The Woolnoth Society Charitable Trust was founded in 1968 by a small group of American and British businessmen following a Thanksgiving Day Service which was initiated by the Reverend John Nicholls, the then Vicar of St Mary Woolnoth Church, in the heart of the City, and Chaplain of the Tower of London. It was formed as an unincorporated association of American and British financial institutions and other companies, as well as individuals, whose business was within or associated with the financial services sector of the City of London. The aims of the Charity are to encourage the involvement of its members in the civic and charitable activities of the City and to promote social contact among the membership. The Woolnoth Society Charitable Trust provides meaningful financial support to a selected group of charitable organisations which work with the underprivileged and needy. Most donations are made towards specific projects with which the Charity can be readily identified, and more generally support is provided to organisations and other charities which are small, local and have little or no ability to raise funds nationally or internationally.