The Freemasons' Grand Charity
... so what's that all about then?

From its earliest origins, Freemasonry has had Charity as one of its three core values. The other two being Friendship and Integrity. Over the years, several bodies have administered Masonic Charity in the English Constitution. The Grand Charity was established in 1981 as an independent body in succession to the Board of Benevolence of the United Grand Lodge of England. It is a Registered Charity (No. 281942). 

The Grand Charity is dedicated to:

• Providing relief for distressed Masons and their dependants. Grants range from £250 to £4,000 in any one year and are awarded for essential daily living expenses; disability equipment (wheelchairs, stair-lifts, baths, etc); unexpected needs (redundancy, outstanding funeral bills, etc).

• Making grants to non-Masonic charities operating throughout England and Wales to support a wide range of issues of social care, youth development and medical research. The current guidelines of the Grand Charity provide that grants may be given in support of: Disability, Health, Vulnerable People, Youth Opportunities, Medical Research, Hospices.
   

• Responding to disasters and emergencies anywhere in the world. Grants are made throughout the year at the discretion of the President of The Grand Charity. Since 1981 over £1 million has been given to support relief efforts for victims of disasters worldwide.
   

• Administering the Relief Chest Scheme for Lodges' charitable work. The Scheme offers individual accounts that can be used to accumulate funds collected by Masonic Lodges for charitable purposes. The funds are pooled in order to earn a higher interest rate and tax relief on donations can be claimed centrally.

• Supporting the other National Masonic Charities when necessary

The three other National Masonic Charities are:

The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (est. 1982) which seeks to relieve poverty and provide an education and preparation for life for the children of the family of a Freemason and, where funds permit, for any children, as their fathers would have done had they been able to do so.

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (est. 1850) which seeks to help and care for older Freemasons and their Families mainly in their network of Residential homes all of which have nursing care. Some are also able to deal with special needs such as Alzheimer's disease

The Masonic Samaritan Fund (est. 1990) which seeks to relieve distress for Freemasons, their wives, widows and dependents who have identified medical needs, which are not readily available from the NHS, and who cannot afford to fund private medical treatment.