Csis Charity Fund

The CSIS Charity Fund is an independent UK charity, operating for over a century and formally established as a charitable company in 2008, dedicated to relieving financial hardship, bereavement, and distress among serving, retired, and former civil and public servants—such as government employees, armed forces personnel, NHS staff, teachers, police, emergency services, and local government workers—and their families across England and Wales. Closely linked to the Civil Service Insurance Society (CSIS), a not-for-profit insurer, it channels the society's operating surplus into grants totaling hundreds of thousands annually, exceeding £12 million in recent decades. Its ethos emphasizes compassion, dignity, and practical, targeted aid through strategic partnerships, prioritizing proven impact over innovation.

The Fund primarily supports registered charities and not-for-profits delivering programme funding, emergency hardship grants, and welfare relief for public service communities, including retirees, bereaved families, young dependants, veterans, and those facing sudden income loss. Notable recipients include the Charity for Civil Servants, BT Benevolent Fund, Cavell Nurses' Trust, Railway Benefit Fund, and regional groups like Wishing Hearts Charity, focusing on urgent needs rather than core costs, capital projects, or long-term development.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities with a strong track record serving these beneficiaries, preferably medium-to-large organizations operating in England and Wales; small local groups may qualify at trustees' discretion, but no strict income limits apply. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—prospective partners must email secretary@csischarityfund.org for an invitation. Grants typically range from £5,000–£75,000 (often £15,000–£75,000, up to six figures for key partners), awarded annually in one main trustee meeting (spring/early summer), with rolling enquiries possible. Distinctively, it avoids generalist or unrestricted funding, research, and non-public-service causes, offering reliable relief uniquely sustained by CSIS surpluses.