Boodles Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £713,027 (2024)
• Total Income: £1,297,454 (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Trustee discretion
• Grant Range: Variable - partners supported from £20,000 to £250,000+
• Geographic Focus: England-based, with international charitable work
• Charity Number: 1077748

Contact Details

Address: 35 Lord Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L2 9SQ

Phone: 0151 224 0580

Website: https://www.boodles.com/en-us/pages/boodles-charitable-trust

Charity Commission: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1077748

Overview

The Boodles Charitable Trust (formerly The Boodle & Dunthorne Charitable Trust) was established on 11 October 1999 by the Wainwright family, who own the prestigious Boodles jewellery business founded in 1798. The trust is funded through donations from Boodle and Dunthorne Limited and investment income. Since 2020, the trust has donated over £6 million to various charities, supporting over 84 different charities globally in 2023 alone. The trust's charitable expenditure reached £713,027 in 2024, with total funds of £1,297,454. The trust operates through trustee-selected partnerships rather than an open application process, focusing particularly on children and young people's causes, education, and water access in vulnerable communities both in the UK and internationally.

Funding Priorities

Grant-Making Approach

The Boodles Charitable Trust operates through trustee-selected partnerships. According to their public statements: “We are unable to accept additional speculative approaches at present as we are fully committed to our current charitable partners.”

The trust employs two main funding mechanisms:

1. Annual “Charity of the Year” Partnership: Multi-year commitments to single organizations (e.g., Street Child for six consecutive years, raising over £100,000 in 2022 alone; Just a Drop as current partner)

1. Ongoing Multi-Charity Support: In 2023, they supported 84 different charities across the globe through trustee-identified partnerships

1. Special Event Fundraising: The Boodles Boxing Ball has raised over £5 million across eight events (£1.75 million for Hope and Homes for Children at one event)

1. In-Kind Donations: Donated jewellery totaling over £250,000 annually to various charities

Priority Areas

While the trust's constitutional objects state it will award grants “for such charitable purposes as the trustees shall from time to time think fit,” the grant-making pattern reveals strong preferences:

Children and Young People: Primary focus area stated in Charity Commission records as “provides donations to organisations helping young individuals”

Education: Supporting access to education for disadvantaged children, particularly in developing countries (e.g., Street Child's work ensuring Sierra Leone children can attend school)

Water Access: Safe and sustainable water solutions for vulnerable communities (e.g., Just a Drop partnership delivering 13 projects reaching 8,487 people in Kenya and Zambia)

Local Community Support: Charities in communities connected to Boodles' 10 showroom locations, particularly Liverpool and Manchester

International Development: Supporting orphanages and vulnerable children globally (e.g., Shining Faces orphanage in India with 2,000+ children)

Children's Healthcare: Rainbow Trust Children's Charity supporting families with children facing life-threatening illnesses

Geographic Preferences

• UK: Particularly Liverpool (headquarters) and communities where Boodles has showrooms
• International: Kenya, Zambia, Sierra Leone, India, and other developing nations
• Operational Area: Officially registered to operate throughout England

What They Don't Fund

While the trust has broad charitable objects, their funding pattern indicates they do not support:

• Organizations without a focus on children/young people or vulnerable communities
• Causes unconnected to their strategic partnerships
• Individual applicants
• Capital appeals from organizations outside their existing partnerships

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust is governed by five trustees, all from the Wainwright family or closely connected to the Boodles business:

1. Michael Wainwright - Chairman of Boodles, fifth generation family owner. Also serves as Fundraising Trustee for Rainbow Trust Children's Charity.

1. Nicholas Wainwright - Joint Managing Director of Boodles alongside Michael. President of Shining Faces charity supporting an orphanage in southern India with 2,000+ children.

1. Jonathan Wainwright - Appointed 11 July 2022

1. Elizabeth Wainwright - Appointed 17 June 2022

1. James Amos - Appointed 11 July 2022

Governance Notes: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The Wainwright family underwrites all UK professional fees, administrative and incidental expenses for their charitable work to ensure maximum funds reach beneficiaries.

Leadership Philosophy

The Wainwright family emphasizes that their values are “firmly rooted in family, compassion and charity,” and believe “giving back to those most in need is a fundamental part of their business.” They focus particularly on “communities that have played a pivotal role in their own journey.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Boodles Charitable Trust explicitly states: “We are unable to accept additional speculative approaches at present as we are fully committed to our current charitable partners.”

How Grants Are Awarded:

Grants are made “by the Trustees as and when they identify a suitable and deserving cause” through trustee discretion. The selection process involves:

1. Trustee Identification: The Wainwright family trustees personally identify charities that align with their values and focus areas

1. Long-term Partnerships: The trust favors sustained, multi-year commitments (e.g., six consecutive years with Street Child)

1. Family Connections: Many partnerships stem from personal family discoveries and relationships (e.g., Nicholas Wainwright discovered the Shining Faces orphanage on a family holiday)

1. Corporate Integration: Selected charities often become integrated across all 10 Boodles showrooms with company-wide fundraising activations

Getting on Their Radar

Since this trust operates through trustee-selected partnerships, specific strategies are limited. However, research indicates:

Trustee Personal Networks: Michael Wainwright serves as a Fundraising Trustee for Rainbow Trust, and Nicholas Wainwright is President of Shining Faces. Trustees appear to support causes where they have direct personal involvement or governance roles.

Sector Connections: The family has demonstrated interest in charities working in:

• Children's education in developing countries
• Water access projects in Africa
• Children's healthcare in the UK
• Liverpool/Manchester local community causes

Business Relationships: As a luxury jewellery brand with stores in major UK cities, Boodles may be more receptive to charities operating in their showroom communities or aligned with their customer base.

Note: Organizations should not submit speculative applications as the trust has explicitly stated they are fully committed to current partners.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - trustees make decisions at their discretion without a fixed cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since there is no public application process, the following factors appear to influence trustee selection based on their funding patterns:

Characteristics of Funded Organizations

1. Clear Focus on Children/Young People: Every identified partnership centers on helping children, whether through education, healthcare, or basic needs

1. Demonstrable Impact: Partners show concrete outcomes (e.g., “8,487 people reached” with Just a Drop; “over £100,000 raised” for Street Child)

1. International Development Expertise: Many partners work in developing nations with proven track records in challenging environments

1. Transparency and Efficiency: Organizations that can demonstrate funds reach beneficiaries (the Wainwright family's practice of underwriting administrative costs suggests this is important to them)

1. Alignment with Family Values: Projects that resonate with the Wainwright family's personal values of “compassion and charity” and their connection to communities

Partnership Characteristics

Long-term Relationships: The trust favors sustained partnerships (six years with Street Child) rather than one-off grants

Multi-faceted Engagement: Selected charities often benefit from:

• Direct trust grants
• In-kind jewellery donations (£250,000+ annually)
• Company-wide fundraising across 10 showrooms
• High-profile events (Boodles Boxing Ball)
• Marketing visibility through the Boodles brand

Scalability: Partners appear capable of absorbing significant funding (£100,000+ annually) and deploying it effectively

Red Flags to Avoid

• High administrative overhead (the family specifically underwrites costs in their own charitable work)
• Unclear impact metrics or inability to demonstrate concrete outcomes
• Causes unrelated to children, education, or vulnerable communities
• Organizations without established track records

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This trust does not accept speculative applications and explicitly states they are “fully committed to current charitable partners.” Do not submit unsolicited proposals.

• Trustee-Driven Selection: All partnerships result from trustees personally identifying “suitable and deserving” causes, often through family connections, governance roles, or personal discovery.

• Children & Youth Focus Essential: Despite broad charitable objects, 100% of identifiable grants support children and young people through education, healthcare, water access, or child welfare programs.

• Think Long-term Partnership, Not One-off Grant: The trust demonstrates preference for sustained multi-year commitments (e.g., six consecutive years with Street Child) with integrated fundraising across all Boodles showrooms.

• International Development Expertise Valued: Significant proportion of funding supports projects in developing nations (Kenya, Zambia, Sierra Leone, India), requiring proven capability in challenging environments.

• Scale Matters: Recent partnerships involve £100,000+ annual commitments, jewellery donations worth £250,000+, and ability to leverage the Boodles brand for major fundraising events (£1.75 million raised at single Boxing Ball event).

• Geographic Connection Helps: While international work is supported, the trust shows particular interest in Liverpool/Manchester communities connected to their business presence.

• Personal Trustee Involvement: Many partnerships involve trustees taking governance roles (Michael Wainwright as Rainbow Trust Fundraising Trustee, Nicholas Wainwright as Shining Faces President), suggesting personal commitment beyond financial support.

References

1. Charity Commission. “Charity overview: Boodles Charitable Trust - 1077748.” Register of Charities. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3964775/full-print

1. Boodles. “Boodles Charitable Trust.” Official Website. https://www.boodles.com/en-us/pages/boodles-charitable-trust

1. Boodles. “Boodles Charitable Partners.” Official Website. https://www.boodles.com/en-us/pages/charitable-partners

1. Just a Drop. “Boodles Charitable Trust Partnership.” https://www.justadrop.org/partners/boodles-charitable-trust/

1. Rainbow Trust Children's Charity. “Michael Wainwright - Trustee Profile.” https://www.rainbowtrust.org.uk/about/our-patrons-and-trustees/michaelwainwright

1. University of Exeter Alumni News. “Nicholas Wainwright and Shining Faces Charity.” 2022. https://news-archive.exeter.ac.uk/alumnisupporters/2022/articles/title_906154_en.html

1. Liverpool John Moores University. “Nicholas Wainwright - Honorary Fellowship.” https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/fellows/honorary-fellows-2009/nicholas-wainwright

1. Virgin Money Giving. “Shining Faces in India.” https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?uniqueVmgCharityUrl=ShiningFacesinIndia