The Mercers' Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 326340

Annual Expenditure: £13.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £13 million (2023-2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 3-8 months (varies by programme)
  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £300,000
  • Geographic Focus: Greater London, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northeast England

Contact Details

Website: www.mercers.co.uk

Email: info@mercers.co.uk

Phone: 020 7726 4991

Address: 6 Frederick's Place, London EC2R 8AB

For programme-specific enquiries, applicants can use the contact form at mercers.co.uk/contact-us

Overview

The Mercers' Charitable Foundation (Charity Number 326340) was established by The Mercers' Company in 1983. The Mercers' Company is a historic London livery company with over 700 years of history, now focused on being a philanthropic force for good. In 2023-2024, £13 million was awarded in grants across four main programmes (Young People & Education, Older People & Housing, Church & Communities, and Heritage & Arts) with an additional £1.5 million through direct company giving. The Foundation expects to support 180 individual charities annually. Over the past six years, they have awarded £64.2 million across people-focused programmes. The Company serves as corporate trustee to nine charities and is supported by a professional team of 60 staff members, led by the Clerk who serves as CEO.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Young People & Education (Greater London)

  • Early Years (ages 2-5): Supporting numeracy, literacy, and language skills
  • Literacy & Oracy: Developing literacy skills to improve life chances
  • Transitions: Helping young people progress from secondary education (applications currently open)
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing: Community projects in Greater London
  • Typical funding: Up to £300,000 for 3-4 year periods
  • Recent example: Early Years Special Initiative grants of up to £300,000 payable over four years

Older People & Housing (London and Norfolk)

  • Grant range: £50,000 - £120,000 for up to three years
  • Focus areas: Combatting loneliness and combatting poverty
  • To date, £4.2 million awarded through 51 grants
  • Decision timeline: 5-8 months from Expression of Interest to final decision

Church & Communities (County Durham, Greater London, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northumberland, Tees Valley, Tyne & Wear)

  • Grant range: £10,000 - £120,000 for up to three years
  • Focus areas: Building stronger communities and delivering better outcomes for families and carers
  • Recent example: £689,432 awarded to eight organizations
  • Decision timeline: 3-5 months from Expression of Interest to final decision

Heritage & Arts (Greater London, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northeast England)

  • Research-based programme - organizations are identified and invited to apply (not open application)
  • Supports cultural and heritage organizations

All programmes use a two-stage application process: Expression of Interest followed by full application if invited.

Priority Areas

Cross-cutting priorities:

  • Relieving disadvantage in target geographic areas
  • Community-rooted and focused organizations
  • Organizations with diverse governance reflecting communities served
  • Promotion of positive mental wellbeing
  • Asset-based approaches (focus on strengths, not deficits)
  • Person-centered work
  • Building positive inclusive relationships
  • Real Living Wage employers

Specific focus populations:

  • Young people facing disadvantage (ages 2-18)
  • Older people at risk of loneliness and poverty
  • Black and ethnic minoritized communities
  • LGBTQ+ communities
  • Refugees and migrants
  • Families facing poverty
  • Unpaid carers
  • People with long-term conditions

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Capital costs (unless part of revenue application, e.g., tablets/laptops, or in exceptional circumstances where there's obvious lack of alternative local facilities)
  • General appeals
  • Costs already incurred (retroactive funding)
  • Generally will not award more than 50% of an organization's annual income in any given year
  • Work solely focused on faith advancement (Church & Communities programme)
  • Projects outside their geographic areas
  • Solely young people or older people work (Church & Communities programme - must have broader community focus)
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Governance and Leadership

The Mercers' Company serves as corporate trustee to The Mercers' Charitable Foundation and eight other charities. The organization is led by the Clerk, who serves as Chief Executive Officer, supported by a professional team of 60 staff members. The Master of The Mercers' Company leads the organization ceremonially.

The Foundation publishes all grants awarded over £10,000 annually and contributes data to the 360Giving transparency initiative, demonstrating commitment to accountability and transparency in grant-making.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Two-Stage Process:

  1. Expression of Interest (EOI): Submit initial application online through the appropriate programme page on mercers.co.uk
  2. Full Application: If invited, submit detailed application within the timeframe specified
  3. Assessment: Decisions on EOIs made by staff panels; full applications reviewed by Committees following assessment processes

Key Guidance:

  • Focus on one application at a time (though applications to multiple programmes are permitted)
  • Ensure strong alignment with one priority area rather than spreading across multiple areas
  • Apply for the programme and priority that is the best fit for your proposal

Decision Timeline

  • EOI Response: Within 4 weeks applicants are notified whether to proceed to full application
  • Church & Communities: 3-5 months total from EOI to final decision
  • Older People & Housing: 5-8 months total from EOI to final decision
  • Young People & Education: 3-5 months (varies by specific initiative and deadlines)

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. However, the Foundation expects to support approximately 180 charities annually from the applications received across all programmes.

Reapplication Policy

If a recent Expression of Interest or application has been rejected, it is highly likely a reapplication will be unsuccessful. While there is no explicit waiting period stated, the Foundation discourages immediate reapplication following rejection. The emphasis is on ensuring strong alignment with priorities before applying.

Application Success Factors

Community-Rooted and Focused:

The Foundation repeatedly emphasizes the importance of being “community rooted and focused.” Successful applicants demonstrate:

  • Board, staff, and volunteers that reflect the people they work with and communities they serve
  • Deep understanding of local context and needs
  • Strong community connections and trust

Organizational Characteristics:

  • Track record in supporting target populations facing disadvantage
  • Strong governance and financial management
  • Commitment to Real Living Wage
  • Promotion of positive mental wellbeing
  • Asset-based, person-centered approaches
  • Building positive, inclusive relationships

Recent Successful Projects:

  • British Association for Early Childhood Education (£300,000 over 4 years): Training, mentoring and coaching support for practitioners to develop arts-rich creative teaching
  • Literacy Pirates: Year-long after-school programme improving literacy skills of disadvantaged children aged 9-11
  • Praxis Community Project: Human rights charity supporting migrants with advice, welfare support and campaigns
  • St Aldhelm Church, Enfield: Community activities including café run by young people with disabilities, stitching group, food bank, warm bank
  • Midaye Somali Development Network: Emotional and practical support for BME migrant families in West London

Application Tips:

  • Ensure clear alignment with one specific priority area
  • Demonstrate community embeddedness and representation
  • Show evidence of impact and track record
  • Use asset-based language (strengths, not deficits)
  • Highlight how your organization reflects the communities you serve
  • Be specific about outcomes for disadvantaged groups
  • Consider applying for 3-4 year funding to support sustainable change
  • Do not apply if recently rejected - assess alignment carefully first

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic specificity matters: Ensure your project operates in Greater London, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, or Northeast England (specific counties for Church & Communities)
  • Community representation is critical: Your board, staff, and volunteers must reflect the communities you serve - this is explicitly stated as essential across all programmes
  • Focus on one priority at a time: While you can apply to multiple programmes, the Foundation prefers focused applications that clearly align with one priority area
  • Asset-based language is key: Frame applications around strengths and what's strong, not what's wrong
  • Long-term relationships valued: Multi-year grants (3-4 years) are standard, indicating preference for sustained partnerships over one-off projects
  • Prepare for thorough assessment: The two-stage process with 3-8 month timelines suggests rigorous evaluation - ensure your EOI is compelling to secure invitation to full application
  • Living Wage commitment required: Must pay Real Living Wage to employees - this is a clear eligibility requirement
  • Don't reapply quickly after rejection: The Foundation explicitly states reapplication after recent rejection is highly likely to be unsuccessful - take time to reassess alignment

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