Cheshire Freemasons' Charity

Cheshire Freemasons' Charity (CFC), officially registered in 1963 with roots in over 300 years of Cheshire Freemasonry, is a provincial Masonic charity dedicated to providing relief to Freemasons in the Province of Cheshire and their dependants, while making grants to both Masonic and non-Masonic charities. Governed by annually elected trustees and supported by the Provincial Grand Master, CFC embodies Freemasonic values of service, fellowship, and generosity, channeling member-funded resources—through voluntary giving and fundraising—into sustainable community impact. Distinctive for its uniquely Freemasonic structure, it mobilizes a large local membership for financial aid, volunteering, and collaborative campaigns like the 2027 Masonic Charitable Foundation Festival.

CFC funds a broad spectrum of causes, prioritizing hospices, youth and children's organizations, mental health services, foodbanks, medical research and care, and small local charities addressing financial hardship. Grants support project costs, core funding, specific programmes, and occasionally capital or equipment needs, targeting vulnerable groups to enhance wellbeing, community resilience, and charitable infrastructure across Cheshire.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities physically located in or serving Cheshire (including Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wirral), with a preference for smaller grassroots groups though larger institutions qualify; no religious restrictions apply, and organization income is considered but not strictly limited. CFC does not accept unsolicited applications—grants arise from trustee nominations, Freemason recommendations, or direct outreach to identified charities—with no fixed deadlines or rounds; decisions occur ad hoc via periodic trustee meetings. Typical grants range from £1,000 to £30,000, with £1 million distributed in 2023, including major £30,000 awards. This member-exclusive, flexible, regionally focused approach sets CFC apart as a responsive partner for Cheshire's pressing needs.