The IAO Benevolent Fund

Chair: Peter Wright

The IAO Benevolent Fund
https://iaobf.org.uk

The IAO Benevolent Fund was founded in 1930 by four individuals, including Sir Hamilton Harty, then conductor of the Hallé Orchestra, and is a registered charity, No. 216533.   Since then, it has built up an investment fund, the income from which, together with generous donations from many individuals and local organists’ associations, enable the Fund to make grants both on a continuing basis and occasionally for emergency assistance.

Purpose of the Fund

The Fund was established to assist organists, whether active or retired, or their partners, widows or widowers, children or dependants, who are in financial need, by means of financial grants.

Assistance from the Fund

Assistance may be provided by single or regular payments of an amount to be determined by the trustees.   At their discretion, grants may also be made towards the cost of organ tuition and/or examination fees for dependants who, at the time of the award have not passed their twenty-fifth birthday.

Eligibility for assistance

To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must have been a member of an organists’ association affiliated to the IAO for at least two years.

Do you know an organist in need of assistance?

If you, or someone you know, is in need of help from the Fund and is eligible, please do not hesitate to contact the Secretary of the Benevolent Fund who will be pleased to discuss the possibility of a grant.   All enquiries will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.

Applications for assistance

Those wishing to make an application for assistance should, in the first instance, contact the Secretary by telephone: 01225 421154 or by email: at iao.bf@Yahoo.com who will be happy to discuss the most appropriate way to apply. Alternatively, please complete the relevant form and send it to the Secretary by email or at the postal address on the form. All forms are available on the IAO BF website.

Donating to the Fund

The Fund depends substantially on voluntary contributions, some from local associations and some from individual members and the Fund will be very grateful for all donations.   You may also wish to remember the Fund in your will.