Benefact Trust Limited

Could Benefact Trust Limited fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £5,000 – £25,000
Where they fund: UK, Ireland
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Online form

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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benefacttrust.co.uk

About Benefact Trust Limited

Benefact Trust Limited is an independent Christian grant-making trust that supports churches and Christian charities across the UK and Ireland. Its mission is to address social challenges and strengthen Christian communities, guided by values of compassion and renewal. The trust offers a range of programmes, including Community Impact Grants, Building Grants, and a dedicated Methodist Grants Programme. It also responds to major humanitarian crises overseas, supporting the most vulnerable. The trust’s approach combines heritage preservation with social action, funding both the fabric of church buildings and the communities they serve.

What Benefact Trust Limited funds

The trust funds work that addresses social challenges such as poverty, homelessness, isolation, loneliness, addiction, and substance misuse. It also supports projects that grow and sustain congregations, including faith development, youth work, church planting, and volunteer training. Building Grants focus on essential repairs, accessibility improvements, carbon reduction, and heritage stewardship. The Methodist Grants Programme supports building development for church growth, community engagement, and environmental benefit. All work must take place in the UK and Ireland. The trust funds core costs, salaries, project delivery, capital works, and equipment, depending on the programme.

Who can apply

Registered charities and faith groups based in the UK and Ireland are eligible to apply. The trust prioritises Christian organisations and churches. Schools can apply for Building Grants but not for the Community Impact programme. Beneficiaries include the general public. Applicants must have a minimum annual turnover and are expected to have at least 30% of project funding in place. The trust welcomes unsolicited applications.

What Benefact Trust Limited doesn't fund

The trust does not fund routine maintenance, works already undertaken, or purely aesthetic enhancements. Schools and hospices are not eligible for Community Impact Grants. Building Grants exclude offices, residences, external works, installation of new non-renewable heating systems, and purchase of buildings or musical instruments. The Methodist programme excludes general repairs and routine maintenance.

How they like to fund

The trust offers multi-year grants for some programmes and requires match funding, with applicants expected to have at least 30% of project costs in place. Funding can cover core costs, salaries, project delivery, capital works, or equipment, depending on the programme. They accept unsolicited applications and have a structured programme approach for different types of work.

How much does Benefact Trust Limited give?

Benefact Trust Limited runs 5 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 43 sourced facts

Building Grants

Up to £150,000

Online portal
Decisions in ~8 weeks
Multi-year funding
Match funding required

Community Impact Grants

Online portal
Multi-year funding
Match funding required

Crisis Response Grants

By invitation only

Methodist Grants Programme

Online portal
Decisions in ~12 weeks
Multi-year funding
Match funding required

Strategic Partnerships

By invitation only

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Benefact Trust Limited funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

Essential building repair, Congregational growth, Accessibility, Community use and impact, Carbon reduction and net zero, Heritage stewardship.

Where they fund

UKIreland

Costs they'll cover

Capital works & buildingsEquipmentCore costsSalariesProject delivery

They don't fund

Core costsSalariesProject deliveryCapital works & buildingsSchool

The full exclusions list (3)

Routine maintenance; works already undertaken; works normally eligible for cover under insurance; works to offices, residences and other buildings not in use for worship or other charitable public use; purely aesthetic enhancements not linked to repair; external works not part of the building (e.g. landscaping, gardens, play areas, car parks); installation of new non-renewable heating systems; purchase of buildings, organs, other musical instruments, portable PA systems, vehicles.
Schools and hospices are not eligible for this programme. This programme does not fund capital or building projects.
General repairs or routine maintenance. Grants are not awarded for general repairs or routine maintenance.

Good to know

FaithChristian only

Focus areas

FaithPoverty & hardshipCommunity

How to apply to Benefact Trust Limited

Benefact Trust Limited takes applications via online form.

Published programme route: online portal.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What Benefact Trust Limited's application asks

We hold the 17 questions from Benefact Trust Limited's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“Project title”

Question 2

“Project description”

15 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Benefact Trust Limited could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Benefact Trust Limited provide?

Benefact Trust Limited runs 5 grant programmes — Building Grants: Up to £150,000.

Where does Benefact Trust Limited fund charities?

Benefact Trust Limited funds charities operating in UK, Ireland.

Does Benefact Trust Limited accept unsolicited applications?

Benefact Trust Limited accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Benefact Trust Limited not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Routine maintenance; works already undertaken; works normally eligible for cover under insurance; works to offices, residences and other buildings not in use for worship or other charitable public use; purely aesthetic enhancements not linked to repair; external works not part of the building (e.g. landscaping, gardens, play areas, car parks); installation of new non-renewable heating systems; purchase of buildings, organs, other musical instruments, portable PA systems, vehicles.; Schools and hospices are not eligible for this programme. This programme does not fund capital or building projects.; General repairs or routine maintenance. Grants are not awarded for general repairs or routine maintenance.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Benefact Trust Limited?

Benefact Trust Limited takes applications via online form. Published programme route: online portal.