New Donor Registered

The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust is one of four organisations responsible for distributing the legacies of Joseph and Benjamin Rowntree. Father and son were members of the Quaker chocolate dynasty that bears their name, and were both known for their philanthropy and work promoting social reform.

The Reform Trust differs from it’s sister organisations in that it is not a charity and prioritises political donations to campaigns and parties that further the Trusts’ political objectives. These include “electoral reform…building an open and responsive democracy…and supporting a thriving democratic culture”.

The Rowntree Reform Trust have pledged £40,000 to Labour Together over the next 6 months “to prioritise the democratic reform agenda inside the Labour Party”. Other recipients of funding from the Trust include the Alliance Party of N.I., the Liberal Democrats, Make Votes Matter, Unlock Democracy and Institute For Public Policy Research.

In the last available accounts for the Trust, the Directors report net assets of £45.2 Million in 2021, with £1.85 Million given in grants and £1.9 Million approved for further grants. The Trust is registered with the electoral commission as having donated £11.2 Million to political organisations since 2001.

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