The Mary Homfray Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £195,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Applications reviewed annually in March
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000
• Geographic Focus: Wales (priority), UK-wide eligible
• Annual Grants: Approximately 30 grants awarded per year

Contact Details

• Website: www.maryhomfrayct.org
• Email: jdeacy@deloitte.co.uk / apply@maryhomfrayct.org
• Phone: 02920 264388
• Application Contact: Online application form via website

Overview

The Mary Homfray Charitable Trust was founded by Mary Homfray in 1977 with an investment portfolio now valued at approximately £4 million. The trust makes annual grants of around £195,000 to approximately 30 charitable organizations, awarding grants between £1,000 and £5,000. Priority is given to small and medium-sized charities operating in Wales, where Mary lived for most of her life, though UK-registered charities working anywhere in the world are eligible. The portfolio is managed by Smith & Williamson and aims to grow capital while providing meaningful annual grants to causes aligned with Mary's interests and those of her family trustees. To date, the trust has supported over 100 charities with diverse missions, with a focus on ensuring grants have significant impact at smaller organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Grant Programme: £1,000 - £5,000

• Rolling applications accepted year-round
• Decisions made annually at spring trustee meeting (March)
• Grants distributed May/June
• Approximately 30 grants awarded each year
• Application via online form on website

Priority Areas

The trust supports a wide range of charitable causes, with recurrent themes reflecting Mary's personal interests and those of the trustees:

Core Focus Areas:

• Alzheimer's disease and dementia research/support
• Homelessness and accommodation support
• Wildlife conservation and environmental heritage

Other Supported Areas:

• Education and training programmes
• Medical research (excluding large research charities except dementia-focused)
• People with disabilities
• Poverty prevention and relief
• Religious activities
• Arts, culture, heritage and science
• Sporting charities
• Animal welfare
• Economic and community development
• Children and young people
• Elderly people

Preference Given To:

• Charities operating in Wales
• Small and medium-sized charities where grants will have greater impact
• Organizations with connections to the founder's interests or trustees' personal connections

What They Don't Fund

• Large medical research charities (with the exception of Alzheimer's/dementia research)
• Organizations where the grant would have minimal impact due to size

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by four trustees, all family members of the founder Mary Homfray:

• Mary's daughter
• Mary's daughter-in-law
• Two of Mary's grandchildren

No trustees receive remuneration or payments from the charity. The trustees meet annually to review applications and make funding decisions, with a focus on causes that Mary was personally passionate about, as well as organizations the trustees have personal connections to.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the online application form available on the trust's website at www.maryhomfrayct.org.

Application Requirements:

• Applications must be fitted on a single page
• Keep it simple and concise
• Must be from UK-registered charities (may operate globally)

Key Instruction: “Once your application has been submitted please do not chase us as the Trustees will only consider your application at their annual meeting each Spring.”

Decision Timeline

• Application window: Rolling (applications accepted year-round)
• Review period: March (annual trustee meeting)
• Grant distribution: May/June
• Total timeline: Applications submitted throughout the year are reviewed once annually in March, with approximately 2-3 months from decision to payment

Reapplication Policy

Yes, reapplication is encouraged:

• If your charity has already received support, you should reapply annually if seeking further support
• However, do not expect continued support as many grants are one-off donations
• Previous recipients are welcome to submit new applications each year

Application Success Factors

Based on the trust's stated priorities and guidance:

Alignment with Core Interests: Applications that align with the trust's recurrent themes—Alzheimer's/dementia, homelessness, and wildlife conservation—appear to receive particular attention given these reflect both Mary's interests and those of the trustees.

Wales Connection: Operating in Wales is a significant advantage. The trust explicitly states priority is given to charities operating in Wales where Mary lived most of her life.

Organization Size: The trust specifically states: “We prefer smaller charities where the impact of our money will not get lost.” Demonstrating how a £1,000-£5,000 grant will make a meaningful difference is crucial.

Conciseness Matters: The explicit instruction that applications must fit on a single page and be kept simple suggests trustees value clarity and brevity over lengthy proposals.

Do Not Chase: The trust explicitly asks applicants not to follow up after submission, as applications are only reviewed at the annual spring meeting. Respecting this boundary is important.

Personal Connections: The trust notes that “priority for support is given to charities that Mary herself is keen on, as well as those that the trustees have a personal connection to.” While applicants cannot create these connections, understanding that trustee familiarity with causes plays a role helps set appropriate expectations.

One-Page Discipline: The requirement to fit the application on a single page means focusing on the most compelling information: clear demonstration of need, specific use of funds, measurable impact, and alignment with the trust's stated priorities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Target grant amount: Applications should request between £1,000-£5,000; this is a fixed range
• Welsh advantage: Charities operating in Wales receive priority consideration—emphasize Welsh operations or beneficiaries if applicable
• Size matters: Smaller organizations have an advantage; clearly demonstrate how the grant will have significant impact
• Three core themes: Strong alignment with Alzheimer's/dementia, homelessness, or wildlife conservation increases likelihood of success
• Single page only: Applications must be concise and fit on one page—focus on impact, not detail
• Annual cycle: Submit early in the year if possible, but know decisions happen only once in March
• One-off expectation: Treat each application as standalone; previous funding does not guarantee future support, though reapplication is welcomed

References

• The Mary Homfray Charitable Trust official website: www.maryhomfrayct.org
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity No. 273564: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=273564&subid=0
• Various charity directory listings including Charity Choice, Give Super, and Funding Eye
• Financial data from 2024 Charity Commission annual return