Benefact Trust

Methodist Grants

Benefact Trust's Methodist Grants programme funds capital building work for Methodist churches and organisations across the UK and Ireland, including the Methodist Church in Ireland. Funded primarily by donations from Methodist Insurance PLC, it backs building development projects and essential repair and maintenance that support mission and ministry, with priorities of church growth, community engagement, accessibility and environmental benefit. Two things shape an application more than anything else: you must already have at least 30% of your total project costs secured before you can even submit the form, and you never ask for a figure - the Trust's Grants Officers calculate the grant from your total project costs, with a possible uplift for deprivation in your area.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Amount not specified; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Heavy; budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

Methodist Districts and Circuits, individual Methodist churches that are part of the Methodist Connexion, and organisations associated with the Methodist Church in Britain or the Methodist Church in Ireland
The programme also supports some heritage sites deemed by the Connexion to be important in telling the story of Methodism
It covers the UK and the Republic of Ireland: East Belfast Mission and Methodist Church in Ireland premises are explicitly in scope, and Irish applicants need MCI Property Board approval PB03-stage A before applying
Benefact Trust's FAQs add its general requirement that applicants are registered charities with a minimum annual turnover of £25,000, or hold excepted status
You must have secured at least 30% of total project costs before applying, and a clear plan for the rest - the Trust says it should not be assumed it will cover the whole shortfall
If you have had a Methodist Grant or Building Improvement Grant in the last two years you must wait; a Roof Protection Scheme or Community Impact grant in that period does not block you provided the new application is for a different project
If your Methodist Grant application is unsuccessful you may apply to the Building Improvements Grants programme instead

What it funds

Capital building development, and repair and maintenance work that is essential to ongoing mission and ministry. Specifically:

Significant redevelopment of buildings identified as key to the future mission objectives of a Circuit or District
Work providing disabled access and facilities
Schemes bringing significant community benefit beyond the immediate congregation, backed by evidence from community consultation
Initiatives with a clear environmental benefit

For repair and maintenance you must show a clear strategy forming part of your Circuit's plan for mission, with strong District and Circuit support; 'essential' means work that, if not carried out, would stop the organisation functioning.

Grants are contributions towards capital costs only - there is no revenue costs table in the application form for this programme.

What it will not fund

Revenue and running costs - only capital costs can be claimed under this programme
General repairs or routine maintenance
Applicants who have received a grant through the Methodist Grants programme or the Building Improvement Grants programme within the last two years
Applications where less than 30% of total project costs has already been secured - the form cannot be submitted until that level of funding is in place

How to apply

Read the Methodist Grants programme guidance PDF in full before starting
Secure at least 30% of your total project costs - you cannot submit the form until you have
If you are applying for energy efficiency works, first check your plans with your insurance company, carry out a feasibility study or eco audit, and get the Connexion's Net Zero Property Officer's agreement
Obtain a signed letter or email of endorsement from your District Property Secretary or District Chair (for Methodist Church in Ireland premises, obtain MCI Property Board PB03-stage A 'Permission in Principle' instead/as well)
Register on Benefact Trust's online application portal, accessed from the Methodist Grants page
Complete the six-section application form - organisation details, contact details, project details, impact, costs and income, safeguarding and declarations. You can save your progress and return to it
Submit; you will receive a confirmation email

you are not asked to request a specific amount - you present total project costs and other funding secured, and the Trust's Grants Officers calculate the grant, possibly with a deprivation uplift

there are no fixed deadlines; applications are considered on a rolling basis and the Methodist Grant Giving Committee meets several times a year

if awarded, you log back into the portal to accept the terms and enter bank details, and complete an online report form one year after the award

Have ready

A signed letter or email of endorsement from your District Property Secretary or District Chair, scanned and uploaded
At least one photograph of your church or project
Details of your total project costs and the other funding you have secured (minimum 30%)

for energy efficiency measures, an eco audit is mandatory under the Methodist Grants programme

for projects on Methodist Church in Ireland premises, MCI Property Board approval PB03-stage A, available from the MCI Property Board Secretary

capital applications also ask about your legal interest in the building, building use numbers, listed or at-risk status, and whether consents and permissions are in place

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.