Bentham-Moxon Trust

The mission of the Bentham-Moxon Trust is to provide financial support for botanical collections and research that further the work of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The Bentham-Moxon Trust was founded in 1984 by bringing together a number of charitable trusts, all of which had the objective of supporting the work of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The first of these trusts was set up in 1884 with a bequest of George Bentham. Further gifts were made over the years. Since 1989 and establishment of the Foundation and Friends RBG, Kew, the Bentham-Moxon Trust no longer actively seeks new funds. The Trust retains its investments, currently in excess of £5 million, and makes grants out of its annual income.

The majority of the Bentham-Moxon Trust’s funds are restricted by the wish of the donor. The largest are The Sainsbury Orchid Fund, that supports the Sainsbury Orchid Fellow, and the Krukoff Fund, that supports the Curator of African Botany. However, there are funds that generate annual income in the region of £60,000 from which the Trustees may make 30 to 40 grants.

In 2012 the Trustees made 25 grants totaling £55,000, ranging in value from £780 to £3,500, with an award to Jodrell Laboratories and HLAA of £8,000 for staff to attend the International Legume Conference (Johannesburg) and the Monocot Conference (New York). 16 grants were made for expedition and field research, 8 grants to overseas botanists to come to work at Kew, and one award for work in Kew Gardens.

These pages explain the activities the Trust supports and how RBG, Kew staff and other botanists/horticulturists can apply for grants.