Coopers Charity CIO

Coopers Charity CIO, established in December 2013 as the principal charitable arm of the Worshipful Company of Coopers, upholds a centuries-old livery tradition of philanthropy rooted in London and the South East. Its mission focuses on alleviating need, hardship, and distress—particularly in Greater London, Surrey, and among company members' dependents—while advancing education, preserving heritage, and promoting welfare. Guided by values of compassion, stewardship, and community continuity, it prioritises targeted interventions for vulnerable individuals, educational bursaries at Coopers’ Company and Coborn School and Strode’s College, heritage conservation at Coopers’ Hall, and support for local charities aiding the elderly, youth, and disadvantaged.

The charity funds education (scholarships, school support, coopering trade opportunities), social welfare (hardship relief for individuals and communities), and heritage projects (archives, artefacts, public access), alongside discretionary aid to aligned causes. Beneficiaries include UK-registered charities and academic institutions with ties to the City of London, Coopers’ community, or its schools; no strict income thresholds apply, but it favours established organisations demonstrating mission alignment. Geographic focus spans Greater London, Surrey, and Essex, with flexibility for relevant priorities.

Grants vary by need—multi-year bursaries, core/project funding, conservation awards—with no published ranges or minimums, decided via trustee discretion. Applications are invite-only; start with phone enquiry to the charity clerk, as unsolicited submissions are not accepted, and no fixed deadlines or open rounds exist—decisions occur at ad hoc trustee meetings. Distinctive for its livery heritage emphasis, it avoids broad generalist funding, excluding unrelated activities, and excels in sustaining long-term partnerships over one-off grants, ideal for London-connected education, welfare, or preservation initiatives.