Capricorn Africa Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £60,000 - £110,000
• Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
• Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: Not specified
• Geographic Focus: Africa (DR Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe)

Contact Details

• Address: 94 Harnham Road, Salisbury SP2 8JW
• Email: joanna.woodd054@gmail.com
• Phone: 01722 323 447
• Website: None

Overview

Founded in 1963 from the legacy of the Capricorn Africa Society, the Capricorn Africa Trust is a UK-registered charity (225755) that makes grants exclusively to African projects personally known to the trustees. With annual distributions ranging from £60,000 to £110,000, the Trust supports education, medical work, agricultural development, and poverty relief across six African countries. Operating without a public application process, the Trust maintains a traditional, relationship-based approach to grant-making with a small board of three long-serving trustees. Despite declining income (from £19,559 in 2021 to £7,240 in 2025), the Trust continues to distribute substantial funds by drawing from reserves.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust does not operate formal grant programs but provides funding for:

• Education (school and college fees for students and medical staff)
• Medical work and healthcare projects
• Agricultural demonstration gardens
• Support for self-help groups and community-based organizations
• Poverty relief initiatives
• Support for children and adolescents

Priority Areas

• Education and training in Africa
• Healthcare and medical services
• Agricultural development
• Community development
• Poverty alleviation

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, by implication they do not fund:

• Projects outside their six target countries in Africa
• Projects not personally known to trustees
• Projects outside Africa (except UK-based work related to Africa)

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees:

• Joanna Woodd - Chair/President (appointed October 25, 2005)
• Dr. Susannah Woodd - Trustee (appointed December 3, 2013)
• Veronica Mary Armstrong - Trustee (appointed October 25, 2005)

All trustees serve without remuneration and have extensive experience with African development work. The Trust is governed by its original Trust Deed dated March 25, 1956.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are made exclusively to projects personally known to the trustees. The Trust explicitly states: “The Trust only supports projects in Africa which are personally known to the trustees.”

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without formal application timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no formal application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given the closed nature of this Trust's grant-making:

• Only organizations with existing relationships with trustees receive funding
• The Trust focuses on long-term relationships with known beneficiaries
• Projects must align with the Trust's charitable objects of poverty relief, education, and cultural relations in Africa
• Organizations must operate in one of the six target countries
• Demonstrated track record and credibility in the sector is essential for any potential relationship-building

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process - this is a closed trust that only funds projects personally known to trustees
• Annual distributions of £60,000-£110,000 despite declining income show commitment to grant-making
• Focus exclusively on six African countries: DR Congo, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe
• Small trustee board (3 members) limits capacity for new relationships
• Organizations may attempt introductory contact via the Salisbury address but should have realistic expectations
• Better to prioritize trusts with open application processes for African development work
• Long-serving trustees (nearly 20 years) suggest stable but traditional approach to grant-making

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Shanley Charitable Trust
• THE SULNEY FIELDS CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Sai Ram Trust
• AN EXTRA MILE CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Joe and Rosa Frenkel Charitable Trust
• Philip King Charitable Trust
• The Ullmann Trust
• Livingston Charitable Trust
• The Anna Rosa Forster Charitable Trust
• The Watson Family Charitable Trust

References

• UK Charity Commission Register - Capricorn Africa Trust (Charity Number 225755). Main page, trustees, financial history, and annual returns. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/225755..
• Fundraiso.com - Capricorn Africa Trust Profile. https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/capricorn-africa-trust..
• Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York - Capricorn Africa Society Archives. https://borthcat.york.ac.uk/index.php/cap..