Our Programmes

Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust generally funds work under one of the six programme headings listed below.

Using the menu on the left, you can find out more about each programme area, including:

why we are interested in funding in this issue
what kind of work we will fund (policy sheet)
where to go if you want to find out more about the issues
who we have funded in the past

Peace
Work that promotes the nonviolent resolution of conflict, including work on the arms trade, the creation of a culture of peace, developing effective peacebuilding measures and supporting the right to conscientious objection to military service.

Racial justice
Work which promotes racial justice in all parts of society, including empowering black and minority ethnic people to engage in decision making and policy development, and work which monitors and challenges racism and racial injustice whether relating to colour or culture.

Power and responsibility
Work that encourages an appropriate relationship between people and the institutions that affect them; including the promotion of accountability, openness, responsiveness and a respect for human rights across the public and private sectors.

Quaker concerns
Work that helps to deepen the spiritual life of the Society of Friends or that develops Quaker responses to problems of our time.

Ireland and Northern Ireland
Work that supports the ongoing development of a just and peaceful society in both jurisdictions, through enhancing civil liberties and human rights, encouraging dialogue and co-operation across divides and promoting creative ways to handle conflict.

South Africa (KwaZulu Natal only)
The Trust's programme in South Africa is now closed to new applications. Existing grants will be paid. The programme has supported work that promotes a just and peaceful South Africa, particularly through the reduction of rural poverty and addressing the problems of violent conflict on all levels of society.

Note
Most grants made under the first four programmes are to organisations based in Britain for work at a national level. The Trust also supports a small number of organisations under these four programmes that are based elsewhere in Europe for work at a European level.

We try to maintain an adventurous approach to funding. Where appropriate, we are willing to take risks and fund unpopular causes which may not always fall neatly into one of the programme areas listed above.

Information on how to apply can be found in the grant applications section of this website.