Maingot Charitable Trust
Could Maingot Charitable Trust be a fit? Check free — then find open funders like them if not.
- Typical grants
- £5,000 – £15,000
- Applications
- Existing partners only
- Decisions
- Bi annually
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.ukAbout Maingot Charitable Trust
The Maingot Charitable Trust, established in 1982, is a London-based grant-making trust dedicated to alleviating social and economic disadvantage among the UK's most underprivileged and marginalised groups. Its core mission focuses on tackling injustice and hardship for refugees, asylum seekers, victims of trafficking and slavery, prisoners, homeless individuals, people with disabilities, and disadvantaged children, by advancing access to welfare, legal rights, and basic needs.
With a values-driven ethos emphasising trust-based partnerships, the trust prioritises long-term, multi-year funding to foster stability and lasting change. Funding decisions are shaped closely by trustees' interests and personal networks rather than open competitions, making the trust a relational, non-competitive funder that works with organisations it already knows.
What Maingot Charitable Trust funds
The trust supports UK-registered charities delivering direct services, advocacy, legal aid, community support, rehabilitation, and core costs. It focuses on acute social exclusion and vulnerability, funding work that addresses the needs of refugees, asylum seekers, victims of trafficking, prisoners, homeless individuals, people with disabilities, and disadvantaged children. The trust also funds general welfare, legal rights, and basic needs.
Geographically, the trust supports organisations working across the UK, with occasional nods to its West Country roots. Rare overseas grants may be considered if aligned with trustee priorities. The trust favours grassroots to medium-sized organisations and funds both project and core costs, with a preference for long-term stability.
Who can apply
The trust works exclusively with UK-registered charities. It prioritises grassroots to medium-sized organisations that directly serve the most marginalised groups, including refugees, asylum seekers, victims of trafficking, prisoners, homeless individuals, people with disabilities, and disadvantaged children. Larger national charities are less likely to be considered. The trust's relational model means it typically funds organisations it already knows, so unsolicited applications are not accepted. There is no religious restriction on applicants.
What Maingot Charitable Trust doesn't fund
The trust does not fund large national charities or short-term projects. It also avoids causes outside its core mission of tackling injustice and hardship, such as work unrelated to social and economic disadvantage, rights, or welfare. Unsolicited applications are not accepted, and the trust does not run open application rounds.
How they like to fund
The trust offers long-term, multi-year funding to provide stability and fosters trust-based partnerships. It supports core costs as well as project costs. Funding decisions are made by trustees based on their knowledge and relationships, and the trust does not run open competitions. It works exclusively with existing partners and does not accept unsolicited approaches.
How much does Maingot Charitable Trust give?
Typical published range. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you would clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is the free fit check.
When to apply, and how long their decisions take.
Income, location, legal structure and exactly who they fund — matched to your charity.
Good to know
How to apply to Maingot Charitable Trust
Maingot Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation.
- A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
- If you cannot apply directly, shortlist open funders with a similar focus instead of writing into a closed door.
- Decisions are typically bi annually.
What you can do here
- 1Check fit. See if your project aligns with Maingot Charitable Trust.
- 2Find open funders. Shortlist similar funders you can approach.
- 3Save the notes. Keep the fit check if you are later invited to apply.
See if Maingot Charitable Trust could be a fit — then find open funders like them.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Maingot Charitable Trust provide?
Maingot Charitable Trust typically provides grants of £5,000 - £15,000.
Where does Maingot Charitable Trust fund charities?
Maingot Charitable Trust funds charities operating in the UK.
Does Maingot Charitable Trust accept unsolicited applications?
Maingot Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications.
How do I apply for funding from Maingot Charitable Trust?
Maingot Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation. A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
Similar funders
Other UK funders with overlapping focus — not a claim they fund the same charities.
Spotted something that needs correcting? Tell us.
Could Maingot Charitable Trust be a fit?
Check free — then find open funders like them.