Master Charitable Trust

The Master Charitable Trust, established in 2011 by C. Hoare & Co. (charity number 1139904), operates as a donor-advised fund offering a flexible, professionally managed alternative to individual charitable trusts. Backed by Hoares Trustees Limited for administration, compliance, and due diligence, it simplifies philanthropy for individuals, families, and companies, enabling tax-efficient giving aligned with the bank's centuries-old tradition of public benefit. Core values emphasize transparency, rigorous governance per Charity Commission and HMRC standards, donor personalization, and intergenerational legacy planning—donors create named Giving Funds, recommend grants, and can involve successors or direct assets to causes like the Hoare family’s Golden Bottle Trust.

As a generalist funder, it supports a broad spectrum of UK-compliant charitable purposes worldwide, including education, health, poverty relief, disability support, overseas aid, arts/heritage, amateur sport, animal welfare, environment, community/economic development, armed forces, human rights, equality, and recreation. Beneficiaries span children, youth, older people, disabled individuals, ethnic minorities, the general public, and other charities, with grants to registered charities, voluntary bodies, and organizations from small local groups to national/international entities—reflecting diverse donor priorities rather than fixed strategies.

It does not accept unsolicited applications; all grants stem from donor recommendations on a rolling basis, verified by trustees in regular internal meetings (no public deadlines). No income/size restrictions apply, nor geographic limits beyond UK charitable standards. Typical grants vary widely, from low thousands to hundreds of thousands of pounds, covering project funding, core costs, unrestricted support, capital, and capacity building. Distinctively donor-led with no thematic exclusions (beyond non-charitable activities), it excels for philanthropists seeking scalable, hassle-free giving without administrative burdens.