The Mark Mason's Charity is the Mark Fund of Benevolence. It was formed in 1868, is affectionately referred to as the MBF, and is genuinely close to a Mark Mason's heart.  It works in parallel with the Grand Charity, and prides itself on its speed of response.  The majority of its funds are for the benefit of distressed Mark Masons and their dependants, but like all good charities, it keeps a small separate element for other Masonic and non-Masonic purposes.

In 1994 every Mark Lodge was invited to nominate a Hospice.  The Mark Fund of Benevolence then sent a cheque for £1000 to each Lodge for members to present to the Hospice of their choice, a total sum of £1.5 million.  In 2000 the Mark Fund of Benevolence agreed to provide each division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade with a new 'state of the art' ambulance, costing approximately £40,000 each, a total amount of £2 million.  The Durham ambulance was handed over in August 2000 in a ceremony at Auckland Castle.  In 2003 £2,000,000 was distributed to hospitals specializing for the early detection and treatment of Prostate Cancer.  More recently money has been made available for research into and support for those with Osteoporosis.

Durham became a Keystone Province in 2002 and in 2003 all the Mark Lodges received their Grand Patrons’ collarettes from the Mark Fund of Benevolence. Within the Mark Province of Durham there are 42 Mark Lodges with a membership of 1,700.

Separate from the Grand Mark Fund of Benevolence, the province of Durham has its own Mark Benevolent Fund.  It administers funds donated by both Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges, it is able to respond quickly to any case of a Brother in distress pending the arrangement of more permanent assistance as well as supporting appropriate local charities.  Over £3.000 was recently provided for the installation of a hoist in a swimming pool area of a local school for disabled children.  All present will ever remember the faces of the children as they were lowered into the water.

In addition, support is given to any Grand Mark Fund of Benevolence initiative by the Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges of the Province.  Also individual Brethren, have proved to be extraordinarily generous in achieving Lodge targets and supporting the Provincial Grand Master and promoting the good of the Province.

The Durham Fund is a registered Charity and at the last balance sheet date, 31st December 2006, total funds were £100,000.