The Mark Leonard Trust

Charity Number: 1040323

Annual Expenditure: £1.3M
Geographic Focus: Italy, United States, Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Approximately £1.3 million (based on most recent income data)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (proactive grantmaking only - does not accept unsolicited applications)
  • Decision Time: Variable (identifies and approaches organisations proactively)
  • Grant Range: £371 - £325,000 (with significant variation based on partnership needs)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily England, with some international work (United States, Italy)

Contact Details

Website: www.sfct.org.uk/the-mark-leonard-trust

Email: info@sfct.org.uk

Phone: 020 7410 0330

Address: The Peak, 5 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1AP

Staff Contact:

  • Sian Ferguson – Trust Executive
  • Darren Chin – Deputy Trust Executive

Overview

The Mark Leonard Trust was founded in 1994 by Mark Sainsbury as one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. The Trust operates with a distinctive proactive approach, maintaining long-term relationships with a smaller portfolio of organisations rather than accepting unsolicited applications. After 16 years of “traditional philanthropy”, the Trust evolved to focus on forming closer, sustained partnerships that provide not just funding but organisational development and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. With recent annual income of approximately £1.3 million and having made 212 grants totalling £7.5 million since 2015, the Trust focuses on two primary areas: 'food and farming' and 'harnessing the power of the Creative Arts'. The Trust is particularly committed to climate action, participating in the Climate Change Collaboration (formed 2011) with two other Sainsbury trusts, and has achieved recognition for aligning its investment portfolio with Paris Agreement goals following the landmark Butler-Sloss legal judgment.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust does not operate fixed grant programmes with set application cycles. Instead, it identifies potential partners through research, expert networks, and recommendations, developing bespoke funding relationships. Grants have ranged from £371 to £325,000, with funding typically provided as long-term core support rather than restricted project grants.

Application Method: Proactive identification only - unsolicited applications are not accepted

Priority Areas

Food and Farming

  • Sustainable agriculture and food systems
  • Early-stage organisations working on food system transformation
  • Organisations aligned with climate-friendly farming practices

Harnessing the Power of the Creative Arts

  • Arts organisations and initiatives
  • Using creative approaches for social impact

Climate Change (through the Climate Change Collaboration)

  • Sustainable farming
  • Stopping deforestation
  • Home energy efficiency
  • Connecting people with nature
  • Strategic communications on climate issues
  • Paris Agreement alignment
  • Law and regulation related to climate action

What They Don't Fund

The Trust's proactive model means they do not fund unsolicited applications. As stated on their website, they “do not have the staff capacity to deal with unsolicited applications.”

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Mark Sainsbury (Founder and Trustee)
  • Zivi Sainsbury
  • John Julian Sainsbury

Staff:

  • Sian Ferguson – Trust Executive
  • Darren Chin – Deputy Trust Executive

Mark Sainsbury's Philosophy: “The instinct to make a positive contribution to society is strong amongst us all.” Sainsbury has been particularly focused on closing the “ethical gap” between the Trust's investments and its mission, leading to pioneering work on climate-aligned investments. He co-founded Europeans for DivestInvest to campaign for charities to divest from fossil fuels and invest in climate solutions.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Mark Leonard Trust does NOT accept unsolicited applications. The Trust operates a proactive grantmaking model where staff identify organisations to support through:

  • Research and field scanning
  • Recommendations from partners and experts
  • Existing networks within priority areas
  • Due diligence processes

Organisations are approached directly when the Trust identifies a potential partnership opportunity.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable in traditional terms. The Trust builds relationships over time and works collaboratively with identified partners to design funding arrangements. This relationship-building approach means there are no fixed decision timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the Trust does not operate an open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organisations cannot apply or reapply. The Trust identifies partners proactively and typically maintains long-term relationships with funded organisations.

Application Success Factors

For Organisations Hoping to Be Identified by the Trust

While you cannot apply directly, understanding what the Trust values can help organisations position themselves effectively within relevant networks:

Organisational Characteristics the Trust Favours:

  • Early-stage organisations: The Trust “often supports smaller, early-stage organisations” that are positioned to scale up
  • Mission alignment: Clear focus on food and farming sustainability or creative arts for social impact
  • Growth potential: Organisations ready to scale up with the right support
  • Collaborative spirit: Willingness to engage in peer-to-peer learning and knowledge-sharing with other Trust partners
  • Climate commitment: Alignment with climate action goals, particularly in farming/food contexts

The Trust's Distinctive Approach:

The Trust provides “long-term core financial and developmental support” and “facilitates the building of relationships between partners to share knowledge and support one another.” This means they value organisations that:

  • Can benefit from multi-year unrestricted funding
  • Are open to organisational development support
  • Want to collaborate with other grantees
  • Will participate in convenings and peer learning

Visibility Strategies:

  • Publish high-quality work in the Trust's focus areas
  • Engage with existing Climate Change Collaboration partners
  • Present at conferences or events focused on sustainable food systems or creative arts for impact
  • Build relationships with organisations already funded by the Trust
  • Ensure your organisation appears on relevant funder databases like 360Giving GrantNav

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • You cannot apply: The Trust's proactive model means traditional grant writing for this funder is not possible. Focus instead on building organisational reputation and visibility within the food/farming and creative arts sectors.
  • Long-term core funding: The Trust prioritises unrestricted, sustained funding over project-specific grants - position your organisation as needing partnership rather than one-off project support.
  • Network strategically: Being recommended by existing partners, field experts, or other funders is key to coming onto the Trust's radar.
  • Early-stage advantage: Smaller, early-stage organisations with growth potential are explicitly favoured, rather than large established organisations.
  • Climate lens essential: Especially for food and farming work, demonstrating commitment to climate action and sustainable practices is critical.
  • Collaborative culture matters: The Trust values organisations willing to share learning, participate in convenings, and support peers - demonstrate this openness.
  • Values alignment on investments: The Trust has taken strong positions on ethical investment and climate-aligned portfolios, suggesting they value partners with similar integrity on values-based decision-making.

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