The Monmouthshire Provincial Grand Charity 2004

Charity Number: 1108895

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £395,462 (2024 expenditure)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £7,000
  • Geographic Focus: Monmouthshire Province (old Gwent county boundaries), England and Wales

Contact Details

Address: Sandiacre, Crown Road, Llanfrechfa, Cwmbran, NP44 8UE

Phone: 01633 863529

Email: pgsec@monmasons.org.uk

Website: www.monmasons.org.uk

Overview

The Monmouthshire Provincial Grand Charity 2004 was registered as a charity on 6 April 2005 (Charity Number 1108895). The charity operates throughout England and Wales, focusing primarily on the Monmouthshire Masonic Province, which covers the old county of Gwent. With an annual expenditure of £395,462 (2024) and income of £281,047, the charity serves multiple beneficiary groups including children, young people, elderly people, and people with disabilities. The charity is governed by 6 trustees and supported by 31 volunteers. As part of the broader Freemason charitable network, Monmouthshire Freemasons raised £1,020,240 during their 2024 Festival Period. According to Richard Davies, Provincial Grand Master, “Freemasonry stands out as one of the largest contributors to charitable causes in the country, with nearly £1 million donated each week.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity operates several grant streams:

Individual Educational Support: Educational scholarships and bursaries for individuals for schools, colleges, and universities

Individual Hardship Grants: Financial assistance for individuals in poverty and distress (primarily for Freemasons and their families, up to £7,000)

Community Organisation Grants: Lodge-sponsored grants to local charities (typically £1,000, match-funded by the Masonic Charitable Foundation)

Institutional Grants: Direct grants to churches, chapels, schools, colleges, universities, and other educational and training organizations

Masonic Charity Support: Grants to registered Masonic charities including The Grand Charity, The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution, The New Masonic Samaritan Fund, and The Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys

Priority Areas

  • Relief of poverty and distress for individuals in need
  • Educational advancement through scholarships, bursaries, and grants to educational institutions
  • Religious purposes supporting Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism
  • Support for charitable organizations in the Monmouthshire Province
  • Assistance to Freemasons, their widows, and dependents experiencing hardship
  • Support for children, young people, elderly people, and people with disabilities

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the charity's geographic focus is primarily on the Monmouthshire Province (old county boundaries). Individual hardship grants are restricted to Freemasons and their families.

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by 6 trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits. The charity is supported by 31 volunteers.

Provincial Grand Master: R.W. Bro. Richard G Davies, who has spoken about Freemasonry's charitable commitment, stating that “Freemasonry stands out as one of the largest contributors to charitable causes in the country, with nearly £1 million donated each week.”

Charity Trustees: Includes Bro Richard Beavan, who has been recognized for his charity work, particularly as chair of the Trust Fund Community operating for local communities.

Provincial Grand Secretary: Oversees the day-to-day running of the Province (contact: pgsec@monmasons.org.uk).

The charity has been active in emergency response, disbursing £89,000 to local causes related to COVID-19 during 2020. The Monmouthshire Masonic Trust Fund has made 32 donations to different charitable organisations across the Province, totalling £33,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This charity does not have a public application process.

The charity operates through several internal distribution mechanisms:

Lodge-Sponsored Grants: Local charities receive grants through sponsorship by individual Masonic lodges within the Province of Monmouthshire. Each sponsored charity receives £1,000 from funds raised by Freemasons, their families and friends, which is then match-funded by the Masonic Charitable Foundation for a total of £2,000.

Individual Hardship Support: Grants to individuals are only available to Freemasons initiated into a Lodge under the United Grand Lodge of England and their families (widows and dependents). These applications are handled through the Masonic support network.

Educational Scholarships: The charity makes grants directly to educational institutions and individuals, though the application process is not publicly documented.

Trustee Discretion: The 6 trustees meet regularly to make grant decisions based on applications received through Masonic channels and institutional partnerships.

Grants are presented at formal events, such as the Presentation Evening held at Newport Masonic Hall.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Decisions are made by trustees in regular meetings throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Given the nature of this charity, success factors differ depending on the type of support sought:

For Lodge-Sponsored Community Grants:

  • Connection to a Masonic lodge within the Province of Monmouthshire is essential
  • Lodges select local charities to sponsor annually
  • Organizations serving beneficiary groups aligned with the charity's priorities (children, young people, elderly, people with disabilities) appear more likely to receive support
  • Recent beneficiaries include Samaritans, Age Concern Torfaen, and Phoenix Domestic Abuse Services

For Individual Support (Freemasons and families):

  • Must be a Freemason initiated under the United Grand Lodge of England, or a widow/dependent
  • Grants support essential daily living costs or unexpected needs
  • Support available for temporary hardship (e.g., living costs whilst seeking employment following redundancy)
  • Maximum grant available is £7,000, though most grants are considerably less
  • Grants typically last for a minimum period of one year

For Educational Institutions:

  • Must be churches, chapels, schools, colleges, universities, or educational/training organizations
  • Location within or connection to the Monmouthshire Province (old Gwent boundaries) appears important

For Religious Organizations:

  • Must align with supported faiths: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, or Hinduism
  • Geographic connection to Monmouthshire Province preferred

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application: This charity does not accept unsolicited applications from the general public. Community organizations need a connection to a Masonic lodge in Monmouthshire to access funding.
  • Lodge Sponsorship Model: The primary pathway for community charities is through sponsorship by one of the 29 Masonic lodges across 11 Masonic centres in the Province.
  • Match Funding Opportunity: Lodge-sponsored grants of £1,000 are matched by the Masonic Charitable Foundation, effectively doubling the grant to £2,000.
  • Geographic Focus: Priority is given to organizations and individuals within the old county boundaries of Monmouthshire (Gwent area).
  • Beneficiary Alignment: Organizations supporting children, young people, elderly people, and people with disabilities have been recent beneficiaries.
  • Individual Support Restricted: Individual hardship grants are exclusively for Freemasons and their families - this is not a route for general public support.
  • Significant Festival Funding: The 2024 Festival raised over £1 million, suggesting increased grant-making capacity in coming years.

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