Dr & Mrs J D Olav Kerr Charitable Trust No 2

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £14,875 (2024)
• Historic Giving: £143,512 (2023), £157,241 (2022)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Applications April, decisions May (approximately 1 month)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Scotland and other parts of UK

Contact Details

Address:

Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP

1 West Regent Street

Glasgow, G2 1RW

Scotland

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0141 566 9900

Applications should be made in writing to the Trust.

Overview

The Dr & Mrs J D Olav Kerr Charitable Trust No 2 was established in 1986 (registered SC017469 with OSCR) by Dr John Duke Olav Kerr, a prominent Glasgow cardiac physician, and his wife Jenny. Dr Kerr was an outstanding teaching physician at the Western Infirmary who served as a lieutenant colonel in the RAMC during wartime. The trust operates with widely drawn charitable objectives, giving trustees significant discretion in selecting recipients. Historically, the trust has focused donations on military charities, medical charities, and youth organisations. The trust is administered by the Glasgow law firm Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP. The trust's income has averaged approximately £50,000 annually, with grants distributed based on trustee discretion at their May meeting. The trust's legacy includes funding the establishment of the Dr Olav Kerr Chair in Palliative Medicine in 1995.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single grant program with an annual application cycle. Applications are accepted until April each year, with trustee decisions made at their May meeting. The trust distributes funds through grants, donations, or gifts to charitable organisations.

Grant amounts: Not publicly disclosed, but annual expenditure has ranged from £14,875 to £230,282 in recent years, suggesting the trust can make both small and substantial awards depending on available funds and worthy applications.

Application method: Written applications submitted to Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP by April deadline.

Priority Areas

The trust's charitable purposes are widely drawn and include:

• Military charities - Supporting Armed Forces community organisations and veterans
• Medical charities - Healthcare organisations, hospices, and health advancement initiatives
• Youth organisations - Projects supporting young people
• Education - Advancement of educational causes
• Religion - Faith-based charitable work
• Health - Healthcare improvement and advancement
• Civic responsibility and community development
• Arts, heritage, culture, and science
• Environmental protection and improvement
• Relief of poverty - Supporting those in financial hardship
• Relief for those in need - Due to age, ill-health, disability, or other disadvantage
• Animal welfare
• Public participation in sport

What They Don't Fund

The trust does not specify explicit exclusions, but operates at trustee discretion. Given the historical focus on military, medical, and youth organisations, applicants outside these core areas should carefully consider alignment with the trust's mission and values.

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is administered by Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP, a leading Scottish law firm based in Glasgow. The firm handles all correspondence and applications on behalf of the trustees.

Trustee composition: Names of individual trustees are not publicly disclosed.

Founder legacy: Dr John Duke Olav Kerr (1911-1987) was a distinguished cardiac physician and teacher at Glasgow's Western Infirmary. He studied medicine at the University of Glasgow (1929-1934), served as a lieutenant colonel in the RAMC during the war, and expanded the Department of Electrocardiography at Western Infirmary from 1956. He was known as “an outstanding teacher who excelled at the bedside and in the clinic” whose “enthusiasm and high standards of medical practice inspired even the most apathetic student.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Submit written applications to the Trust at: Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP, 1 West Regent Street, Glasgow, G2 1RW
2. Applications can be submitted by charitable institutions, societies, and organisations throughout the UK
3. Applications must be received by the April deadline each year
4. The trust covers both capital and revenue costs

Decision Timeline

• Application deadline: April (specific date not specified - recommend early April submission)
• Trustee meeting: May annually
• Decision timeframe: Approximately 1 month (April submission to May decision)
• Notification method: Not specified - likely by post or email through Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP

Success Rates

Success rates and application volumes are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Unsuccessful applicants should contact Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP for guidance on reapplying in future years.

Application Success Factors

Historical Funding Patterns

The trust has supported various organisations including:

• The Poppy Factory - Supporting the Armed Forces community
• St Vincent's Hospice - Medical and palliative care
• Scottish Veterans Residences - Gym refurbishment at Bellrock Close

Key Alignment Factors

1. Historical priorities: Applications from military charities, medical/healthcare organisations, and youth organisations appear most aligned with trustee preferences
2. Geographic connection: While UK-wide funding is available, the trust has Scottish roots and may favour Scottish organisations
3. Founder's legacy: Medical and healthcare applications, particularly those relating to cardiology or palliative care, connect with Dr Kerr's professional legacy
4. Clear charitable benefit: The trust's objects reference “community benefit and other charitable organisations”

Application Approach

• Be specific: Clearly articulate the charitable purpose and community benefit
• Demonstrate impact: Show how grant funds will advance health, support veterans, benefit youth, or achieve other core charitable purposes
• Written clarity: Applications are assessed based on written submissions only, so clarity and comprehensiveness are essential
• Professional presentation: Applications are handled by a professional law firm, suggesting a preference for well-prepared, professional submissions

Trustee Discretion

The objectives are “widely drawn” with trustees employing discretion to determine which initiatives receive donations. This suggests:

• Trustees value flexibility to support deserving causes
• Quality of the application and strength of charitable purpose matter more than fitting rigid criteria
• Building a compelling case for impact is essential

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Timing is critical: With only one annual deadline (April) and decision point (May), missing the deadline means waiting a full year
• Historical alignment matters: Military, medical, and youth organisations have the strongest track record, though the trust's broad charitable purposes allow for diverse applications
• Scottish connections may help: While UK-wide funding is available, the trust's Glasgow roots and founder's legacy suggest Scottish organisations may be well-positioned
• Variable grant capacity: Annual giving fluctuates significantly (£14,875 to £230,282 in recent years), suggesting grants may vary based on trust income and investment performance
• Professional administration: Applications go through a major law firm, indicating preference for well-prepared, professional submissions
• Limited public information: Grant amounts and detailed criteria are not published - consider contacting Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP for guidance before applying
• Legacy alignment: Healthcare initiatives, particularly those relating to cardiology, palliative care, or medical education, connect directly with the founder's professional legacy and may resonate with trustees

References

1. Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) - Charity Details for SC017469. https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC017469

1. Funding Scotland - Dr & Mrs J D Olav Kerr Charitable Trust. https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000003ikFhEAI/dr-mrs-j-d-olav-kerr-charitable-trust

1. Funding Scotland - Dr & Mrs J D Olav Kerr Charitable Trust No 2 (Funder Profile). https://funding.scot/funders/001b000000St5cyAAB/dr-mrs-j-d-olav-kerr-charitable-trust-no-2

1. University of Glasgow Story - Biography of Dr John Duke Olav Kerr. https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH25646&type=P

1. The Poppy Factory - Annual Report 2024. https://www.poppyfactory.org/agm-2024/

1. St Vincent's Hospice - Trusts and Foundations. https://stvincentshospice.org/trusts-and-foundations/