The Poor Fund of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 229911
• Annual Giving: £103,000+
• Grant Range: Varies by programme (£5,000 - £10,000 for bursaries)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily London-focused, with some national programmes
• Application Process: No public application process - grants awarded by trustee discretion

Contact Details

Address: Saddlers' House, 44 Gutter Lane, London EC2V 6BR

Website: www.fanmakers.com

Email: clerk@fanmakers.com

Phone: 020 7329 4633

Philanthropy Information: https://www.fanmakers.com/about-us/philanthropy

Overview

The Poor Fund of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers (registered charity 229911) was established in 1963 and serves as the charitable arm of one of London's historic Livery Companies. The Company itself was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1709 during the reign of Queen Anne and is the 76th Livery Company in order of precedence. As fan making is now predominantly done by machines rather than craftsmen, the Company has evolved into a charitable establishment with the motto “Arts and Trade United.”

The Poor Fund has general charitable objectives, making grants from donations by liverymen of the Worshipful Company and income from investments. The organisation reports charitable donations exceeding £103,000 annually. The charity is governed by 5 trustees and supported by 12 volunteers, with grants and investments kept under review by trustees supported by a Charities Working Group. The Company is known among its peers as “the friendly company” and maintains long-term relationships with grant recipients, with liverymen regularly visiting supported organisations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Engineering Education Bursaries:

• Cranfield University Fan Makers Bursary: £10,000 for the MSc in Thermal Power at the Propulsion Engineering Centre. Open to UK and EU students who could not otherwise afford the course. Available for both October and March intakes.
• CIBSE Fan Makers Bursary: Annual award for students of limited financial means who have potential to make a difference in the UK Engineering Industry and excel academically.
• Brian Moss Fan Makers Award: £5,000 annual award to support innovation, academic learning and research in building services engineering.

Heritage and Culture:

• The Fan Museum, Greenwich: Regular grants supporting this unique museum dedicated to the art of fan making. The Company provides trustees to the museum and supports fan making workshops.

Military and Youth Recognition:

• Fan Makers Award: Annual award to the Sea Cadet Corps Unit Commanding Officer who has made the most significant contribution to their unit in difficult circumstances.

Community Charities (London-focused):

The Company supports various organisations benefiting disadvantaged people in London, including:

• Educational institutions and programmes
• Services for homeless people
• Support for people with learning disabilities
• Youth development programmes
• Health and social support organisations

Priority Areas

Key Themes:

• Engineering education and thermal power/propulsion technology
• Traditional crafts and modern fan technology (jet engines, HVAC systems)
• Support for disadvantaged populations in London
• Youth development and military family support
• Heritage preservation (particularly fan-making history)
• Healthcare and social rehabilitation

Known Beneficiary Organisations Include:

• IntoUniversity (supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds)
• Stepney City Farm (educational working farm in East London)
• REACT (supporting children with potentially terminal illness)
• Various organisations supporting homeless people in London

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the charity's focus is clearly on:

• London-based charities (with some exceptions for national engineering education)
• Organisations aligned with fan-making heritage or modern fan technology applications
• Causes that benefit disadvantaged populations

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Governance and Leadership

Structure:

The Fan Makers are regulated by the Court (Board of Directors), composed of:

• The Master (elected annually)
• Two Wardens (from whom the Master is normally elected)
• 13 Assistants
• Two elected officers: the Clerk (provides administrative support) and the Beadle (Master of Ceremonies)

Current Leadership:

• Master: Antony Robson (serving 2024-2025, joined the Fan Makers in 1990)
• Clerk: Claire Chitty (as of February 2024)

Charitable Governance:

• 5 Trustees oversee the Poor Fund
• Charities Working Group supports the trustees in reviewing grants and investments
• 12 volunteers support the charity's work
• No trustees receive remuneration or benefits from the charity

Funding Sources:

• Annual donations from liverymen (members) of the Worshipful Company
• Income from investments
• Legacy funds (including designated funds for The Fan Museum)

How to Apply to The Poor Fund Of The Worshipful Company Of Fan Makers

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees and Charities Working Group. The Company states that it develops “long-term relationships with grant recipients” and that “liverymen regularly visit” supported organisations, suggesting that grants are awarded to organisations already known to the Company.

For the specific educational bursaries (Cranfield University and CIBSE), applications are handled through the respective educational institutions:

• Cranfield University Fan Makers Bursary: Apply through Cranfield University's funding opportunities portal
• CIBSE Bursary: Awarded through CIBSE's processes

Organisations seeking support may contact the Clerk to introduce their work and explore potential future relationships, but there is no guarantee of funding through unsolicited approaches.

Application Success Factors

Given the lack of a public application process, success in securing support from the Poor Fund depends on alignment with the Company's established priorities and relationship-building:

Alignment Factors:

1. Connection to Fan-Making or Technology: Organisations with links to traditional fan-making heritage or modern applications of fan technology (aerospace, HVAC, ventilation) have strong alignment with the Company's historical purpose.

1. London Focus: The Company explicitly states its grants benefit “some of the most disadvantaged people of London,” making geographic location a key factor.

1. Long-term Partnership Approach: The Company emphasises developing “long-term relationships” rather than one-off grants, suggesting they prefer sustained engagement with beneficiaries.

1. Engineering Education: Strong priority for supporting engineering students, particularly those studying thermal power, propulsion, or building services who demonstrate financial need and academic potential.

1. Disadvantaged Beneficiaries: Focus on organisations serving vulnerable populations including homeless individuals, children with terminal illnesses, people with learning disabilities, and economically disadvantaged communities.

What They Value:

• Organisations that welcome site visits from liverymen
• Charities that can demonstrate impact in London communities
• Educational programmes that align with engineering and technical fields
• Heritage preservation, particularly related to traditional crafts
• Youth development and military family support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public applications accepted: This is a private trust that awards grants at trustee discretion to organisations with which they have established relationships.

• Focus on long-term partnerships: The Company develops sustained relationships with beneficiaries rather than making one-off grants, with liverymen making regular visits.

• London-centric giving: Strong geographic focus on London charities, particularly those supporting disadvantaged populations.

• Engineering education priority: Significant support for students in thermal power, propulsion, and building services engineering through named bursaries.

• Heritage and modern technology connection: Unique positioning supporting both traditional fan-making craft and modern fan technology applications (aerospace, HVAC).

• Modest scale, specific focus: Annual giving of £103,000+ suggests selective rather than broad grant-making, with careful targeting of beneficiaries.

• Access through relationships: Organisations seeking support should focus on building awareness of their work with Company members and demonstrating alignment with the Company's charitable priorities over time rather than submitting formal applications.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• A G Manly Charitable Trust
• The Horners Charity Fund
• The Coachmakers And Coach Harness Makers Charitable Trust 1977
• The James Dyson Foundation
• The Worshipful Company Of Engineers Charitable Trust Fund
• The Water Conservation Trust
• The Eranda Rothschild Foundation
• The Innholders' Charitable Foundation
• The Stationers' Foundation
• The Happold Foundation

References

1. The Charity Commission for England and Wales - The Poor Fund of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers (Charity Number 229911). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=229911&subid=0

1. Worshipful Company of Fan Makers - Philanthropy. Available at: https://www.fanmakers.com/about-us/philanthropy

1. Worshipful Company of Fan Makers - Affiliations. Available at: https://www.fanmakers.com/about-us/affiliations

1. Worshipful Company of Fan Makers - Official Website. Available at: https://www.fanmakers.com/

1. Cranfield University - Fan Makers Bursary for MSc in Thermal Power. Available at: https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/funding/funding-opportunities/cranfield-university-fan-makers-bursary

1. CIBSE - New £5,000 Brian Moss Fan Makers Award launched to support innovation and learning in building services. Available at: https://www.cibse.org/policy-insight/news/new-5-000-brian-moss-fan-makers-award-launched-to-support-innovation-and-learning-in-building-services/

1. Wikipedia - Worshipful Company of Fan Makers. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Fan_Makers