Melcren Limited

Melcren Limited is a grant-making charity established in 1982 and registered in England and Wales (charity number 284834), operating as a company limited by guarantee with a core mission to advance charitable purposes under English law, primarily through grants to other organisations for general charitable activities and the prevention or relief of poverty. Chaired since inception by Mr E Englander, alongside long-serving trustees Mrs N Weiss and Mrs M Wosner, it embodies a discreet, stewardship-focused ethos with robust governance in finance, risk, safeguarding, and conflicts, positioning it as a reliable intermediary funder rather than a direct service provider or thematic advocate.

It supports a broad, generalist range of charitable objectives, channeling all funds exclusively to UK-registered charities and voluntary bodies for unrestricted or core funding, project support, and welfare initiatives, with a practical emphasis on alleviating poverty and promoting general welfare across England and Wales—though its constitution permits grants abroad. No specific causes, interventions, demographics, or flagship projects are highlighted, reflecting a hands-off approach to enabling the charitable sector's infrastructure.

Eligible applicants are solely UK-registered charities based in the UK, with a preference for established organisations; no income thresholds are specified, but grassroots or new groups are unlikely due to the selection process. Melcren does not accept unsolicited applications—grants are awarded at trustees' ad hoc discretion, with no public processes, forms, deadlines, or rounds. Typical grant sizes and ranges are undisclosed, though total annual expenditure reached £550,892 in 2024, distributed modestly across recipients.

Distinctively discreet among UK funders, Melcren publishes no impact reports, strategic plans, exclusions beyond charity law compliance, or grantee lists, making it ideal for established charities seeking flexible, general-purpose support but unsuitable for direct services, partnerships, thematic alignment, or open-application seekers.