Masonic Charitable Foundation

Financial Grants for Freemasons and their families

Means-tested grants from the Freemasons' Charity for Freemasons and people with a strong family connection to a Freemason who are in financial crisis or distress, to help with the costs of running a home or responding to an emergency. Besides general financial grants it gives specific help with rent and deposits, boiler replacement, white goods and furnishings, funeral costs and childcare costs, each considered case by case. Applicants must be claiming (or have applied for) the state benefits they are entitled to, and a Visiting Volunteer or adviser visits at home to help complete the application.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Amount not specified; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Individuals only: Freemasons and people with a strong family connection to a Freemason
The Freemason must be, or have been, a member of a lodge regulated by the United Grand Lodge of England (lodges in England and Wales, plus some overseas Districts and Groups, which have their own route)
He need not be a currently subscribing member but must have joined before the need arose; if membership has lapsed there is a set period after it ended within which an application can be made (contact the charity)
Strong family connection means the Freemason's married or life partner; widow or surviving partner; divorced or separated partner; child or stepchild, or grandchild or step-grandchild, in full-time education aged 25 and under
Other relatives may qualify if a Freemason has given them significant financial or physical support
Applicants must show a need, pass a financial assessment (grants are means tested), and be in receipt of, or have applied for, any state benefits they are entitled to

What it funds

Aim: to alleviate financial strain faced by Freemasons and their families in crisis or distress, helping with the costs of running a home or responding to an emergency:

Financial grants (most support takes this form)
Support for rent and security deposit
Boiler replacement
White goods and furnishings
Funeral costs
Childcare costs

this is not an exhaustive list; all support is considered on a case by case basis

the Advice and Support Team also helps applicants find and claim state and local authority benefits and other charities' help

How to apply

Speak to your lodge Almoner, or contact the Enquiries Team on 0800 035 60 90 or help@freemasonscharity.org.uk
The Enquiries Team listens to your situation and advises on all the ways the charity can support you (or directs you to other organisations if it cannot)
If you are eligible, a Visiting Volunteer or a member of the Advice and Support Team visits you at home to help you complete an application form
A member of the Grants Team processes the application and tells you the outcome

check you are claiming all state benefits you are entitled to first (the charity links to the Turn2us benefits calculator)

applicants from overseas Districts or Groups have a separate route; see the charity's overseas page

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.