Bain Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 1103185
• Annual Expenditure: £207,933 (2024)
• Annual Income: £90,538 (2024)
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: North West England (preferred)
• Application Method: Rolling basis via online portal

Contact Details

• Application Portal: https://funding.ludlowtrust.com
• Phone: 2380722525
• Administered by: Ludlow Trust Company

Overview

The Bain Charitable Trust is a UK registered charity (1103185) managed by Ludlow Trust Company, one of over 400 charitable trusts in their portfolio. The trust operates with one trustee who serves without remuneration. In the financial year ending April 2024, the trust distributed £207,933 in grants, significantly exceeding its income of £90,538, indicating the trust drew on accumulated reserves to increase its charitable impact. The trust has a broad charitable mandate allowing trustees to support any exclusively charitable purposes worldwide, though in practice they favor organizations based in the North West of England. All grant-making decisions are made at the absolute discretion of the trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single discretionary grant program with no fixed grant amounts. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the Ludlow Trust Funding Enquiry Gateway.

Priority Areas

• Geographic preference: North West England
• Broad charitable purposes: The trust deed allows support for any exclusively charitable objects and purposes anywhere in the world
• Discretionary grant-making: All funding decisions made at trustees' absolute discretion

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly listed, though geographic preference is given to North West England charities.

Ready to write a winning application for Bain Charitable Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by a single trustee who receives no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The day-to-day administration is managed by Ludlow Trust Company, which oversees the application matching process and supports the trustee in decision-making.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the Ludlow Trust Funding Enquiry Gateway at https://funding.ludlowtrust.com. This online portal serves over 400 charitable trusts managed by Ludlow Trust Company.

Application Process:

1. Register as a UK registered charity or exempt charity on the Ludlow Gateway
2. Submit either a targeted application to the Bain Charitable Trust specifically, or a general application that will be matched to suitable trusts
3. Provide details about your charitable purposes, geographic focus, beneficiary groups, and funding needs
4. Applications are reviewed by Ludlow Trust Managers who match them with appropriate trusts
5. Suitable applications are forwarded to trustees for consideration

Applications may be submitted at any time - there are no specific deadlines.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary and are at the discretion of the individual trustee. No fixed timeframe is provided. The Ludlow Gateway notes that response times depend on trustee meeting schedules and application complexity. Applicants should expect variability in decision times.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. However, the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway as a whole has processed over 17,000 applications since 2023, matching in excess of £5 million in donations across all 400+ trusts on the platform.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. The trust accepts applications on a rolling basis, suggesting unsuccessful applicants may reapply, though specific guidance should be sought through the Ludlow Gateway.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's structure and administration through Ludlow Trust Company, consider these factors:

• Geographic alignment: While the trust can fund anywhere, they explicitly favor North West England charities. Applications from this region likely have stronger prospects.

• Clear charitable purpose: With a broad mandate, the trust can support diverse causes. Clearly articulate how your work delivers charitable benefit.

• Discretionary nature: All decisions are at trustee discretion with no fixed criteria. Applications should be comprehensive and compelling without relying on meeting specific program requirements.

• Gateway matching: The Ludlow system matches applications to suitable trusts. Complete your application thoroughly to improve matching accuracy - include all relevant geographic, thematic, and beneficiary information.

• Relationship with Ludlow: The trust relies on Ludlow Trust Managers to screen applications. Ensure your submission is professional and complete to pass this initial review stage.

• Financial sustainability: With annual giving exceeding annual income, the trust is actively distributing funds but may be drawing on reserves. This suggests a commitment to grant-making but also potential future constraints.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The trust favors North West England charities - highlight local connections and impact in this region
• All grant decisions are discretionary with no published criteria or amounts - make a compelling case for charitable impact
• Apply through Ludlow Trust's online gateway only - no alternative application methods accepted
• Consider submitting a general application through Ludlow to be matched with multiple trusts simultaneously
• Decision timelines vary - this is not suitable for urgent funding needs with tight deadlines
• The trust has a single trustee making all decisions - applications may move more quickly than multi-trustee boards but with less predictability
• No specific exclusions are listed - diverse charitable purposes are theoretically eligible

References

• Charity Commission Register - Bain Charitable Trust 1103185 -
• Charity Commission Full Print - Bain Charitable Trust -
• The Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway -
• Ludlow's Funding Enquiry Gateway Overview -