The Mark Benevolent Fund is a registered charity (No. 207610) came into existence in 1868 on the suggestion of the Reverend George Raymond Portal, Grand Master of the Mark. His views on charity were far more radical and progressive than the general thinking of the time. He felt that for charity to be effective it had to be disbursed swiftly and without the bureaucratic formalities of other Masonic charities. To him it was wrong for there to be any delay in providing assistance to those in need and his own Latin tag “Bis dat qui cito dat” – he gives twice who gives promptly – became, and still is, the principal guideline of the M.B.F.
At the Quarterly Communications in June 2023, the name and purpose of the '150th Anniversary Keystone Fund' was changed to "The Grand Master's Keystone Fund" to celebrate our Grand Master, M.W.Bro. H.R.H. Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO, forty years of service to Mark Masonry.
The purpose of the fund is to grant bursaries encouraging and financially supporting individuals with their educational, vocational and performance studies. The Grand Master’s Keystone Fund will be administered by the Mark Benevolent Fund (M.B.F.) Board of Trustees.
Hertfordshire Provincial Mark Benevolent Fund
This fund was established in 1985 and allows the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire to again provide financial assistance to their members and dependants similarly along the lines as that of the Mark Fund of Benevolence by Mark Grand Lodge.
It is a charity, registered number 291376, with the Charity Commission and has three Trustees together with a Custodian Trustee appointed by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master.