The Relief Chest Scheme
About the Scheme
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| Collect money for charity easily and tax-effectively |
The Freemasons' Grand Charity Relief Chest Scheme was set up to help the Craft give to charity easily and tax-effectively. It was launched in 1986 and offers individual "Relief Chests" which can be used to accumulate funds collected by a Lodge, Chapter, Province or other Masonic organisation for charitable purposes. In addition to the Lodge and Chapter Relief Chests, The Freemasons' Grand Charity also manages Relief Chests for Provincial Grand Lodges holding festivals for Masonic Charities.
Today, there are more than 4,000 individual Relief Chests. The Freemasons' Grand Charity holds the money on behalf of the Lodge or other Masonic organisation which retains control over the disposal of the money. The Chest Holder uses the funds in their individual Relief Chest to make donations to any non-Masonic or Masonic charity or to an individual (e.g. a Lodge member or the widow or a dependant of a member) who is in need.
The Relief Chest Fund
In 2007:
- Over £6.8 million was deposited into the Fund
- Tax relief gained under Gift Aid added more than £0.6 million
- Over £1.6 million was generated in interest earnings
- More than £10.1 million of charitable donations were made
Further Information
For further information, please contact the Relief Chest Department on 020 7395 9246
Details of the 2008 Budget update on Gift Aid can be found on the HMRC website.
Please also see the links below for further information:
Gift Aid, the change in Basic Rate Tax and Transitional Relief