Educational and General Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £126,418
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Annual decisions in November
• Grant Range: Small grants (specific amounts not disclosed)
• Geographic Focus: UK and international

Contact Details

• Website: www.educationalandgeneral.org
• Application Contact: Via website contact bubble (preferred method)

Overview

Established in 1961 by John Diamond (later Lord Diamond), the Educational and General Charitable Trust is a family-run foundation that has been supporting smaller charities for over 60 years. With annual expenditure of approximately £126,000, the trust focuses on providing annual or continuing small grants to UK registered charities. The Diamond family continues to serve as trustees, maintaining the founder's vision of supporting grassroots charitable work in education, environmental conservation, and international development. The trust specifically targets smaller organisations with annual income between £50,000 and £2 million, recognising that modest grants can have significant impact for charities with limited resources.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Small annual or continuing grants (specific amounts not publicly disclosed)
• Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
• Annual grant decisions made in November
• Grants can be used for core, capital or project costs

Priority Areas

• Innovative projects in children's education
• Environmental conservation and protection, including projects mitigating the impact of global warming
• Overseas development and poverty relief projects

What They Don't Fund

• Charities with annual income below £50,000
• Charities with annual income above £2 million
• Individual beneficiaries (grants only to registered charities)

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by three family trustees who continue the founding vision of John Diamond (Lord Diamond). The trustees maintain their involvement in the trust's operations. No trustees receive remuneration, demonstrating commitment to maximising charitable impact.

How to Apply to Educational And General Charitable Trust

How to Apply

Applications are accepted year-round through the trust's preferred contact method:

• Use the contact speech bubble on the website (www.educationalandgeneral.org)
• Important: Do not send applications to the registered UK address as this will cause significant delays

Eligibility requirements:

• Must be a UK registered charity
• Annual income must be between £50,000 and £2 million
• Must align with one of the three priority areas

Decision Timeline

• Applications reviewed annually
• Grant decisions made in November each year
• Notification methods not specified

Success Rates

Not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

The trust tries to support chosen organisations over a number of years, though no commitment is made to this effect. Reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants not specified.

Application Success Factors

Based on the trust's stated priorities and approach:

• Demonstrate clear alignment with one of the three core focus areas (education, environment, or international development)
• Emphasise innovation in your approach, particularly for education projects
• Show how a small grant will make meaningful impact for your charity
• Be a UK registered charity with proven track record (annual income between £50,000 and £2 million)
• Submit application well before November decision period
• Use the correct application channel (website contact form, not postal mail)
• Consider that the trust values supporting smaller charities where modest grants can have significant impact
• Clearly specify whether you need core, capital or project funding

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a small family trust with modest grant-making capacity but consistent annual giving
• They specifically seek to support smaller charities within a defined income range (£50k-£2m), making them ideal for organisations that might be overlooked by larger funders
• The trust tries to support organisations over multiple years, suggesting they value building relationships with recipient charities, though no commitment is made
• With only three priority areas, ensure your project clearly fits within education, environment, or development
• For education projects, emphasise innovation in your approach
• For environmental projects, highlight how your work addresses global warming and climate impact
• The November decision timeline means planning your application submission accordingly
• Direct online contact through their website is essential - postal applications will be delayed

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Masonic Charitable Foundation
• Makers Of Playing Cards Charity
• The Leach Fourteenth Trust
• The Ancaster Trust
• The Atherton Family Charitable Trust
• Schroder Charity Trust
• Sabina Sutherland Charitable Trust
• The John S Cohen Foundation
• Marmot Charitable Trust
• The Stanley Grundy Foundation Limited

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales, Register of Charities: Educational and General Charitable Trust (Charity Number 313117), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/313117
• Educational and General Charitable Trust Official Website, www.educationalandgeneral.org
• Bath and North East Somerset Council, Funding Finder: The Educational and General Charitable Trust, https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/funding-finder/educational-and-general-charitable-trust