Province of Cambridgeshire Masonic Benevolent Association

The Province of Cambridgeshire Masonic Benevolent Association (CMBA), established in 1882, is one of English Freemasonry's earliest centralized charitable bodies, automatically enrolling all Cambridgeshire Masonic lodge members to pool resources for charitable impact. Rooted in Masonic values of integrity, friendship, respect, and charity, its mission centers on raising and distributing funds to support Freemasons and their families facing illness, distress, or hardship, while advancing broader community welfare through local partnerships like the Cambridgeshire Charity for Care and Relief. It emphasizes collective responsibility, local stewardship, and enabling opportunities in healthcare, education, and independence, with historical support for national Masonic festivals like the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) focusing on health, wellbeing, and disaster relief.

CMBA prioritizes grants for Masonic charities, local health and welfare schemes (e.g., Cambridgeshire Teddies for Loving Care for traumatized children), relief for disadvantaged Masons/dependants, and community projects addressing social care, illness, and vulnerability. Beneficiaries span the internal Masonic community and wider Cambridgeshire groups, funding project grants, core support, hardship relief, healthcare, and occasional capital or appeals.

Eligibility is limited to UK-registered charities operating exclusively within Cambridgeshire's historic boundaries, with a preference for small- to medium-sized organizations (typically under £1M annual income) delivering direct local benefit aligned with Masonic social improvement values. Unsolicited applications are not accepted; charities must initiate via phone enquiry to the Provincial office, with trustees deciding at quarterly meetings (March, June, September, December) on pre-identified or recommended causes. Typical grants range £500–£5,000, rarely larger for major appeals. Distinctively Masonic-driven, it excludes commercial, private, or non-local entities, prioritizing enduring local impact over open calls.