The Foundation supports a wide range of charities, mostly in Scotland, and principally working in the fields of medical facilities and research, the relief of poverty and assistance to the aged and infirm, education and learning, encouragement of personal development and training of young people and the provision of better opportunities for the less privileged and the vulnerable and the encouragement of music and the arts. They also fund under the headings conservation and environment, disadvantaged and disabled, elderly, homeless and hospices, music, theatre and visual arts, religion and youth.

The trust funds activities that focus on the preservation and protection of health or the relief of sickness and disease. Particular priority is given to activities that address the relief of heart disease, cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. They have a special focus on Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

The Trust gives grants to recognised national charities, with particular reference to charities based in London and Scotland. They give under the categories of animal welfare, education, conservation and environment, military, medical research and social welfare.

The principal objects of the Trust are to provide funds for the advancement of all the schemes which are for the physical wellbeing and improvement in general physical condition of the youth of the City of Edinburgh, for the advancement of knowledge in the science of chemistry as it affects the trade and industry of Great Britain, for making donations for the upkeep, extension and equipment of any charitable institution, hospital or society administered in Scotland whose objective is the restoration of the sick to health and for the advancement of knowledge in medicine and surgery including the granting of bursaries and scholarships, funding research work and the purchase of necessary equipment.

Grants of £2,000 to £7,000 are available to individuals, societies, associations or other bodies in the UK or Japan to promote and support interaction between the two countries. Grants can cover all fields of activity, including educational and grassroots exchanges, research travel, the organisation of conferences, exhibitions and other projects and events that fulfil this broad objective. New initiatives are especially encouraged.

The trust gives to a wide range of charitable causes. Organisations that support young people, music, drama, physical health, mental health, the elderly, disabled people and rescue have been funded in the past.

The purpose of the trust is to support for medical research and equipment for care of the elderly, for housing and shelter and for assistance to rural and general trusts for the disabled and young people within the Edinburgh and Dunblane areas. It tends to support the same organisations each year.

Grants are available to fund initial research which should ideally lead to further research. The limit for a pump priming grant is £10,000. All pump priming applications which meet the criteria set out by the Trust are forwarded to the members of the Scientific Advisory Committee for consideration.

Beneficiaries include all or anyone or more of:- (a) The Church of Scotland General Trustees; (b) The National Trust for Scotland; (c) The Old People's Welfare Committee of the Dundee Council of Social Service, or any charitable institution concerned with the welfare of the citizens of Dundee; (d) The University Court of the University of Edinburgh; (e) The University of Southampton; (f) The University of Dundee; (g) The Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, or any other charitable institution connected with work for the blind; (h) any other charitable institution or charitable institutions selected from time to time by the Trustees.

The MEB Charitable Trust supports a wide range of charitable activities. The Trust seeks to support Christian organisations; aid in the relief of suffering occasioned by war or natural disaster; and bodies undertaking scientific or medical research. Their accounts show they gave under the headings of age, animals and birds, blind, deaf, children, medical research, welfare, cultural and social, armed services , youth organisations, religion and special appeals.