GrantRadar

The I T F Seafarers Trust

ITF Seafarers' Trust Grants for Organisations

The ITF Seafarers' Trust, a UK charity funded partly by the International Transport Workers' Federation, makes grants from £500 upwards to organisations anywhere in the world that support the welfare of seafarers, maritime workers and their families. There are four grant types: port-based welfare (seafarers' centres, ship visiting, clinics), vehicles for transporting and visiting seafarers, research, and general grants (welfare at sea or at home, training, conferences, publications and some operational support). Every application needs a signed endorsement from a maritime union affiliated to the ITF. Applications are made online at any time.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
From £500
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Organisations anywhere in the world that support the welfare of seafarers, maritime workers and their families: registered charities and non-profit organisations, educational institutions such as universities and colleges, trade unions and NGOs
  • The project must improve the health and well-being of seafarers, maritime workers and/or their families irrespective of nationality, religion, race, language, gender or rank
  • The organisation must have a constitution or set of rules and a bank account in its own name
  • Operational support is only for organisations with a proven record in seafarers' welfare
  • The amount asked for must be realistic for the size of the organisation, and the Trust considers your financial position

What it funds

  • Port based welfare: repairs and refurbishment of existing seafarers' centres, hotels, clinics and other port based facilities; equipment for them; and port based services such as ship visiting, Wi-Fi on board ships and counselling in port
  • Vehicles such as mini-buses, vans and cars to transport seafarers and undertake ship visiting, including replacing old vehicles
  • Research, and feasibility studies, focused on seafarers, their families or other maritime workers
  • Welfare at sea and welfare at home, including projects for seafarers' families
  • Training and education (scholarships and other training), conferences and events, and publications for or about seafarers and maritime workers
  • Operational support (general running costs) for a small number of organisations with a proven record in seafarers' welfare

What it will not fund

  • Grants to individuals
  • Projects already completed and paid for
  • Deficits already incurred
  • Projects that promote particular religious beliefs
  • Recurring costs
  • New seafarers' centres, except in particular circumstances (contact the Trust first)

How to apply

  1. Read the How to Apply Guide (updated 9 April 2026)
  2. If you are part of a larger organisation, discuss the request with your head office and get its support
  3. For port based welfare or vehicle requests, discuss your plans with your port welfare committee (if there is one) and get its support
  4. Get a signed endorsement letter from the President or General Secretary of a maritime union affiliated to the ITF (the Trust refers you to another country's union if there is none in yours)
  5. For vehicle requests, keep the Ship visitors' and transport log for 2 months
  6. Create a Blackbaud ID (BBID) on the Trust's Blackbaud Grantmaking portal, via 'Apply for a grant' and 'New applicant?'
  7. Choose the grant type (Port Based Welfare, Vehicles, Research or General) and complete the online form; for requests over £50,000 (except vehicles) attach the project proposal form
  8. Submit; the Trust may ask further questions, and may consult the port welfare committee or ITF affiliate
  9. Trustees decide; successful applicants receive a grant agreement

if the endorsing union wants to see the request first, you can submit without the endorsement and email it afterwards.

applicants who used the old system before May 2026 will likely need a new log-in.

Have ready

  • Signed endorsement letter from an ITF-affiliated maritime union's President or General Secretary
  • Most recent audited accounts
  • Head office support letter, if applicable
  • Two quotations, if applying for capital costs
  • Project proposal (template on the website), for requests over £50,000 except vehicles
  • Cost breakdown, if not in the project proposal
  • Ship visitors' and transport log covering 2 months, for vehicle requests
  • Organisation bank details (account name, IBAN, SWIFT code, bank name and address)

the larger the amount, the more supporting documents and checks are required.

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