The St Michaels And All Saints Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £30,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Within 1 month of meeting
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000
• Geographic Focus: Oxford and Oxfordshire

Contact Details

Website: www.stmichaelscharities.org.uk

Email: info@stmichaelscharities.org.uk

Phone: 01865 255774

Clerk to the Feoffees: Mr Rupert Sheppard (primary contact for applications)

Overview

St Michael's and All Saints' Charities comprise several historical charities dating back to 1612, when a Charter under the Great Seal of James I established the Feoffees of the Parish of St. Michael at the North Gate. Registered as charity number 261304, the organization's dual mission is to support the Church of St Michael at the North Gate in Central Oxford and to award grants to charitable organizations in Oxford and Oxfordshire. The charity focuses on benefiting people in Oxfordshire through organizations whose primary objective is the relief of individual hardship and provision of community benefit. In 2024, the Feoffees donated £30,000 to Oxfordshire Community Foundation's Living Essentials Fund, demonstrating their commitment to addressing urgent community needs including homelessness, food insecurity, and debt support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• General Grants: £1,000 - £3,000 average (applications by email)
• Maximum Grant: £5,000 (unlikely to exceed in current climate)
• National Charities: Capped at £500 unless strong Oxford/Oxfordshire connection

2025 Partnership: St Michael's and All Saints' Charities have partnered with Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) for 2025 grant awards. Applicants should check the charity's website for current application procedures.

Priority Areas

• Relief of individual hardship
• Community benefit projects
• Charitable organizations serving Oxford and Oxfordshire residents
• Projects addressing homelessness, food insecurity, warmth, and debt advice

Recent Grant Examples (2024):

• The Porch: £9,900 for day centre provision supporting homeless and vulnerably housed people in East Oxford (breakfasts, lunches, showers, clothes bank, laundry, welfare advice)
• Rose Hill and Donnington Advice Centre: £10,000 (through OCF partnership)

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations without a specific Oxford/Oxfordshire focus
• National charities without strong local connection (limited to £500 unless exceptional circumstances)
• Applications exceeding £5,000 (current policy)

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Governance and Leadership

Governance Structure: The charity is governed by 11 Feoffees (trustees), five of whom serve ex officio:

• Ex Officio Feoffees:
• Vicar of St Michael at the North Gate
• Two Church Wardens of St Michael at the North Gate
• Principal of Jesus College, Oxford
• Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford

• Other Feoffees: Six members nominated by the Parochial Church Council of St Michael at the North Gate

Administration: Mr Rupert Sheppard, Clerk to the Feoffees, manages day-to-day operations and should be contacted for all grant inquiries.

The charity's historic roots date to 1612, when King James I granted a Charter requiring the Feoffees to employ income from various Oxford properties for the care and upkeep of St. Michael's Church and related charitable purposes.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Standard Application (Check website for current process due to 2025 OCF partnership):

• Brief introductory background to your charity
• For specific projects: outline the project aim and what difference the grant would make
• Copy of latest available accounts (including annual income/expenditure, surplus/deficit, funds carried forward)
• If involving schools: number and proportion of pupils receiving free school meals

Important: The Feoffees make funding decisions primarily based on the 500-word letter, so ensure all critical information is included concisely.

Decision Timeline

• Review Period: Applications reviewed at Feoffees' meetings
• Notification: Confirmation of any grant awarded sent within 1 month of the meeting
• Application Method: Rolling basis via email

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The charity evaluates applications based on alignment with their mission to relieve individual hardship and provide community benefit in Oxfordshire.

Reapplication Policy

No specific restrictions on reapplication mentioned. Organizations may resubmit applications in subsequent funding rounds.

Application Success Factors

Based on the charity's stated priorities and recent grants:

1. Geographic Specificity: Clearly demonstrate how your organization serves people in Oxford or Oxfordshire. National charities must show strong local connection to exceed the £500 cap.

1. Primary Mission Alignment: The Feoffees prioritize organizations whose “primary objective” is relief of individual hardship or community benefit. Emphasize how this is central to your work.

1. Practical Impact: Recent grants to The Porch (£9,900) and partnerships with Living Essentials Fund demonstrate preference for practical services addressing basic needs: food, shelter, warmth, welfare advice.

1. Concise Communication: The 500-word limit is strict. Focus on impact, not process. The Feoffees make decisions “mainly on the basis of this letter.”

1. Financial Transparency: Including comprehensive accounts demonstrates good governance. Highlight financial sustainability and how the grant fills a specific gap.

1. School Applications: If involving schools, the Feoffees specifically request data on pupils receiving free school meals, indicating focus on disadvantaged populations.

1. Realistic Amounts: Average grants are £1,000-£3,000. Requesting within this range may improve chances, though up to £5,000 is possible with strong justification.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Keep it brief: 500-word maximum is strictly enforced. Make every word count in your email application.
• Local focus wins: Strong Oxford/Oxfordshire connection is essential. National organizations face a £500 cap unless exceptional local relevance.
• Basic needs priority: Recent grants favor organizations addressing homelessness, food insecurity, and essential services for vulnerable populations.
• Modest expectations: Most grants fall between £1,000-£3,000. Don't over-ask; demonstrate what meaningful impact can be achieved in this range.
• 2025 partnership note: Check website for current application process due to partnership with Oxfordshire Community Foundation.
• Decision-makers are local: The Feoffees include Oxford college leaders and church officials who know the local community well.
• Historical charity with modern focus: While rooted in 1612 Church connections, they fund diverse charitable work addressing contemporary hardship.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• MR AND MRS J A PYE'S CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT
• The Stanton Ballard Charitable Trust
• Oxfordshire Community Foundation
• The Bartlett Taylor Charitable Trust
• DORIS FIELD CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Pharsalia Charitable Trust
• The Helen Roll Charity
• Faringdon United Charity CIO
• The Shanly Foundation
• ST ALDATES PAROCHIAL CHARITY

References

• St Michael's and All Saints' Charities official website: https://stmichaelscharities.org.uk/
• “How to Apply” page: https://stmichaelscharities.org.uk/how-to-apply/
• Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 261304: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/261304
• "St Michael's and All Saints' Charities partners with OCF for annual grant-making," Oxfordshire Community Foundation: https://oxfordshire.org/st-michaels-and-all-saints-charities-partners-with-ocf-for-annual-grant-making/
• Quote from Zoe Sprigings, OCF Chief Executive (from OCF partnership announcement, 2024)