Freemasons to hold public vote on £3m charity grants

The Freemasons are holding an unprecedented public vote to decide how to spend a special three million pounds of charity funding as part of their 300th anniversary celebrations this year.

Freemasons throughout the country have selected 300 local charities to receive a special Community Award, but the decision on the size of grant – ranging from £4,000 to £25,000 – is being decided by an online public vote.

Anyone who wishes to vote should visit the Masonic Charitable Foundation website at mcf.org.uk/vote go to the page for their region and vote from the list of local charities which have been nominated.  The vote will take place from Monday, 12 June until Monday, 31 July.

The £3 million fund, which is being distributed to mark the 300th anniversary of the formation of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1717, is being administered by the Masonic Charitable Foundation and will be distributed to 300 local charities.

The Masonic Charitable Foundation obtains all of its funding from Freemasons and their families.  It is estimated that half of Freemasonry’s total charitable expenditure of over £33m goes to charities that help people in communities across the country.

David Innes, Chief Executive of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, said:  “We are delighted to invite the whole country to join our 300th anniversary celebrations and help us decide which of these 300 excellent charities should receive the highest awards. Every vote counts, so I do hope as many people as possible visit the website to take part.”