The Worshipful Company Of World Traders Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £112,903 (2024)
• Annual Income: £78,777 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not published
• Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle (2-3 months)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000 (typically)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (preference for City of London/inner London for non-trade projects)
• Charity Number: 295832

Contact Details

Address: 9 Chawton End Close, Four Marks, Alton, Hampshire GU34 5BF

Phone: 07377 712741

Email: clerk@world-traders.org

Website: www.world-traders.org

Clerk: Ms Liz Garner

Overview

The Worshipful Company of World Traders Charitable Trust was established in September 1986 as the Guild of World Traders Trust Fund. The parent organization became the 101st Livery Company of the City of London in 1993 and was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth II on 10 July 2013. The Trust's principal objective is furthering education and training in connection with the advancement of world trade, along with supporting other charitable causes aligned with these aims.

For the year ending 30 September 2024, the Trust had total income of £78,777 and made grants totaling £112,903 across various charitable activities. The Trust operates with 10 trustees, none of whom receive remuneration, and meets four times a year to review proposals and approve grants. The organization embodies the motto “Commerce and honest friendship with all” - attributed to Thomas Jefferson - and maintains strong connections to the City of London's Livery Company traditions while promoting modern international trade education and understanding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grants Programme: £1,000 - £5,000 (typically, though smaller amounts awarded occasionally)

• Rolling application process via downloadable application form
• Reviewed quarterly by Education and Charities Committee
• Decisions made at subsequent Trustees' meetings
• Multi-year funding considered: usually restricted to three consecutive years maximum (with extension possible)

Priority Areas

The Trust actively funds projects that:

• Education and training in world trade: Projects that enhance understanding, skills, or knowledge related to international commerce and trade
• Skills development for young people: Programs equipping disadvantaged youth with skills, experiences, and aspirations
• Education for disabled and disadvantaged populations: Support for young people with physical disabilities or those from deprived backgrounds
• Careers and vocational training: Technology training, careers services, and workforce development initiatives
• Financial literacy and enterprise education: Programs developing business and financial skills
• Supporting academics at risk: Assistance for academics subject to discrimination or persecution

Strong preferences given to:

• Original or innovative projects
• Projects with measurable outcomes
• Projects with clear alignment to world trade education
• For non-trade projects: links to City of London or inner London
• Projects where the Company can be publicly identified

What They Don't Fund

• Direct donations to individuals (though institutional funding for individual study in world trade may be considered)
• Projects requiring more than 50% of total project funding from the Trust
• Applications not completed on the official Funding Form
• Organizations not registered as UK charities or non-profit organizations
• Projects without clear, measurable outcomes

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Governance and Leadership

Current Officers (2024-2025)

• Master: Mr Richard Burge (serves one-year term)
• Senior Warden: Mr Andrew Marsden
• Junior Warden: Mr Tim McNally CC
• Clerk: Ms Liz Garner
• Previous Master (2024): Lars Andersen
• Treasurer: Peter Alvey (also serves as Charity Chair in the Livery Charity Chairs Group)

Governance Structure

The Worshipful Company of World Traders is governed by its Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, and a Court of Assistants. The Court elects the Master and Wardens annually, with officers rotating positions each year. The Charitable Trust operates with 10 trustees who meet four times a year. All decisions are made through the Education and Charities Committee, which reviews proposals and makes recommendations to the full Board of Trustees for final approval.

Key Organizational Activities

• Tacitus Lecture: Inaugurated in 1988, now believed to be the largest event of its type in the City of London, exploring issues affecting world trade
• Tacitus Essay Prize: The Robert Woodthorpe Browne Tacitus Essay Prize for Year 12 students (750-word essays on topics related to world trade)
• Academic prizes: Awards to schools, academies, and colleges
• Climate Action initiatives: Programs addressing environmental aspects of trade
• Military support: Charitable activities supporting armed forces personnel

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Download the Application Form: Available from www.world-traders.org/applications-for-funding/
2. Complete the Official Form: Applications not on the official form cannot be considered. Word document versions available by emailing clerk@world-traders.org
3. Submit to the Address: Send completed form to the address shown at the top of the form

Application Requirements

• UK registered charity or non-profit organization
• Clear project scope with measurable outcomes
• Total project budget disclosed (Trust funding should not exceed 50% of annual project costs)
• Details of how balance of funding will be secured
• Alignment with Trust objectives clearly demonstrated
• Connection to world trade education (or for non-trade projects, link to City of London/inner London)

Decision Timeline

• Review Schedule: Quarterly meetings (March, June, September, December indicated in guidance)
• Two-stage process:
• Education and Charities Committee reviews applications at their next scheduled meeting
• Suitable applications forwarded to Trustees with recommendations
• Trustees make final decisions at their subsequent meeting
• Typical timeline: Expect 2-3 months from submission to decision depending on meeting schedules
• Final decisions: The decision of the Trustees is final

Success Rates

Success rates are not published. The Trust does not disclose how many applications they receive or approve annually.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Given the quarterly review cycle and emphasis on original/innovative projects, unsuccessful applicants may wish to contact the Clerk for guidance before reapplying.

Application Success Factors

What the Trust is Looking For

Based on the Trust's own guidance and funding patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear alignment with world trade education: The Trust explicitly states that “furthering education and training in connection with the advancement of world trade” is their principal objective. Even if your project serves disadvantaged populations, demonstrate how it connects to skills needed in modern trade and commerce.

1. Originality and innovation: The Trust gives explicit “preference to projects that are original or innovative.” Don't just describe what you do - emphasize what makes your approach unique or groundbreaking.

1. Measurable outcomes: Applications must show “the scope of the project and its expected results must be clear and measurable.” Include specific metrics, targets, and evaluation methods.

1. Matched funding secured: With the requirement that grants should not exceed 50% of annual project costs, demonstrate you have (or have realistic plans for) the other funding sources. The application asks “how the balance of the funding need will be provided.”

1. Public identification potential: The Trust notes that “approved projects will normally be those with which the company can be publicly identified.” This suggests they want to support work they can proudly showcase as examples of their charitable impact.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects

The Trust has supported organizations including:

• Skills Builder: Funding for developing materials for secondary school aged children to develop leadership and enterprise skills
• XLP: Supporting young people from deprived inner city estates through performing arts and Arts Showcase events
• Blind in Business: Careers and technology training courses for blind school children and recruitment events for blind adults
• The Treloar Trust: Education, care, therapy, and independence training for young people with physical disabilities
• Create Arts: Using arts to work with disadvantaged people, including financial literacy programs
• Council for At-Risk Academics: Supporting academics subject to discrimination, persecution, or violence
• Maytree Suicide Respite Centre: Befriending services for those in suicidal crisis
• Young Enterprise: Programs empowering young people to harness personal and business skills

Strategic Tips

• Make the trade connection explicit: Even for projects serving disadvantaged youth or disabled people, frame your work in terms of employability skills, enterprise, business skills, or financial literacy
• Emphasize City of London links: For projects not directly related to world trade, a connection to the City of London or inner London is “desirable”
• Multi-year relationships possible: The Trust will consider long-term continuous projects with funding typically available for up to three consecutive years
• Small can be beautiful: Don't be put off by the relatively modest grant range - the Trust states “smaller amounts may be awarded from time to time” and appears to value impact over grant size
• Complete the form properly: The Trust explicitly states they “are not able to consider applications which have not been completed on our Funding Form” - use their format

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Education and skills focus is paramount: Every successful application demonstrates clear educational outcomes and skills development, particularly relating to employment, enterprise, or world trade
• Modest grants with potential for renewal: Typical grants of £1,000-£5,000 may seem small, but three-year commitments are possible, offering up to £15,000 total funding
• Quarterly decision cycle means planning ahead: With committee reviews followed by trustee meetings, allow 2-3 months for decisions and plan application timing around your project needs
• Trade connection is key: Even community or social welfare projects are more competitive when they demonstrate links to employability, business skills, or commercial understanding
• Measurability matters: This is a businesslike trust that values clear outcomes - quantify your impact wherever possible
• Innovation wins favor: Standard programs may struggle - emphasize what's original, pioneering, or experimental about your approach
• Use the official form: No exceptions - download it, complete it fully, and don't try alternative formats

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Settlement
• The Dischma Charitable Trust
• THE TRUEMARK TRUST
• Newby Trust Limited
• The Charterhouse Charitable Trust
• The Albert Dawson Educational Trust
• THE FARTHING TRUST
• Sir Halley Stewart Trust
• The Angus Lawson Memorial Trust
• The John Armitage Charitable Trust

References

• The Charity Commission Register of Charities. “THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF WORLD TRADERS CHARITABLE TRUST - 295832”. Accessed 28 January 2025. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=295832
• World Traders. “Applications for Funding”. www.world-traders.org. Accessed 28 January 2025. https://world-traders.org/applications-for-funding/
• World Traders. “Giving to Charities”. www.world-traders.org. Accessed 28 January 2025. https://world-traders.org/giving-to-charities/
• World Traders. “Who We Are”. www.world-traders.org. Accessed 28 January 2025. https://world-traders.org/who-we-are/
• World Traders. “What We Do”. www.world-traders.org. Accessed 28 January 2025. https://world-traders.org/what-we-do/
• World Traders. “Education and Charity”. www.world-traders.org. Accessed 28 January 2025. https://world-traders.org/education-charity/
• World Traders. “The Tacitus Lecture”. www.world-traders.org. Accessed 28 January 2025. https://world-traders.org/the-tacitus-lecture/
• World Traders. “The Tacitus Essay Prize”. www.world-traders.org. Accessed 28 January 2025. https://world-traders.org/what-we-do/the-tacitus-essay-prize/
• World Traders. “Company Officers”. www.world-traders.org. Accessed 28 January 2025. https://world-traders.org/company-officers/
• Wikipedia. “Worshipful Company of World Traders”. Accessed 28 January 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_World_Traders