Joseph Rank Trust

Objectives of Fund

The scheme is intended to support organisations which work to either advance the Christian faith or carry out other charitable purposes with consideration of a Christian approach to the practical, educational and spiritual needs of people.

Value Notes

There are no minimum or maximum levels of grant available. Each grant application is considered on its own merits.

The Trust will consider funding one-off grants for capital expenditure and three-year grants for running (core) costs.

Match Funding Restrictions

Applicants are required to ensure that they have other sources of funding or can match any funding the Trust might provide (not applicable for capital grants).

Who Can Apply

The Trust considers applications from registered charities, excepted or exempted charities in the UK.

Methodist churches can also apply (see the Trust's website for additional instructions for applications on behalf of churches).

Location

United Kingdom

Restrictions

The Trust does not consider applications for the following:

• Individuals.
• Overseas projects.
• Heritage charities or projects.
• Almshouses.
• Arts organisations.
• Hospices.
• Village halls.
• Schools.
• School PTAs.
• School boards and schools' governing bodies.
• 'Friends of' on behalf of PCCs.
• Social enterprises that have no charitable status.
• Franchise partners.
• Community interest companies.
• Community benefit societies (formerly industrial & provident societies).
• Non-Christian community trusts.
• Registered charities for the benefit of named individuals.
• Roof projects.
• Solar energy projects.
• Heating systems.
• Replacement boilers.
• Lighting conductors.
• Re-wiring looms.
• Replacement of windows with new frames or the repairing of existing window frames or repairing of existing glass.
• Delayed church maintenance, which may have been highlighted in Quinquennial reports and inspections (eg fabric, stonework, graveyard, pathway repairs, churchyard projects).
• Drainage projects.
• Car park projects.
• Purchase of or restoration of stain glass or church bells (including bellframes).
• Restoration projects.
• Provision of loans.
• To repay outstanding loans.
• Church organ repair/purchase/renewal projects.
• Completed capital projects.
• Educational scholarships or bursaries.
• Emergency grants.
• Sabbaticals.
• Choral training or choral performances.
• Research projects.
• Gap years.
• Intern placements.
• IT projects.
• Platform or e-based mission.
• Development of apps.
• Radio or TV stations.
• Artwork, paintings or sculptures.
• To publish books.
• Musical instruments.
• Touring opera or music companies.
• To provide or renew lighting.
• To provide or renew PA/loop systems/audio equipment or AV streaming equipment.
• To benefit the hospice movement.
• Payments to umbrella bodies or to third parties.

Eligible Expenditure

The Trust will consider funding one-off grants for capital expenditure and three-year grants for project funding/core costs.

The Trust's main areas of interest are as follows:

• Projects that demonstrate a Christian approach to the practical, educational and spiritual needs of people of all ages.
• The adaptation or improvement of church properties (including new build) with a view to providing improved facilities for use by the church and its work in the community in which it is based.

In considering all appeals, the Trustees take into account the primary objective of the Trust, which is to advance the Christian faith. After earmarking funds to support their main areas of interest, the Trustees are prepared to consider other unsolicited appeals.

Methodist Church applications:

The Trust is interested in considering the funding of the following missional themes:

• Family workers at church, circuit or district level.
• Youth workers at church, circuit or district level.
• Other areas of local home mission work. This will follow the Trust's interpretation of what home mission is, which can be expressed as supporting the Church's role within the community.
• Property schemes which improve the facilities for church and community use (the Trust does not consider completed projects or delayed church maintenance).

How To Apply

The Trust is not accepting any further grant applications for the April 2025 trustee meeting (except those from Methodist Churches). The next meeting is in July 2025. Applicants should post their application after 1 May 2025.

There are no application forms and written applications should be submitted in hard copy, not by email. Applicants should endeavour to set out the essential details of the project on two sides of A4 paper (plus a separate covering letter) including:

• What the organisation is doing, why they are doing it and what they aspire to do differently.
• Who is benefiting from the mission outreach. (If it is a building project applicants must provide evidence of existing mission, how this mission will grow in the future, and confirm that the faculty has been granted - if appropriate - and planning permission has been secured).
• How the sustainability of the work will be ensured beyond the Trust's funding.

Methodist Church applications have a separate application process and must be submitted through Synod secretaries to ensure district approval and/or knowledge of the application (see Trust's website for more details).

The Joseph Rank Trust is 'approachable and welcomes queries'. Applicants should contact the Trust Secretary if they are in doubt about whether their work fits with the Trust's areas of interest.

Contact the Joseph Rank Trust for further information.