Duke Of Devonshire's Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 213519

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £265,701 (2023-24)
  • Grant Range: £250 - £10,000
  • Decision Time: 2-3 working days after trustee meeting
  • Meeting Frequency: 3-4 times per year
  • Geographic Focus: Derbyshire, North Yorkshire (Bolton Abbey), Eastbourne, Lismore (Ireland), and occasionally UK-wide
  • Application Method: Fixed deadlines aligned with trustee meetings

Contact Details

Address: Chatsworth, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1PP

Website: http://ddct.org.uk

Email: mollie.moseley@chatsworth.org (Mollie Moseley, Trust Administrator)

Phone: 01246 565437

Overview

The Duke of Devonshire's Charitable Trust (Charity No. 213519) is a grant-making family charity established to support charitable causes and projects in areas local or relevant to Chatsworth, Bolton Abbey, and other Devonshire Group estates. With an annual grant distribution of approximately £265,701 (year ending April 2024) and total income of £225,528, the Trust focuses on supporting registered charities across a diverse range of causes including medicine, religion, hospices, housing associations, libraries, arts, community, education, environment, youth, health, and welfare. The Trust normally only makes grants or loans to other registered charities, and operates through quarterly or tri-annual trustee meetings to review applications. The Trust emphasizes supporting organizations that have already demonstrated significant progress with their fundraising efforts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single grant program with fixed application deadlines:

  • Standard Grants: £250 - £10,000 per award
  • Application Method: Fixed deadlines (3-4 per year) aligned with trustee meetings
  • Applications accepted via email submission of completed application form

Priority Areas

The Trust supports UK registered charities, Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs), and Community Interest Companies (CICs) working in:

  • Health and Social Care: Hospices (Blythe House Hospicecare, Harrogate District Hospice), care services (Care for the Carers)
  • Community Support: YMCA Derbyshire, Samaritans of Derby and District, School-Home Support
  • Youth Services: Addingham Youth Council, youth programs
  • Mental Health: Mentell High Peak and Dales
  • Welfare: Army Benevolent Fund, Relate Chesterfield and North Derbyshire
  • Community Development: Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company, Volunteers Network CIC Eastbourne, Riding for Smiles
  • Arts, Education, Environment, Religion: Projects in these sectors that align with geographic priorities
  • Geographic Connection: Strong preference for charities serving Derbyshire, Bolton Abbey area in North Yorkshire, Eastbourne in Sussex, and Lismore in Ireland; trustees may consider projects further afield at their discretion

Recent grants (past 12 months) have been awarded to approximately 40 charities including those listed above, plus the Florence Nightingale Foundation and numerous local organizations.

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects outside the UK
  • Applications from individuals
  • Individual research or study projects
  • Gap year activities, study trips, or fundraising expeditions
  • Individual sponsorship requests
  • Multi-year funding commitments (grants are typically for a single year only)
  • Organizations that have not secured a significant proportion of funding already
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Trust is governed by 4 trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits:

  • Peregrine Andrew Morny Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire - Chairman
  • Duchess of Devonshire
  • Oliver George Stephenson MA (Hons) - Trustee (appointed 2016)
  • One additional trustee (name not publicly disclosed)

The Trust has no employees earning over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries. All decision-making power rests with the trustee board, which meets 3-4 times annually to review applications.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Submit by Deadline: Email completed application and accounts to mollie.moseley@chatsworth.org
  2. Eligibility Check: Ensure you are a UK registered charity, CIO, or CIC (church, educational establishment, hospital, or other exempt organizations may apply without a charity number)

Decision Timeline

  • Trustee Meetings: 3-4 times per year (check website for specific dates)
  • Application Deadlines: Published closing dates before each trustee meeting (applications only accepted if submitted by deadline)
  • Decision Time: Trustees review all applications at their scheduled meeting
  • Notification: Successful applicants contacted within 2-3 working days after the meeting
  • Public Announcement: Successful applicants listed on the Trust's website following each meeting
  • For Unsuccessful Applicants: If your organization is not listed on the website after a trustee meeting, your application was unsuccessful

Reapplication Policy

  • After Unsuccessful Application: Wait 12 months before reapplying
  • After Successful Grant: Wait 2 years before applying again
  • Rationale: To ensure the Trust can assist the widest possible spread of worthwhile organizations

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's published guidance, applications are more likely to succeed if they demonstrate:

  1. Advanced Fundraising Progress: “It is unusual for the Trust to consider making a grant to organisations who cannot demonstrate significant progress with fundraising, so timing of your application is important.” The Trust expects applicants to have already secured a significant proportion of their required funding.
  1. Complete and Accurate Applications: “Incomplete or inaccurate applications will not be considered.” The Trust explicitly states that applications without all requested information and accounts will be rejected.
  1. Adherence to Format: “Do not exceed the space provided on the form” and do not attach additional support materials or case studies. The Trust wants concise, focused applications using only their prescribed format.
  1. Strong Project Viability: Trustees evaluate “such factors as previous grants, costs, available resources, sustainability of the project, and the viability of your fundraising plan.”
  1. Geographic Connection: Projects with clear links to Derbyshire, the Bolton Abbey area, Eastbourne, or Lismore have stronger chances, though the Trust occasionally supports projects further afield.
  1. Single-Year Project Scope: The Trust does not make multi-year commitments, so projects requesting one-off or single-year funding align better with their approach.
  1. Diverse Project Types: “Every application is considered on its own merits as the organisations the Trust supports vary significantly in size and scope.” Don't be discouraged if you're different from other grantees.
  1. Realistic Expectations: “While the Trustees aim to support as many good projects and organisations as possible, it is unfortunately not possible to provide funding to all applicants.” Competition is acknowledged to be significant.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Apply when fundraising is well advanced - The Trust explicitly states they rarely fund organizations without significant fundraising progress, so time your application strategically
  • Keep it concise and complete - Use only the application form and accounts; additional materials will be ignored and incomplete applications rejected outright
  • Geographic alignment matters - Strongest preference for Derbyshire, Bolton Abbey area, Eastbourne, and Lismore, though occasional exceptions made
  • Plan for the waiting period - With only 3-4 meetings per year and specific deadlines, factor in potential 3-6 month wait times from application to decision
  • Understand reapplication rules - 12 months after rejection, 2 years after successful grant before you can reapply
  • Demonstrate sustainability - Show that your project is viable and that you have a solid fundraising plan beyond this grant
  • Be patient but prepared - Successful applicants hear back within 2-3 days of the meeting; if you're not listed on the website, you were unsuccessful

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