Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
For a full explanation of all eligibility requirements please see our eligibility page.
We don’t have our own charity number. Can we apply using the charity number of a head office?
Yes, but only if you have written permission to do so from your head office.
If you are part of a larger or a national charity, with the same charity number, and legally governed by the same board of trustees, we require your larger/national charity to provide written permission which must be sent in with the application. Please be aware that we are only able to accept one application per charity number and re-application rules will apply to that number, regardless of whether a different branch of the charity or head office has applied under that same registration number.
Does our charity need to have its own bank account to be eligible to apply?
Yes the charity is required to have its own bank account for us to transfer the payment. We will require proof of BACS details before the payment will be authorised.
We have been in operation for several years but have recently merged with another charity and therefore have a new charity number. Can we still apply for funding?
You must have at least one year’s published accounts as the merged organisation.
Completing an application
Do you have deadlines?
No, we have a rolling programme for both Small and Large Grants.
My application fits more than one of the Freemasons’ Charity’s priority areas. Which one should I apply for?
When you apply you will be prompted to choose the target group that best describes the project beneficiaries, and you may only pick one.
Do applications require the support or a reference from a Freemason?
No – your charity does not require a connection to a Freemason.
If you are a Freemason who is interested in referring a charity for a grant, please do not hesitate to share our website with the organisation or give them our contact details so we can advise them on how to apply.
How will I know if you have received my expression of interest / application?
You will receive a copy of your submission immediately as receipt by email.
If changes occur to our organisation after we have submitted our expression of interest or application, do we need to inform the Freemasons’ Charity?
Yes, please make sure that you keep us updated of any material changes at the charity. This is especially important if your contact details change, or if the person who submitted the application leaves your organisation.
Do you allow overhead costs to be included in Large Grants?
Yes, you can apply for a proportion of the charity’s overheads alongside direct project costs. A full breakdown of all costs must be uploaded using our budget template at the final application stage.
Do you fund salaries in Large Grants?
Yes. Staff integral to delivering the project can be included as direct project expenditure, whereas other support staff should be included in overheads.
Do you fund new/pilot projects in Large Grants?
Yes, we do fund new/pilot projects.
It is important that you can demonstrate the need and demand for the service and that your organisation is well placed to deliver the project.
What is the Freemasons’ Charity’s position on charities using AI to help complete applications?
Please read our statement on applicants’ use of AI.
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Decision making process
How are successful grantees selected?
All charities will be assessed against the strength of information in their application, as well as due diligence on finance and governance. Guidance on what we are looking for is included in the application, and our application forms can be previewed on our application guidelines page.
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How long will I have to wait for a decision?
Both Small and Large Grant applications submit an expression in interest and we aim to provide a decision on these within 2 weeks.
For Small Grants, charities successful at this initial stage are invited to submit a final application and have 4 weeks from the date they are invited to apply. The Freemasons’ Charity aims to provide a decision on final applications approximately 3 months after the initial expression of interest.
For Large Grants, charities successful at the expression of interest stage are invited to a short virtual meeting to discuss their project in more detail. The Freemasons’ Charity then decides which charities should be invited through to the final application stage, and applicants have 4 weeks from the invitation date to apply. We aim to provide a decision on final applications approximately 5 months after the initial expression of interest.
All applications are assessed by Freemasons’ Charity staff and feedback is also invited from the relevant local Masonic Province. Our Charity Grants Committee is responsible for making a final decision and meet regularly throughout the year.
Do you provide feedback on unsuccessful applications?
Yes, we will provide feedback at whichever stage your application is rejected.
What are the most common reasons applications are unsuccessful?
The most common reason expressions of interest are unsuccessful is that the beneficiaries of the charity or project are not a close fit with the Freemasons’ Charity’s target priority groups. In addition, because we are funded by Freemasons across England and Wales we aim to have a proportionate geographic spread of grants. We also aim to achieve a proportionate spread of grants across each of our target priority groups.
The most common reasons full applications are unsuccessful are that applicants have provided less robust supporting evidence to demonstrate either the need for the service or the impact of the service on beneficiaries. Applicants may also have not addressed each point in the application guidance.
What are our chances of success?
Unfortunately the Freemasons’ Charity receives many more applications than we can support which causes us to turn down many of the charities that apply to us.
We receive approximately 1,200 expressions of interest to our Small and Large grants programmes each year, and we are ultimately able to fund around 150 charities.
At the final application stage we are able to fund approximately 40% of applicants on average throughout the year.