The Tobacco Pipe Makers And Tobacco Trade Benevolent Fund

Charity Number: 1135646

Annual Expenditure: £0.6M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £568,612 (2023/24)
  • Success Rate: Not published
  • Decision Time: Applications reviewed in September (for March-June submissions)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - several thousand pounds (one-off grants); three-year partnership funding available
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide, with preference for London and historic tobacco trade regions

Contact Details

Secretary to the Benevolent Fund: Sandra Stocker

Email: benevolentfund@tobaccolivery.org

Phone: 020 8770 0766

Website: www.tobaccolivery.org

Overview

The Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Trade Benevolent Fund (Charity No. 1135646) was formed in 2010 through the merger of the Livery Company's Benevolent Fund with the Tobacco Trade Benevolent Association, which was first established in 1860. With total assets generating an annual income of nearly £1 million and charitable expenditure of £568,612 in the 2023/24 financial year, the Fund operates as the charitable arm of the Worshipful Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders, one of the City of London's historic Livery Companies. The Fund is run independently by a Board of nine unpaid trustees and maintains its assets through professional investment managers. The Fund supports UK registered charities with a focus on education advancement, arts, culture, heritage, and relief for disadvantaged populations, particularly children from deprived backgrounds in inner London boroughs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Three-Year Partnership Funding

  • Multi-year grants to selected charity partners
  • Helps charities plan long-term programs
  • Amounts not publicly specified
  • Application via annual window (March-June)

One-Off Project Grants

  • Grants of “a few thousand pounds” for specific charitable projects or activities
  • The Fund has indicated it is keen to increase the proportion allocated to one-off grants
  • Application via annual window (March-June)

Livery Member Support

  • Up to £1,000 per request for members' own charitable fundraising efforts
  • Available to Company members only

Priority Areas

The Fund supports charities focused on:

  • Education advancement: Bursaries for students and educational programs
  • Arts, culture, heritage, and science: Museums, cultural institutions, and heritage preservation
  • Relief of disadvantage: Particularly children from deprived backgrounds in inner London boroughs
  • Cricket and sporting opportunities: Programs providing access to sports for young people in London where opportunities are scarce
  • Music education: Support for music programs and education
  • Armed Services support: Causes benefiting current or former Armed Services members
  • City of London connections: Charities with Livery Company connections

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual applicants (welfare fund previously supported tobacco industry workers but transferred to GroceryAid in February 2025)
  • Causes benefiting a single cultural or religious group (exception: City of London places of worship)
  • Charities not registered in England and Wales

Geographic Preferences

Strong preference for:

  • London-based charities
  • Charities in cities or regions with strong historic links to the tobacco trade
  • Locally operating charities rather than national organizations
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Governance and Leadership

The Fund is governed by a Board of nine trustees, none of whom receive remuneration or benefits. The trustees are typically also members of the Worshipful Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders.

Key Personnel:

  • Sandra Stocker: Clerk to the Company and Secretary to the Benevolent Fund - serves as the primary contact for grant applications and oversees the Fund's operations
  • Master of the Company (2025-26): Tony Scanlan
  • Honorary Chaplain: Revd Canon Jack Noble, Vicar of St Giles-without-Cripplegate

The governing Court of the Livery Company comprises the Master, four Wardens, Officers, and at least 12 Assistants, with leadership installed annually in the first week of June.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Complete the official application form (available on website)
  2. Email as PDF to Sandra Stocker at benevolentfund@tobaccolivery.org
  3. Include supporting documents as indicated on the form's first page
  4. Applications assessed using submitted forms alongside publicly available information from Charity Commission and Companies House

Decision Timeline

  • Application Window: Opens March 1 - June 30 annually
  • Trustee Review: Applications reviewed at Trustees' meeting in September
  • Decision Time: Approximately 3 months from submission deadline
  • Notification Method: Not specified publicly

Success Rates

Success rates are not published. The Fund made charitable expenditures of £568,612 in 2023/24.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated in public materials. Contact the Secretary for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

What the Fund Looks For

  1. Strong alignment with priorities: Clear fit with education, arts/culture/heritage, or relief of disadvantage
  2. Geographic connection: London location or connection to historic tobacco trade regions strongly preferred
  3. Local impact: Preference for locally operating charities rather than national organizations
  4. City of London connections: Livery Company connections are valued
  5. Clear and significant impact: The Fund seeks opportunities where support makes a “clear and significant difference”

Strategic Guidance

The Fund has publicly stated it is “keen to increase the proportion of giving allocated to provide one-off grants, perhaps of a few thousand pounds, for particular charitable projects or activities,” suggesting applicants should consider project-specific applications rather than only seeking multi-year partnerships.

Recent Funding Examples

Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation: Multi-year partnership providing cricket opportunities to young children in London boroughs where sporting activities are scarce.

Broseley Pipe Works Museum: Historical example - in the 1990s, the Company raised over £40,000 to purchase the contents of the defunct Broseley Pipe Works at Ironbridge, Shropshire, which opened as a museum in 1995.

The Fund also supports:

  • Music education programs
  • Children's services in inner London
  • Museums and cultural institutions
  • Community support organizations

Application Review Process

Applications are assessed through a two-stage process:

  1. Review of submitted application forms and supporting documents
  2. Cross-referencing with publicly available information from regulatory bodies (Charity Commission, Companies House)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Annual application cycle only: Plan ahead for the March-June window; applications outside this period are not accepted
  • Geographic targeting matters: Emphasize London connections or links to historic tobacco trade regions (Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow)
  • Think local: The Fund prefers charities operating locally rather than large national organizations
  • Project-specific applications welcome: The Fund is actively seeking one-off project grants of a few thousand pounds
  • Long-term partnerships available: Three-year funding cycles help charities plan, but competition is likely strong
  • Professional presentation essential: Applications are cross-checked against Charity Commission and Companies House records, so ensure all regulatory filings are current and professional
  • Leverage Livery connections: If your organization has any connection to City of London Livery Companies, mention this prominently

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