# Applications to Masonic Charitable Foundation almost double in a year

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/01/13/applications-to-masonic-charitable-foundation-almost-double-in-a-year/
- Published: 2020-01-13T08:00:28+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Applications from charities across England and Wales to the Freemasons’ national
grant-giving charity have nearly doubled over the last year, according to its latest
Impact Report.**

The [Masonic Charitable Foundation](https://mcf.org.uk) (MCF) received 4,127 applications
for grants in 2018/19. This is up from the previous year’s 2,597, its Better Times
report states.

Charities and individuals received a share of £18 million of grants made by the 
MCF over the last 12 months. This is a rise of a million pounds on the previous 
year, with the £18 million figure part of an estimated £45 million contributed by
Freemasonry as a whole to charity across England and Wales in 2018/19.  Freemasons
also provided an estimated five million hours of voluntary work during the year.

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Among other projects, the MCF has forged major partnerships with Age UK and Hospice
UK, backed a programme of support for PhD students to carry out vital research into
degenerative diseases and given £165,000 in emergency grants to help relief efforts
following natural disasters, including major floods in Bangladesh, the cyclone in
India and the volcanic eruption in Guatemala.

The Masonic Charitable Foundation is funded entirely by Freemasons, their families
and friends, from across England and Wales.

David Innes, Chief Executive of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, said:

> “This has been another year of growth for the MCF, which is firmly established
> in the charity sector as a major grant-giving organisation. Charity has always
> been at the heart of Freemasonry, and it’s clear that Freemasons across the country
> are giving more help and support to vulnerable people than ever before.”

 

Main image: A representative from West Lancashire Freemasons visiting a research
project of the Versus Arthritis charity, which has received £160,000 from the MCF
to fund a PhD research student.

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