Trustees are bound to confine their support to projects with an interfaith content along the lines described in the statement of the Trust’s Scope.  In relation to academic applications, the Trust supports research into recognised religious traditions other than the student’s own or for studying religion from a comparative perspective.  Applications need to have a primarily religious concern rather than, for instance, a sociological or anthropological one.  The Trust does not normally support those studying their own religion.

If you consider that your application comes within the terms of the Trust, please send the following information either as attachments by email in a pdf format or by post to the Secretary of the Spalding Trust (see Contact), typed on one side of A4 only, in an A4 envelope, unstapled and unfolded.

  1. Covering letter (1 page)
  2. Description of project / research proposal (maximum 2 pages)
  3. C.V.  (1 page to include main publications, if existent and relevant)
  4. Statements, to include other possible sources of funding, on 2 pages, view the questions and required layout (MS Word file)
  5. Kindly arrange for the Secretary to receive two academic references on your behalf by email to the Trust’s email address spalding.trust@btinternet.com

The Trust will not itself seek references; applicants are themselves responsible for asking for letters of recommendation to be sent directly to the Secretary. Letters of recommendation are to be academic, commenting where relevant on the inter-religious nature of the project and the likely outcomes.

All applications, whether for an individual research grant or from an organisation wishing to hold a series of seminars or a conference, are required to provide all the information requested, including the Statements (item 4) and two letters of recommendation in support of their application.

Applications over 10 pages (including references) will not be accepted.

For research applications, the Trust asks for evidence of an interfaith component, a summary of intended research, knowledge of any necessary languages and appropriateness of the host institution (supervisor and research environment).

In the case of conference applications, the Trust asks for evidence of interfaith boundary-crossing, an indication of papers that have substantive interfaith content or orientation, brief biographical details of any keynote speakers and the envisaged outcome.

Successful applicants will be asked to provide a report on their project; this should be 2 pages of A4, unless something different is requested. The report should highlight the interfaith insights gained and the likely outcomes envisaged.  A report is a condition of all awards.

Applications are considered monthly by Trustees but only after receipt of all the details requested. For an application to be considered in any one month, all supporting materials need to be received by the end of the preceding month. It is usual for Trustees to take up to three months to reach a decision on an application; applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application as soon as possible.

Trustees do not normally make grants retrospectively for a project that has already been undertaken. 

Trustees will consider applications for recurrent grants that may extend over more than one year, such as doctoral research, but they expect a fresh application including a progress report from the applicant to be made on each occasion that a grant is requested.  In these circumstances, the letters in support from referees should also include a report on progress.

It is helpful if day and evening telephone numbers, and email address, are enclosed with applications in case any additional information is requested by Trustees.