The Martin-jenkins Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~£165,000-£250,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: UK (primarily)

Contact Details

• Address: Pythingdean Farm House, Coombelands Lane, Pulborough, RH20 1BS
• Phone: 01798 873654
• Email: tmj47@btinternet.com
• Website: None

Overview

The Martin-Jenkins Foundation (Charity Number 1184095) is a UK-registered grant-making trust established in 2019. The foundation provides grants to charities, non-profit organisations, or individuals identified by the trustees at their discretion, with a primary focus on education in the UK. The foundation is connected to the family of the late Christopher Martin-Jenkins (1945-2013), the renowned cricket journalist, BBC Test Match Special commentator, and former MCC President.

The foundation's stated priorities centre on supporting social mobility through means-tested bursaries, raising awareness of and preparation for university education, and the furtherance of good teaching. With annual expenditure typically between £165,000 and £250,000, the foundation operates as a family-led trust making discretionary grants rather than running open application programmes. The foundation maintains consistent financial activity with income in recent years ranging from approximately £155,000 to £252,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants at trustee discretion in the following areas:

• Means-tested bursaries supporting social mobility
• University awareness and preparation programmes
• Initiatives advancing good teaching

Priority Areas

• Education in the UK
• Social mobility
• University access and preparation
• Teaching quality improvement

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly documented. The foundation states it focuses “mainly (but without limitation) on education in the UK,” suggesting some flexibility beyond this core focus at trustee discretion.

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by three trustees, all members of the Martin-Jenkins family:

• Tim was educated at Marlborough, Cambridge and Harvard Business School
• He chairs both a private investment trust and this grant-making charity
• Director of the International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation
• Former Chairman of Marlborough College's Development Committee (2014-17)
• Trustee of Marlborough College Foundation
• Former Governor of St Bede's Schools Trust (1997-2014)
• Demonstrates a longstanding interest in education and educational access

• Former Sussex County Cricket Club all-rounder (1995-2010)
• Part of three County Championship winning teams (2003, 2006, 2007)
• Now a teacher at Hurstpierpoint College (geography and RS)

1. Lily Martin-Jenkins – Trustee (appointed 11 July 2019)

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The foundation has no trading subsidiaries or employees with benefits over £60,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are made to charities, non-profit organisations, or individuals “identified by the trustees at their discretion.” The foundation operates as a family trust where the trustees proactively identify and select beneficiaries rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Given the trustees' documented connections to education (particularly through Marlborough College, Cambridge University, and various educational governance roles), the foundation likely identifies grant recipients through these professional networks.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly documented. As a discretionary trust, decisions are made at trustee meetings without published timescales.

Success Rates

Not applicable as there is no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable.

Application Success Factors

As this foundation operates through trustee discretion without a public application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on the foundation's stated priorities and trustee backgrounds, organisations most likely to receive support would:

• Focus on education-related work in the UK
• Work to improve social mobility through educational access
• Support university preparation, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Advance teaching quality and teacher development
• Have connections to networks where the trustees are active (independent schools, university access programmes, educational governance bodies)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This is a trustee-discretion foundation that does not accept unsolicited applications
• Education focus: Grants are primarily directed toward education in the UK, with specific interest in social mobility, university access, and teaching quality
• Family foundation: Led by members of the Martin-Jenkins family with strong connections to cricket (Robin) and independent education (Tim)
• Modest but consistent giving: Annual expenditure of £165,000-£250,000 indicates meaningful grant-making activity
• Direct contact may be possible: For organisations whose work closely aligns with the foundation's priorities, an introductory email to tmj47@btinternet.com outlining relevant work could be appropriate
• Network-based identification: The trustees likely identify beneficiaries through their educational and professional networks rather than responding to applications

References

• Charity Commission Register - THE MARTIN-JENKINS FOUNDATION Overview -
• Charity Commission Register - THE MARTIN-JENKINS FOUNDATION Contact Information -
• Charity Commission Register - THE MARTIN-JENKINS FOUNDATION Trustees -
• Charity Choice - The Martin-Jenkins Foundation -
• Wikipedia - Christopher Martin-Jenkins -
• Wikipedia - Robin Martin-Jenkins -
• Marlborough College - Cricket Bursaries -