Endowment / Foundation

Updated:

Benefact Trust Limited

Benefact Trust Limited was established in 1972 as a UK grant-making charity. It functions as the sole owner of Benefact Group plc, which encompasses...

Benefact Trust Limited logo

Benefact Trust Limited

Benefact Trust Limited was established in 1972 as a UK grant-making charity. It functions as the sole owner of Benefact Group plc, which encompasses Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc and EdenTree Investment Management Limited. All available profits from these operating businesses fund the trust's distributions. The trust holds an expendable endowment valued at £117.1 million and a consolidated investment property portfolio valued at £130.8 million. Positions include the EdenTree Short-Dated Bond Fund and the EdenTree Green Infrastructure Fund. Geographic exposure centers on the United Kingdom with additional activity in Ireland. David Henderson was appointed Chair in January 2026. The organization maintains ten professionals at its Gloucester headquarters. May 2025: David Henderson spoke on the Beyond Funding Podcast regarding grant eligibility for Christian charities. Ownership of a mutual insurance group supplies a dedicated profit stream that reduces reliance on external capital calls or limited-partner fundraising.

General information

Firm type

Endowment / Foundation

Year founded

1972

Location

Region

Europe

Country

United Kingdom

City

Gloucester

Corporate office

Benefact House, 2000 Pioneer Avenue, Gloucester Business Park, Brockworth, Gloucester, GL3 4AW, United Kingdom

Principals

David Henderson

Chair

Mark Hews

Group Chief Executive of Benefact Group plc

Sector focus

InsurancePhilanthropy

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Benefact Trust Limited?

David Henderson serves as Chair. Mark Hews leads the underlying Benefact Group plc as Group Chief Executive.

How does Benefact Trust Limited source proprietary deal flow?

The trust receives profits from its 100 percent ownership of Benefact Group plc and its subsidiaries including Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc.

Is Benefact Trust Limited structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?

It operates as an endowment foundation whose primary activity is grant distribution funded by insurance ownership.

Does Benefact Trust Limited participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

It holds positions in the EdenTree Short-Dated Bond Fund and the EdenTree Green Infrastructure Fund.

Where does the underlying wealth come from?

Wealth originates from ownership of specialist insurance and broking businesses within the Benefact Group.

Profile maintained by using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.

Need institutional-grade insight on endowments & foundations?

Altss delivers:

Principals with verified direct contactsAllocation history by asset classOSINT-derived deal signals
Book a demo

Prefer a guided tour?

We’ll walk you through:

Interactive funding timelinesCustom mandate & allocation filters
Book a demo

More Gloucester Endowment / Foundation profiles