The Marks Family Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 263776

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

Geographic Focus: Throughout England

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £259,826 (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Bi-annual trustee meetings (applications reviewed twice yearly)
Grant Range: £5,000 - £60,000
Geographic Focus: Primarily UK, with some international work

Contact Details

Website: marksfamilycharitabletrust.com

Phone: 020 7388 7000

Email: office@marksfamilycharitabletrust.com

Registered Charity Number: 263776

Overview

The Marks Family Charitable Trust was established in 1971 by Simon Marks (3rd Baron Marks of Broughton) as the Simon Richard Marks Trust, and was renamed in 2019 when younger family members joined as trustees. The trust continues a multi-generational philanthropic tradition rooted in the Marks & Spencer founding family. With an annual expenditure of approximately £260,000, the family-run trust supports 10-20 charitable organisations each year. The trust's current focus areas reflect both family history and contemporary social issues, with particular emphasis on young people, refugee support, the arts, and education. Managed from the UK with bi-annual meetings in London, the trust provides grants ranging from £5,000 to £60,000, typically awarded for up to three years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Small Grants: £5,000 - £20,000 per year, for up to three years
Larger Grants: Up to £60,000 available for substantial projects
Multi-Year Funding: The trust offers repeat donations and supports projects over multiple years

Applications are reviewed at bi-annual trustee meetings held in London.

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

Young people in the UK: Particular emphasis on education and health
Refugees: Supporting refugees arriving and living in the UK
Promotion of the arts: Arts, culture, and heritage initiatives

Secondary Areas (hands-on, new, and innovative projects):

Accommodation and housing
Community facilities and activities
Health and disability
Justice and human rights
Older people
Protection of the environment and wildlife
Service and ex-service personnel
Social welfare
Special schools, special needs education, and literacy
Vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals

The trust shows particular favour towards charities working in education, the environment, the arts, health, and support for the Jewish faith. They prefer to support small UK registered charities, especially those that find it difficult to attract funding by the nature of their work.

What They Don't Fund

Individuals: The trust does not provide grants directly to individuals, only to registered charities
Non-charitable organisations: Must be a UK registered charity

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees:

Lord Marks of Broughton (Simon Marks, 3rd Baron)
Hon Mrs Miriam Cooper (née Marks)
Dr Rebecca Marks

The trust operates with three trustees who receive no remuneration from the charity. The trust deed was originally dated 29 April 1971 and was amended on 8 March 2018. The family lineage includes Michael Marks (great-grandfather, co-founder of Marks & Spencer), Simon Marks, 1st Baron Marks of Broughton (1888-1964, grandfather), and Michael Marks, 2nd Baron Marks of Broughton (1920-1998, father).

The trust describes itself as providing “governance, input and time, as needed” to supported organisations, indicating a hands-on approach beyond just financial support.

How to Apply to The Marks Family Charitable Trust

How to Apply

Note: The trust's grant application status varies. Interested organisations should check the trust's website or contact them directly to confirm whether applications are currently open.

When applications are open, the process typically involves:

Application Method: Short online form via the trust's website
Eligibility: UK registered charities only
Application Type: Rolling basis with bi-annual review cycles

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed at bi-annual trustee meetings held in London. This means the trust makes funding decisions twice per year, though specific meeting dates are not publicly disclosed. Typical decision timeframes are not specified, but organisations should expect decisions to align with these bi-annual review cycles.

Success Rates

The trust supports 10-20 charitable organisations each year out of an unknown number of applications. Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. With annual giving of approximately £260,000 and average grants of £5,000-£20,000, this suggests a selective process.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is documented. The trust does provide “one-off or repeat donations,” suggesting that both unsuccessful applicants and previously funded organisations may be eligible to apply.

Application Success Factors

Based on the trust's documented preferences and recent grant awards, successful applications should demonstrate:

Clear Project Objectives: The trust explicitly states they “endeavour to support projects with a clearly outlined objective or end goal.” Be specific about what you will achieve and by when.

Innovative and Hands-On Approach: The trust “likes to fund projects that are hands-on, new and innovative.” Emphasise what makes your project different from existing services.

Small Charity Appeal: The trust is “keen to support small UK registered charities, particularly those that, by the nature of their work, find it difficult to attract funding.” If this describes your organisation, make this clear in your application.

Alignment with Family Legacy: Recent projects show connections to education (Exeter College Library, Oxford scholarships), refugee support (Refugee Academic Futures Programme, Refugees at Home), environment (BirdLife International database, Berkeley Reafforestation Trust), health (NHS Healing Garden), and the arts (Royal Academy Schools). Projects that align with the founding family's legacy in retail, education, and social welfare may have particular resonance.

Partnership Potential: Several funded projects involve partnerships with established institutions (Royal Horticultural Society & NHS, universities, national organisations). The trust offers “governance, input and time, as needed,” suggesting they value ongoing relationships.

Evidence of Impact on Priority Groups: Recent grants show strong support for projects serving young people (school literacy programmes), refugees (academic scholarships, host coordinator funding), and vulnerable communities. Demonstrate clear outcomes for these beneficiary groups.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

The trust supports 10-20 organisations annually with grants of £5,000-£60,000, typically for up to three years
Strong preference for small charities tackling issues that make fundraising difficult
“Hands-on, new and innovative” projects are explicitly favoured over traditional service delivery
Projects must have “clearly outlined objective or end goal” – be specific about deliverables and timelines
Priority beneficiaries are young people (education/health), refugees, and arts organisations
The trust offers more than funding: “governance, input and time, as needed” suggests relationship-based philanthropy
Multi-year funding is available, indicating the trust values sustained impact over one-off projects
Applications reviewed bi-annually – plan submission timing accordingly when applications reopen