The Movements Trust Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £631,312 (FY 2024-2025)
• Grant Distribution: Nearly £2 million transferred to movements since 2021
• Decision Time: Rapid (within 1 month emphasized)
• Grant Range: £10,000 - £70,000 (for specific programmes)
• Geographic Focus: UK and International
• Movements Supported: 100+ movements across multiple programmes

Contact Details

• Website: www.themovementstrust.org
• Email: together@themovementstrust.org
• Phone: 07904 351 246
• Grant Platform: themovementstrust.grantplatform.com

Overview

The Movements Trust Limited (Charity No. 1194447) was established in 2021 as an innovative intermediary charity supporting social movements working at the intersection of society and climate change. Since its founding, the Trust has transferred nearly £2 million to movements through regranting and charitable sponsorship services. The organization currently runs five movement-focused grant programmes, three of which are co-produced with movements themselves. With a total income of £631,312 in FY 2024-2025, the Trust supports over 100 movements working across diverse issues including rewilding, biodiversity, agro-ecology, tax justice, citizenship, advocacy, education, basic income, and mobilization. The organization's approach emphasizes rapid decisions, simplified processes, maximum flexibility, and trust-based funding to enable movements to act with agility.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Movements Trust operates as an intermediary regranter, distributing funds on behalf of foundations and donors. They do not hold funds themselves but periodically offer grants through regranting services. Specific programmes include:

• Multiple Movement-Focused Grant Programmes: Currently running five programmes, three of which are co-produced with movements
• Grassroots Movements Fund (administered for Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust): £10,000 - £70,000 per successful application, covering up to two years
• Application Method: Varies by programme; some are rolling, others are invitation-only or co-produced with movements

The Trust also offers Charitable Sponsorship (fiscal sponsorship), allowing unincorporated movements to access funding restricted to registered charities and claim Gift Aid.

Priority Areas

The Trust focuses specifically on:

• Social movements working towards sustainable development
• Climate justice and environmental movements
• Movements addressing the intersection of society and climate change
• Unincorporated grassroots movements with little or no existing resources
• Movements using non-violent organizing and awareness raising for systems change
• Issues including: rewilding, biodiversity, agro-ecology, tax justice, citizenship, advocacy, education, basic income, and mobilization

What They Don't Fund

• Activities that are not legal
• Activities that are not charitable in definition, specifically:
• Political lobbying
• Direct action (civil disobedience)
• Organizations that are already registered charities (for charitable sponsorship; they may still be eligible for regranting programmes)

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

• Chris Mills (Treasurer) - Former Managing Director at Citigroup, brings financial and risk management expertise
• Tara - Over 10 years in investment banking, specializing in debt capital market financing, with passion for sustainability
• Janet - CEO of Reach Volunteering, connecting skilled volunteers with charities
• Letty - 10 years of experience in grant-making and UK charitable sector; currently Fieldbuilding and Networks Lead at FILE Foundation
• Debra Hay - Trustee
• Ian Merrill - Leader of Shannon Trust

Senior Team:

• Anna Henry (CEO/Executive Director) - Joined June 2022; background in community organizing, human rights advocacy, and movement building; previously CEO of a global movement to end violence against children
• Sarah Greenfield Clark (Co-founder and Charitable Sponsorship Manager) - Systems thinker with MSc in Sustainability; supported climate justice movements in accessing millions in funding across 150+ countries; former fundraising lead for Extinction Rebellion (2018-2020)

No trustees receive remuneration from the charity. Current staffing includes 1 volunteer with no employees earning over £60,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Regranting Programmes:

The Movements Trust does not have a consistent public application process for grants, as they act as an intermediary distributing funds on behalf of specific donors and foundations. Grant opportunities arise periodically when foundations partner with TMT to distribute funds.

To learn about current opportunities:

• Visit their grant platform: themovementstrust.grantplatform.com
• Check their website regularly: www.themovementstrust.org
• Contact them directly: together@themovementstrust.org

For Charitable Sponsorship:

Movements can apply for charitable sponsorship to access funding restricted to registered charities:

1. Submit an initial application through their website (themovementstrust.org/for-movements)
2. The Board reviews your work, organization structure, and approach
3. The Board aims to respond quickly so movements can proceed with funding applications
4. Once approved, movements can apply to TMT to sponsor specific grants or donations

Decision Timeline

The Movements Trust emphasizes rapid decision-making as a core value:

• Goal: Transfer funds within 1 month of receiving nominations/applications (for regranting programmes)
• Charitable Sponsorship Approval: Board aims to respond quickly to new applications
• Speed emphasized: "The speed of 'concept to decision' and to grant distribution" allows movements to be agile

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However:

• The Trust has actively supported 40 movements with 35 more in the pipeline (as of early operation)
• Currently supports 100+ movements across five programmes
• Their approach emphasizes accessibility for movements typically barred from traditional funding

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in available public information. Contact the Trust directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Based on The Movements Trust's documented approach and values:

What They Look For:

1. Charitable Status and Legal Compliance: Your work must be charitable in definition under UK charity law. The Board examines “what you are trying to do, how you are organized, and what your approach is” to determine if work qualifies as charitable.

1. Systems Change Focus: Movements must use “non-violent organizing and awareness raising for systems change to create a more sustainable world.”

1. Grassroots and Under-Resourced: Priority for movements “formed of at least 3 people with little or no existing resources” who are often barred from traditional funding programmes.

1. Alignment with Sustainable Development: Work must promote sustainable development, particularly at the intersection of society and climate change.

1. Trust-Based Relationship: The organization emphasizes “trust-based funding” with simplified processes and maximum flexibility. They value movements willing to engage in co-produced approaches.

Approach to Applications:

The Trust has developed regranting approaches specifically designed to remove barriers movements face:

• Rapid decisions and transfer of funds
• Co-production with movements
• Simplified processes
• Maximum flexibility

Case Study - Thirty Percy Foundation Partnership:

In their collaboration with Thirty Percy Foundation, TMT tested allowing UK-based agroecology movements to determine among themselves how grant funds would be distributed, demonstrating their commitment to movement-led decision-making.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Understand the dual model: TMT offers both regranting programmes (periodic, donor-funded) and charitable sponsorship (ongoing service for accessing other funders)
• Speed matters: If you need rapid funding decisions and transfer, TMT's model is designed for this—they aim for one-month turnaround
• Charitable definition is critical: Your activities must be charitable under UK law; political lobbying and direct action are excluded, but advocacy and awareness-raising are supported
• Unincorporated movements welcome: If you're not a registered charity, TMT specifically exists to help you access funding through charitable sponsorship
• Engage with their network: TMT regularly convenes movements in workshops to meet donors and service providers—relationship-building opportunities
• Co-production valued: Three of their five programmes are co-produced with movements, showing they value movement leadership in funding decisions
• Think long-term relationship: Even if no regranting programmes are currently open, establishing charitable sponsorship can enable you to access other funding sources

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• TREEBEARD TRUST
• Henry and Rebecca Tinsley Charitable Trust
• John Jacob Astor Charitable Trust
• The Glastonbury Trust CIO
• The Constance Travis Charitable Trust
• The Pickwell Foundation
• THE LINBURY TRUST
• The Blyth Watson Charitable Trust
• THE ROBERT GAVRON CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Payback Time Trust

References

• The Movements Trust - Official Website
• Charity Commission Register - The Movements Trust Limited -
• What We Do - The Movements Trust -
• Who We Are - The Movements Trust -
• For Movements - The Movements Trust -
• What is Charitable Sponsorship? - The Movements Trust -
• Example: Movement Friendly Grants - The Movements Trust -
• The Movements Trust - Propel Philanthropy -
• Movements Trust - InfluenceWatch -
• Anna Henry - LinkedIn -
• The Movements Trust - LinkedIn -