to both individuals and organisations. In the financial year ending April 2024, the foundation had an income of £209,199 and total expenditure of £655,197, indicating active use of reserves or capital for significant grant-making. The foundation is administered through Wilsons LLP, a leading charity law firm in Salisbury with almost 300 years of heritage and ranked as one of the top providers of legal services to charities in the UK.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates discretionary grant-making rather than structured application rounds. Known major grants include:

• University of Oxford: £550,000 endowment to establish the Mabel Churn Scholarship Fund for doctoral research in retinal ophthalmology
• Macular Society: Support for work combating macular disease and sight loss
• Grants to both individuals and organisations

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on three main charitable objects:

• Relief of poverty: Supporting those experiencing financial hardship
• Advancement of education or training: Particularly higher education and medical research
• Relief of disability: Supporting those in need by reason of disability

Priority beneficiary groups:

• People under 25 years of age
• People over 65 years of age
• UK residents/UK passport holders
• Permanent residents of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or equivalent passport holders

Thematic areas:

• Education and training
• Health and saving lives
• Disability support
• Elderly care and welfare
• Medical research (particularly ophthalmology and vision-related conditions)

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the foundation's geographic scope is limited to UK and Hong Kong residents only.

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation operates with a single trustee who exercises discretion in grant-making decisions. The trustee receives no remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. Administration and correspondence is handled through Wilsons LLP Solicitors, which provides professional trustee services and charity law expertise.

The foundation has no employees and operates as a lean grant-making trust focused on deploying charitable funds rather than maintaining operational infrastructure.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation does not operate an open application process or publicize application guidelines. Given the private trust structure and lack of public-facing website or application portal, prospective applicants should:

• Contact the foundation via email at joyce.salkeld@wilsonsllp.com or phone 01722 412412
• Initial enquiries should outline the proposed project, alignment with charitable objects, and beneficiary eligibility
• The trustee exercises discretion on all grant decisions

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. The foundation appears to make strategic grants on a discretionary basis rather than operating cyclical funding rounds.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information, applicants should consider:

Demonstrated alignment with priority areas: The foundation's major known grant (£550,000 to Oxford for ophthalmology research) suggests interest in medical research, particularly vision-related conditions, alongside the stated priorities of poverty relief, education, and disability support.

Focus on under-25s and over-65s: The trust deed specifically prioritizes these age groups, though this is not exclusive.

Geographic eligibility: Ensure beneficiaries are UK or Hong Kong residents as this is a firm eligibility requirement.

Strategic, high-impact projects: The Oxford grant suggests the foundation is capable of making substantial investments in projects with long-term impact rather than numerous small grants.

Professional presentation: Given administration through a leading charity law firm, applications should be professionally prepared with clear demonstration of charitable benefit.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Private trust structure: This is not an open grant-maker with publicized application rounds; initial contact should be exploratory and professionally presented
• Dual geographic focus: UK and Hong Kong residents only; this is a strict eligibility criterion
• Age-focused: Priority given to young people (under 25) and elderly people (over 65)
• Capable of major grants: The £550,000 Oxford endowment demonstrates capacity for transformational funding, not just small grants
• Medical research interest: Known support for ophthalmology and vision-related research (Macular Society, Oxford scholarship fund)
• Discretionary decision-making: Single trustee exercises discretion; no fixed criteria or published guidelines
• Professional administration: Correspondence through established solicitors firm suggests formal, professional approach expected

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Garfield Weston Foundation
• THE HOSPITAL SATURDAY FUND
• The Edward Gostling Foundation
• The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation
• THE HADLEY TRUST
• The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
• THE SCREWFIX FOUNDATION
• THE BRIDGE TRUST
• THE DAVID FAMILY FOUNDATION
• THE TULA TRUST LIMITED
• THE BAND TRUST
• THE SCHRODER FOUNDATION
• THE CECIL ROSEN FOUNDATION
• THE ALCHEMY FOUNDATION
• THE DWF FOUNDATION
• THE SIR JAMES ROLL CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE CLOVER TRUST
• OUTHWAITE CHARITABLE TRUST
• WEBB FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST
• DAVID SOLOMONS CHARITABLE TRUST

References

• Charity Commission Register, THE MABS MARDULYN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION (Charity Number 1140648). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1140648&subid=0 []
• University of Oxford, Governance and Planning, Mabel Churn Scholarship Fund. Available at: https://governance.admin.ox.ac.uk/legislation/mabel-churn-scholarship-fund []
• St Cross College, University of Oxford, Mabel Churn Scholarship in Ophthalmology. Available at: https://www.stx.ox.ac.uk/mabel-churn-scholarship-in-ophthalmology []
• Macular Society, Trusts and Philanthropy. Available at: https://www.macularsociety.org/get-involved/fundraising/trusts-philanthropy/ []
• Wilsons Solicitors LLP Company Information. Available at: https://www.wilsonsllp.com/ []