Merchant Taylors' Foundation

The Foundation funds charities tackling disadvantage, poverty, ill-health, disability, and financial hardship. It supports project delivery and core costs, with an emphasis on initiatives that build resilience or improve efficiency. Priority causes include work with older people, disabled people, children, young people, and the unemployed. It also supports early years education in Lewisham through a joint programme with the Leathersellers' Foundation. The Foundation focuses on Hackney, Lewisham, Southwark, and Tower Hamlets, extending to bordering London boroughs and Greater London. It does not fund capital works.

Registered charities based in or working within Hackney, Lewisham, Southwark, or Tower Hamlets are eligible. The Foundation prioritises smaller charities, particularly those with modest annual incomes, followed by those with higher incomes. It supports work benefiting older people, disabled people, children, young people, and the general public. Charities operating in bordering London boroughs or wider Greater London may also be considered for certain programmes. There is no faith restriction.

The Foundation does not fund capital works or projects that fall outside its target London boroughs. It does not support large capital projects or work that is not aligned with its focus on tackling disadvantage, ill-health, disability, or poverty.

The Foundation offers both one-off and multi-year grants, with multi-year awards available up to three years. It funds both restricted project grants and unrestricted core cost support. Unsolicited applications are accepted. The Foundation prioritises evidence-based, catalytic funding that builds resilience and efficiency.