D D Mcphail Charitable Settlement Cio

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £577,690 (2025)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Varies (relatively large awards for step-change projects, plus small grants programme)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)
• Application Method: No public application process - trustee-identified projects only

Contact Details

• Website: https://ddmcphail.org
• Email: info@ddmcphail.org (general); director.ddmcphail@gmail.com (Executive Director)
• Phone: 07990122921 / 07468434084
• Address: PO Box 78190, London, SW19 9QL

Overview

The D D McPhail Charitable Settlement was established in 1973 by Mr D D McPhail and restructured as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in January 2022 (charity number 1197598). The trust made modest grants until the founder's death in 1995, when it was significantly enlarged by a bequest from his estate in 1997. Since then, the Settlement has primarily supported small and medium-sized charities across the UK. With annual grant expenditure of £577,690 (year ending March 2025), the charity operates as a small grant-making trust with one part-time Executive Director. The charity is governed by seven trustees who bring diverse expertise to strategic grant-making decisions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: Relatively large awards typically distributed over 2-4 years, designed to enable “investment and/or step change” in a charity's activities. The specific grant amounts vary but are intended to catalyze significant organizational development. Grants are expected to lead to sustainable improvements that continue after the funding period ends.

Small Grants Programme: Administered through members of the UK Community Foundation network, offering smaller awards for local charitable projects.

Priority Areas

The trust deed requests trustees to prefer three specific charitable objectives, though they retain discretion to fund other UK charitable activities:

1. Medical Research: The furtherance of medical research
2. Disability Support: The care of disabled individuals, with particular emphasis on disabled children
3. Elderly Care: The care of aged and infirm persons

The charity also occasionally makes smaller grants aligned with the founder's broader charitable interests.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly documented, though the charity focuses on supporting other charitable organizations rather than individuals.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (as of 2024):

• George Henry Annesley de Courcy-Wheeler - Chair (appointed January 2022)
• Andrew Donald McPhail (appointed November 2023)
• Helene Jelman (appointed January 2022)
• Ben Smith (appointed January 2022)
• Jane Brake (appointed January 2022)
• Edward Coley (appointed January 2022)
• Olivia Mary Hancock (appointed January 2022)

All seven trustees serve without remuneration or benefits. The charity maintains one part-time Executive Director position responsible for project assessment.

The organization maintains comprehensive governance policies covering safeguarding, risk management, financial controls, and conflict of interest procedures.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The charity's website explicitly states: “the Trustees make no commitment to respond to unsolicited applications.”

The Settlement operates through a trustee-led identification model: trustees identify potential projects for assessment by the Executive Director, rather than accepting applications from organizations seeking funding.

Getting on Their Radar

Since the charity operates through trustee-identified projects rather than open applications, organizations cannot apply directly. The trustees identify potential grant recipients through their own networks and knowledge of the charitable sector.

The charity's annual accounts filed with the Charity Commission contain information about funded projects, which may provide insight into the types of organizations and projects the trustees select.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed, as the charity does not operate on an application cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the charity does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the charity does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this funder does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding their funding approach provides valuable context:

Funding Philosophy: The charity's stated objective is to provide “relatively large awards” over 2-4 years that enable “investment and/or step change” in charitable activities. Projects should demonstrate potential for sustainable impact beyond the funding period.

Priority Focus: While trustees have broad discretion, they are requested to prefer medical research, disability care (especially for children), and care for the elderly and infirm.

Organizational Size: The Settlement has “mainly supported small and medium sized charities” since 1997, suggesting a preference for organizations where a substantial multi-year grant can make a transformational difference.

Geographic Scope: The charity operates UK-wide across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Sustainable Impact: The charity seeks projects that will achieve sustainability and continue their impact independently after the grant period concludes.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This funder identifies projects through trustees rather than accepting applications - unsolicited applications are not considered
• Transformational Grants: The charity focuses on “relatively large awards” over 2-4 years designed to create step-change improvements in organizational capacity
• Small to Medium Charities: Historical focus on small and medium-sized organizations where substantial multi-year funding can have transformational impact
• Sustainability Required: Projects must demonstrate potential to continue independently after grant funding ends
• Dual Programmes: Main programme offers substantial multi-year awards; separate small grants programme operates through UK Community Foundation network members
• Preference Areas: While trustees have broad discretion, preference is given to medical research, disability care (especially children), and care for elderly/infirm
• Check Annual Accounts: Organizations interested in this funder's work should review their Charity Commission accounts to understand the types of projects and charities they have supported

References

• D D McPhail Charitable Settlement Official Website -
• Charity Commission Register - Charity 1197598 Full Details -
• Charity Commission Register - Charity 1197598 What, Who, How, Where -
• Charity Commission Register - Former Charity 267588 -
• Companies House - D D McPhail Charitable Settlement CIO -