Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
We primarily support programmes which have a focus on climate change, sustainable development or on
improving the quality of life in poorer communities. Generally, we do not accept unsolicited approaches,
unless they are exceptional proposals which closely fit our specific areas of interest. For further details
please see our categories page.
The trustees take a proactive approach to the work they wish to support, employing
a range of specialist staff and advisers to research their areas of interest and bring
forward suitable proposals. It should therefore be understood that the majority of
unsolicited proposals we receive will be unsuccessful.
We support registered charities and not-for-profit organisations. The purpose for
which you are applying to us must be legally charitable and your constitution must allow
you to carry out the work that you propose.
The Trust does not normally fund: individuals for projects, educational fees or to join expeditions;
support for a general appeal or circular; work that is routine or well-proven elsewhere or with a low
impact; or work that is the responsibility of central or local government, health trusts or health
authorities, or which are substantially funded by them. We never support retrospective funding,
that is work that has already been completed.
Do not apply to more than one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. Each application
will be considered by each trust which may have an interest in this field.
You should outline why the project is needed; the aims and objectives of the project; how,
when and where the project will be delivered; who will benefit from the project and in what
way; and how the project will continue once your funding has come to an end. You should also
include an income and expenditure budget and details of any funding that has either been
secured or applied for. Please also provide a description of the organisation.
If you would like to apply to the Trust you should send a brief description of the proposed
project to:
Alan Bookbinder
Director
Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts
1st Floor Allington House
150 Victoria Street
London SW1E 5AE
Alternatively, you can email your application to ashdentrust@sfct.org.uk
All applications will receive our standard acknowledgement
letter. If your proposal is a candidate for support from one
of the trusts, you will hear from us within 6-8 weeks of the
acknowledgement. Applicants who do not hear from us within 8
weeks of the acknowledgement must assume they have been unsuccessful.
These will be outlined by letter if you are offered a grant. Sometimes additional
conditions will be added to take account of a particular aspect of a grant.
Yes, we ask all organisations applying for grants to provide a full set of accounts.
The Trust has a monitoring and evaluation policy that includes grant recipients
completing a progress report at the end of each year of funding.
We don't have the resources to visit all organisations that apply to us, or that
receive a grant from us. We do visit some projects to find out how the work is going,
what is being achieved and any lessons resulting from it. We will contact you if we would
like to visit your work.
If you are applying to us for funding for a project which is your only work in the
financial year (and you have no other core costs) then we just need the budget for that
project. If it is one of a number of projects you will be doing in a financial year,
but you have no other core costs then we will need to see a summary of all the budgets.
If your organisation is new and has no financial history (i.e. this is your first project
or first year of activity) you do not need to send any additional financial information. If
your organisation does not have accounts but has a financial history (even if you are less
than a year old or have only completed one project) then you should send the final budget
figures either for the first year of your work, or the most recent projects.
If you are applying for a social investment loan, we will need to comply with specific
criteria and we would ask you to contact us to discuss this in more detail. You will be
required to provide a business plan and we will ask for your project to be independently
assessed.
