Fowler Smith and Jones Trust (FSJ Charities)

Fowler Smith and Jones Trust grants

The Fowler Smith and Jones Trust gives grants to UK charities for projects and groups in Essex, across arts, churches, community, medical, youth and miscellaneous causes. It considers core funding, projects, refurbishment of premises and equipment, and the average grant is £2,000-£3,000. There is no application form: you write in with a short description of your organisation, the project and its costs, and your latest accounts. Trustees meet in February, May and September.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Amount not specified; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Light; short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

UK-based charities whose objectives meet the Trust's criteria, for projects and groups within Essex (the Trust makes awards throughout the county; recent grantees include charities in Southend and Thurrock)
National charities can apply for specific Essex-based projects
Applicants need a bank account in the charity's name, or must explain how funds are managed and by whom
Previous grantees must wait at least 12 months before reapplying (in practice about 16 months, given the meeting dates), and after three consecutive grants must wait two years

What it funds

Projects and groups within Essex, either directly or through national charities for specific Essex-based projects, in these categories:

Arts
Churches
Community
Medical
Miscellaneous
Youth
Core funding, project-based initiatives, refurbishment of premises and equipment costs may all be considered

very occasionally, larger capital grants may be considered; these need in-depth discussion and a visit from the Administrator before any formal application.

What it will not fund

Individuals
Political activities
Festivals
Animal charities
Commercial ventures
Parish Councils
Overseas charities
Direct replacement of statutory funding, or activities that are primarily the responsibility of local or central government
Annual grants (at least 12 months must pass before applying again)

How to apply

Write to the Trust (there is no application form) with a brief description of the organisation (no more than two A4 pages), including staff and volunteer numbers
Include an outline of the project or need (including core funding if required), the total cost and the size of grant applied for
Include your latest accounts with a current summary of fundraising, and an indication of wider community use and who will benefit
Confirm the charity's bank account details (or how funds are managed), whether two or more signatories are needed or what expenditure controls are in place, and give postal, email and telephone contact details
Send it to the Grant Administrators (plangran@fsjtrust.org.uk, or 3rd Floor, Marlborough House, Victoria Rd. South, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1LN) before the deadline for the next trustees' meeting (February, May or September)
The Grant Administrators may visit before or after an award; successful applicants send a brief evaluation report within 12 months

the office is staffed two days a week, and messages are answered when staff are next in.

Have ready

A brief description of the organisation, no more than two A4 pages
An outline of the project or needs and its total costing
A copy of your latest accounts, including a current summary of your fundraising

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