St Clare and St Francis Trust

The Trust supports international development, humanitarian relief, poverty alleviation, human rights, social justice and the empowerment of vulnerable groups. Its priorities include people living in poverty, communities affected by conflict and those facing systemic barriers to opportunity. Funded activities range from capacity building and direct relief projects to advocacy and sustainable community development, covering both immediate interventions and longer-term systemic change. The Trust works through UK-registered charities delivering programmes across the globe, with no geographic limits on where beneficiaries are located. Support is directed towards project, capacity and relief costs rather than capital or endowment requests.

Eligible applicants are exclusively UK-registered charities. The Trust prefers small to medium-sized organisations, though it does not set strict size limits. Charities working internationally are welcome, and there are no geographic restrictions on the communities they serve. The Trust is open to organisations from any faith background or none, and it prioritises work that reaches the poverty-affected, conflict-affected and systemically excluded groups described above. Because partners are selected through internal networks, the Trust does not consider unsolicited applications.

The Trust does not generally fund capital campaigns, building projects or endowment appeals. It directs its support to project, capacity and relief costs instead. Because it works by invitation through pre-existing relationships, it does not accept applications that arrive unsolicited.

The Trust works proactively, selecting partners through internal networks rather than through open calls. It values pre-existing relationships and an ethical focus, and it makes substantial commitments in support of each chosen partner. Funding is directed primarily to project, capacity and relief costs, rather than capital or endowments.