Stock Exchange Benevolent Fund

The Stock Exchange Benevolent Fund (SEBF), established in 1801 as the Society for the Relief of Decayed Members and renamed in 1877, is one of the UK's oldest occupational benevolent funds, dedicated exclusively to providing discreet financial relief to former members of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and their dependants facing hardship. Governed by trustees and a committee with deep financial sector expertise, SEBF embodies values of compassion, prudence, welfare, and community solidarity, delivering positive life changes through direct aid amid financial distress, ill health, bereavement, disability, age, or other adversities. Its mission remains unchanged: targeted support for the LSE community, sustained by investments and bequests.

SEBF funds personal relief needs such as living expenses, care costs, health-related support, and crisis aid via one-off payments, short-term grants, or ongoing assistance, reviewed case-by-case. Beneficiaries are strictly individuals—former LSE members, retirees, or their immediate families—with UK-wide reach, prioritising those in England but without geographic limits beyond the occupational link.

Eligibility requires a verifiable LSE connection; organisations, charities, and those without this tie are ineligible. No income thresholds, religious restrictions, or entity types apply—only individuals qualify. Applications start with a phone enquiry, website form, or letter, followed by a detailed form and possible home visit by the Secretary. Cases go to quarterly Committee meetings (March, June, September, December), with emergencies handled swiftly; no fixed deadlines, accepting year-round submissions. Grants typically range from hundreds to several thousand pounds, tailored to need.

Distinctive for its narrow, legacy-focused remit, SEBF avoids broader grantmaking, organisational funding, or projects, offering confidential, dignified aid that sets it apart from generalist funders—ideal for referrals aligning with LSE distress support.