Sussex Masonic Charitable Foundation, CIO

The Sussex Masonic Charitable Foundation embodies Masonic values of service, benevolence, and community solidarity, with a mission to relieve sickness, preserve health, advance education, and prevent poverty among those in hardship, prioritizing local Sussex impact through pragmatic, partnership-driven grantmaking. Their philosophy balances targeted aid for Freemasons and dependents facing financial distress with broader welfare support, believing sustainable change arises from community-embedded interventions, evidence-based local action, and collaborative Masonic-voluntary sector alliances fostering resilience, empowerment, and mutual aid.

They fund health preservation via hospices delivering respite care, palliative support, and end-of-life services for elderly with dementia, complex health needs, and chronic conditions; hospital initiatives like comforting programs for children and young people in emergency units addressing acute illness, isolation, and emotional distress; poverty relief through food banks tackling food insecurity, financial hardship, and crisis support for families and isolated individuals; education advancement via scout groups and youth organizations providing mentoring, outdoor activities, skills training, after-school clubs, and employability support for young people at risk of exclusion; community welfare encompassing therapeutic activities, peer support groups, and day services strengthening social cohesion for carers, disabled people, and those experiencing social isolation. Interventions emphasize preventative relief, person-centred care, community-led delivery, and holistic wellbeing to mitigate hardship root causes.

Exclusions encompass non-charitable activities, national organizations lacking Sussex ties, and projects without proven local community benefit. Priorities target Sussex Freemasons, dependents, and families in poverty or health crises, alongside voluntary groups serving elderly residents, children with health needs, youth facing barriers, and carers in rural or underserved Sussex communities. Distinctive as a Masonic-rooted generalist funder, they champion match-funding with local lodges, grassroots partnerships, Freemason-nominated causes, and a Sussex-first ethos valuing established organizations with strong community connections, due diligence, and tangible welfare outcomes.