The Marketors Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £124,000 (approximate, based on £373,358 over 3 years 2021-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Variable (includes shortlisting and presentation stage)
• Grant Range: £2,500 - £10,000 (Charity Grants Programme)
• Geographic Focus: UK (charities must have main activities in England and Wales)

Contact Details

General Enquiries:

• Website: www.marketors.org
• Email: clerk@marketors.org
• Phone: 020 7796 2045

Charity Grants Programme Enquiries:

• Email: marketorscharitygrants@marketors.org

Overview

The Marketors Trust (Charity No. 272339) is the charitable arm of the Worshipful Company of Marketors, a City of London Livery Company for marketing professionals. Established to provide and encourage education in marketing with special reference to the City of London, the Trust has evolved to support a broad range of charitable activities. Over the three years from 2021-24, the Trust donated £373,358 to worthy causes. The Trust's activities encompass three main areas: the Charity Marketing Grants Programme (launched in 2021), educational awards and bursaries for marketing students, and pastoral support including hardship grants. The Trust is notably supported by the generosity of current and past Liverymen and Freemen of the Company, and in recent years has been drawing down from reserves to fund grants that exceed annual donations received. Court Assistant Phil Andrew chairs the Trust, and winning charities benefit not only from financial support but also from pro-bono marketing advice and support from the Company's Outreach team—representing approximately 2,000 hours of free support annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Charity Marketing Grants Programme (Annual)

• Fund Total: £30,000 annually
• Two top grants: £10,000 each
• Four smaller grants: £2,500 each
• Application Method: Online application with Programme Information Sheet and Application Form available on website
• Process: Applications screened for eligibility, then judging panel shortlists maximum of 6 charities for top grants and maximum of 6 for smaller grants

Campaign Types Funded:

• General fundraising campaigns
• Increasing regular donations
• Volunteer recruitment
• Raising awareness of charity activities

Educational Awards & Bursaries

The Trust supports marketing education through various initiatives including:

• Marketing apprenticeship support
• Shine Schools' Award
• Awards for best marketing theses
• Best CIM student awards
• Teaching excellence award for the Academy of Marketing
• Martyn Davis Educational Bursary Fund (awarded every five years for Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program)

Other Charitable Activities:

• Long-term youth projects
• Hardship grants for Company members
• Support for Armed Forces veterans
• City charitable initiatives

Priority Areas

Charity Marketing Grants Programme:

• Small to medium-sized charities (annual income £10,000 - £200,000)
• Charities registered with The Charity Commission for England and Wales
• Main charitable activities focused in the UK
• Time-limited campaigns (maximum 6 months, must be completed by end of 2026)
• Discrete marketing activities with measurable outcomes

Educational Focus:

• Marketing education and training
• Recognition of educational achievements
• Support for advanced marketing courses
• Professional development in marketing sector

What They Don't Fund

Charity Marketing Grants Programme explicitly excludes:

• Staff costs
• Capital investment
• Hardware or infrastructure work
• Ongoing SEO/PPC activity (though campaigns can include an element of PPC or SEO as part of a broader strategy)

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Governance and Leadership

Structure:

The Marketors Trust is governed by trustees and operates independently as a registered charity, though it maintains close association with the Worshipful Company of Marketors. According to Charity Commission records, the Trust has 1 trustee and 100 volunteers. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Leadership:

• Chair of The Marketors Trust: Court Assistant Phil Andrew
• The Trust reports to the Worshipful Company's Court of Assistants through its committee structure

Governance Philosophy:

The Trust operates with a lean governance structure, maximizing funds available for charitable purposes. Recent financial data shows total income of £72,054 (2024) with total expenditure of £102,597, demonstrating the Trust's commitment to drawing down reserves to maintain and increase grant-making during the period.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Charity Marketing Grants Programme:

1. Download Programme Information Sheet: Available on the Marketors website (www.marketors.org), providing full details of eligibility, assessment criteria, and requirements

1. Complete Application Form: Available for download on their website

1. Submit Application: Applications are accepted when the programme opens (typically annually)

• Registered with The Charity Commission for England and Wales
• Annual income between £10,000 and £200,000
• Main charitable activities focused in the UK
• Campaign proposal is time-limited (maximum 6 months)
• Campaign will be completed by end of 2026

1. Judging Panel Review: Valid applications are considered by a judging panel

1. Shortlisting: Panel shortlists maximum of 6 charities for the two top grants of £10,000 and maximum of 6 charities for the four smaller grants of £2,500

1. Presentation Stage: Shortlisted charities are invited to attend virtually a meeting of the judging panel to present their proposals personally

1. Decision and Notification: Winners are announced following the presentations

For Queries: Contact marketorscharitygrants@marketors.org

Decision Timeline

The programme operates on an annual cycle. Specific timelines from application deadline to decision are not publicly disclosed, but the process involves:

• Initial eligibility screening
• Judging panel review and shortlisting
• Virtual presentations by shortlisted charities
• Final decision and announcement

Applicants should expect multiple stages and plan accordingly.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the competitive nature of the programme is evident:

• Up to 12 charities are shortlisted (maximum 6 for each grant tier)
• Only 6 charities receive grants (2 at £10,000, 4 at £2,500)
• This suggests a minimum 50% success rate at the shortlist stage, but the overall success rate from initial application depends on total applications received

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions or waiting periods have been publicly documented. Charities should review programme guidelines each year or contact the Trust directly for clarification.

Application Success Factors

Value-Added Support:

The Marketors Trust distinguishes itself by offering more than just funding. According to their materials: "The winning charities will also be offered marketing advice and support from the Company's Outreach team for the development and execution of their campaigns." This represents significant added value, as the Company provides approximately 2,000 hours of pro-bono marketing support annually.

Programme Focus:

The Trust emphasizes that they want to “inspire and empower smaller charities in launching impactful marketing campaigns.” Applications should demonstrate how the campaign will be impactful, measurable, and aligned with the charity's cause.

Recent Winners Demonstrate Range:

The 2024 winners show the diversity of causes supported:

• £10,000 grants: London Search and Rescue (emergency services), Warrington and District Deaf People (disability support)
• £2,500 grants: Park Yoga (health/wellbeing), Spark Foundation (youth services), Long Covid Support (health), Jewish Action for Mental Health (mental health)

This suggests the judging panel values:

• Diversity of causes
• Clear campaign objectives
• Potential for measurable impact
• Organizational readiness to execute the campaign effectively

Key Success Factors:

• Right-sized organization: Annual income between £10,000-£200,000 ensures you're not too small or too large
• Clear, discrete campaign: Time-limited (max 6 months), specific objectives, measurable outcomes
• Marketing focus: The campaign must be genuinely about marketing/communications, not general operational costs
• Strong presentation skills: Being shortlisted means presenting virtually to the judging panel—presentation quality matters
• Alignment with mission: Campaign should clearly advance your charitable objectives
• Value for money: Demonstrate how the grant will make a significant difference relative to the amount requested

Practical Advice:

• Review the Programme Information Sheet thoroughly before applying
• Ensure your campaign proposal is genuinely time-limited and can be completed within 6 months
• Be prepared to present your proposal virtually if shortlisted
• Consider how you would utilize the marketing support from the Outreach team
• Focus on impact and outcomes, not just activities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Marketing expertise is their USP: The Trust offers both funding and professional marketing support—emphasize how you'd utilize both elements effectively in your application

• Right organizational size is critical: With a narrow annual income band (£10,000-£200,000), ensure you meet this criterion before investing time in an application

• Discrete campaigns win: Don't propose ongoing activities—design a specific, time-bound marketing campaign (maximum 6 months) with clear start and end points

• Presentation skills matter: Being shortlisted means virtually presenting to marketing professionals; strong presentation and communication skills are essential

• Diverse causes supported: The Trust funds across a wide range of causes (emergency services, disability, health, mental health, youth)—they're cause-agnostic and focus on campaign quality

• Added value beyond money: Factor in the pro-bono marketing advice and support from the Outreach team when considering this opportunity—it could be worth more than the grant itself for small charities

• Competitive but accessible: With £30,000 distributed to just 6 charities annually, it's competitive, but the two-tier structure (£10,000 and £2,500) means multiple entry points depending on campaign ambition

References

• The Marketors Trust official website: www.marketors.org/the-marketors-trust
• Charity Grants Programme page: www.marketors.org/the-marketors-trust/charity-grants-programme
• Charity Commission Register: Register of Charities, Charity No. 272339 (https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=272339&subid=0)
• "Empowering Small Charities: The Marketors' Trust to donate £30,000 to help small charities fund marketing campaigns" - Marketors news article (www.marketors.org/news)
• “Charity Grants Programme - Winners 2024” (www.marketors.org/the-marketors-trust/charity-grants-programme/winners-2024)
• Marketors Trust information on SCVO: www.scvo.info/2025/10/20/marketors-trust/
• Charity Commission financial data for 2024