The Merchant Taylors' Company Charities Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £84,591 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £119,972 (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: N/A (invitation only)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Not specified
• Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process

Contact Details

The Merchant Taylors' Hall

30 Threadneedle Street

London EC2R 8JB

Phone: 020 7450 4440

Email: charities@merchant-taylors.co.uk

Website: www.merchant-taylors.co.uk

Overview

The Merchant Taylors' Company Charities Fund (Charity Number 1069124) is one of several charitable funds operated by the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors, one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London. The Company traces its origins to before 1300 and received its first royal charter in 1327. This particular fund operates by invitation only, making grants to other registered charities at the discretion of its three trustees. The fund focuses on relieving poverty and infirmity, and advancing education or religion. As part of the broader Merchant Taylors' charitable ecosystem, which has maintained a philanthropic tradition for over 700 years, the Company Charities Fund represents one stream of the organization's commitment to creating lasting, transformative impact through grant-making. No trustees receive remuneration from the charity, and the fund operates without employees or trading subsidiaries.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Merchant Taylors' Company Charities Fund operates a single grant-making program on an invitation-only basis. Grants are awarded to registered charities as determined by the trustees. Specific grant amounts are not publicly disclosed.

Priority Areas

The fund makes grants for the following charitable purposes:

• Relief of poverty: Supporting charities that help individuals experiencing financial hardship
• Relief of infirmity: Funding organizations that assist people with physical or mental health challenges
• Advancement of education: Supporting educational initiatives and opportunities
• Advancement of religion: Funding religious charitable activities

Grants are made to other registered charities rather than directly to individuals.

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited applications are not considered
• The fund does not make grants directly to individuals
• Organizations that are not registered charities are not eligible

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Governance and Leadership

The Merchant Taylors' Company Charities Fund is governed by three trustees. All trustees serve without remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

The fund operates under the broader governance structure of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors, which includes:

• The Master: The nominal head of the Company, appointed annually by the Court of Assistants for a one-year term
• Wardens: Senior members who support the Master and rotate annually each July
• Court of Assistants: The governing body that oversees the Company's work

The broader Merchant Taylors' charitable ecosystem includes Richard Nourse as Chair of Trustees for the Merchant Taylors' Foundation. The Company's structure empowers senior members to lead work in what they describe as their three pillars: Fraternity, Education, and Philanthropy.

Trustees make grant decisions in their “absolute discretion” for charitable purposes that fall within the fund's objectives.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Merchant Taylors' Company Charities Fund makes grants by invitation only. The Charity Commission register explicitly states: “Unsolicited applications will not be considered.”

Grants are awarded to other charities at the discretion of the trustees for purposes including relief of poverty, infirmity, advancement of education, or advancement of religion.

Alternative Funding Routes

Organizations seeking funding from the Merchant Taylors should note that the Company operates several other charitable funds that do accept applications:

• The Merchant Taylors' Foundation Small Grants Scheme: Accepts applications from charities in Hackney, Lewisham, Southwark, and Tower Hamlets (£500-£5,000 grants)
• Merchant Taylors' Consolidated Charities for the Infirm: Accepts online applications (typically £5,000-£20,000 grants)

Contact: charities@merchant-taylors.co.uk

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made by trustee discretion on an invitation-only basis.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the fund does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Given that the Merchant Taylors' Company Charities Fund operates by invitation only, there is no public application process or documented success factors for applying.

Organizations seeking support from the Merchant Taylors should consider:

1. Alignment with core purposes: The fund focuses specifically on relief of poverty, relief of infirmity, advancement of education, and advancement of religion
2. Registered charity status: The fund makes grants only to other registered charities
3. Connection to Company members: As an invitation-only fund, grants may be influenced by connections between the Company's membership and charitable causes
4. Exploring other Merchant Taylors' funds: The Company operates multiple charitable funds, some of which do accept public applications and may be more accessible routes for organizations seeking funding

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: The Merchant Taylors' Company Charities Fund operates by invitation only and explicitly does not consider unsolicited applications
• Part of a larger charitable ecosystem: The fund is one of several operated by the Merchant Taylors' Company, which has maintained philanthropic activities for over 700 years
• Four core purposes: Grants focus on relief of poverty, relief of infirmity, advancement of education, and advancement of religion
• Trustee discretion: The three trustees have absolute discretion in determining which charities receive grants and for what purposes
• Consider alternative routes: Organizations should explore the Merchant Taylors' Foundation Small Grants Scheme or Consolidated Charities for the Infirm, which do accept applications
• Relationship-based: As an invitation-only fund, grants are likely determined through relationships with Company members or known charitable causes
• Modest income: With annual income of approximately £85,000, this is a relatively small fund within the broader Merchant Taylors' charitable portfolio

References

1. Charity Commission Register of Charities - The Merchant Taylors' Company Charities Fund (Charity Number 1069124).. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1069124&subid=0

1. The Merchant Taylors' Company - Philanthropy & Charity Management.. https://www.merchant-taylors.co.uk/philanthropy

1. The Merchant Taylors' Company - About The Company.. https://www.merchant-taylors.co.uk/about

1. Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors - Wikipedia.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Merchant_Taylors

1. The Merchant Taylors' Foundation - Fundraiso.. https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/the-merchant-taylors-foundation