The Forrester Family Trust supports excellent smaller charities to unlock change for people facing significant disadvantage.
The Trust has recently announced an open call for applications for its Themed Grants.
The theme for the year ended 31st March 2024 is Immediate Needs as a Result of the Cost-of-Living Crisis. Grants up to a maximum of £40,000 will be available to charities with a turnover of less than £5 million. Online applications will be accepted between 1st and 31st July 2023. The Trust has £600,000 to distribute.
The Trust will award grants according to the following four priorities.
1. Improve the quality of life of individuals and families
o The Trust will have a broad view of what quality of life means and the range of ways in which quality of life can be improved. It will look for interventions in places where people and communities are suffering multiple disadvantages, and target the giving in the gaps between state provision and the commercial sector.
2. Invest in well run organisations. Grants will be made to charities:
o That are able to articulate the difference they will make (either through a formal Theory of Change or by answering the application questions).
o With a track record of doing good work or with a fantastic new idea, and
o Who file their accounts on time and can demonstrate good governance.
3. Ensure grant-making rigour. The Trust will
o Set clear criteria that are widely communicated, in good time and review these annually.
4. Give with confidence. The Trust will
o Use research and acquired understanding to confidently invest.
o Accept that not all grants will have the desired effect and seek to understand the reasons for that, and
o Take a measured risk with the limited resources.
The Trust is accepting applications that:
o Are made by charities registered in England and Wales.
o Come through this online application process, and
o Are made by charities with an income of less than £5m a year in respect of themed grants.
Further information, guidance and a short application form is available on the Trust’s website.
The deadline for applications is Monday 31st July 2023.
