Gilchrist Educational Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £104,508 (year ending 28 February 2025)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 2-3 months (for organisations)
• Grant Range: £500 - £15,000 (depending on programme)
• Geographic Focus: UK-based organisations; projects can be UK or overseas

Contact Details

Website: www.gilchristgrants.org.uk

Email:

• General enquiries: gilchrist.et@gmail.com
• Secretary: secretary@gilchristgrants.org.uk

Phone: 07730399527

Address:

The Secretary, Isabel Turner

43 Fern Road

Storrington

Pulborough

RH20 4LW

Overview

The Gilchrist Educational Trust is one of Britain's oldest educational charities, established in 1841 by the will of Dr John Borthwick Gilchrist, a Scottish surgeon and Indologist. Though founded in 1841, legal challenges delayed its operations until 1865, when it began with an endowment exceeding £100,000 (over £10 million in today's values). For over 150 years, the Trust has operated under its founder's directive: “for the benefit, advancement and propagation of education and learning in every part of the world, as far as circumstances will permit.” With annual charitable expenditure of approximately £104,508, the Trust provides modest but strategic grants across four programmes: organisational grants, individual student support, expedition funding, and the prestigious £15,000 Gilchrist Fieldwork Award. The Trust focuses on filling educational gaps and making specific aspects of education or learning more widely available, maintaining a clear emphasis on academic rather than social educational projects.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Grants to Organisations (£500 - £4,000)

• Annual application deadline: End of February
• Decisions made: April or May
• Application method: Email application form to secretary@gilchristgrants.org.uk, then post signed hard copy
• For UK registered charities or UK registered companies
• Projects can be in UK or overseas

2. Grants to Individuals

• Rolling applications accepted year-round
• For full-time students at British universities
• Two categories:
• Students facing unexpected financial difficulties near course completion (typically final year)
• Students required to study abroad briefly as part of their course
• Average grants: £617 (Adult Study Grant) or £537 (Travel Study Grant)
• Applications submitted by post only

3. Grants to Expeditions

• Annual deadline: 28 February
• For small to medium-sized British expeditions (teams of 3 or more)
• Must propose scientific research in another country
• Team members should be based in university/research institute/museum
• Majority of team should be British nationals

4. Gilchrist Fieldwork Award (£15,000)

• Annual award administered by Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
• Deadline: 23 November annually
• For small teams of university academics and researchers
• Supports original and challenging overseas fieldwork
• Applicants must hold PhD and be based at UK Higher Education Institution

Priority Areas

The Trust seeks to fund projects that:

• Fill academic educational gaps
• Make particular aspects of education or learning more widely available
• Support students who have properly planned their finances but face unexpected difficulties
• Enable required international study components of degree programmes
• Advance geographical knowledge through challenging overseas fieldwork
• Focus on specific purposes such as furniture, equipment, or particular academic projects

What They Don't Fund

• Primary or Secondary Schools
• Building or renovation projects
• Organisations with party-political bias
• Medical organisations (unless significant educational element)
• Administrative or running costs
• Social educational projects (only academic educational projects)
• Part-time students
• Students seeking initial course funding
• Independent travel or exploratory projects outside formal academic requirements
• Consecutive year funding for organisations

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Governance and Leadership

Chairman: Mr Charles E.S. Whitbread, BSc (since 2013)

Trustees:

• Dr John H. Hemming, C.M.G., D.Litt
• Professor Frederick L. Pearce, PhD., C.Chem
• Mrs Shane Winser, BSc (Hons)

Secretary: Isabel Turner

The Trust has been led by distinguished figures throughout its history, including Lord Shuttleworth (1898-1932), Professor James Gray (1946-1955), and the current Chairman Charles Whitbread since 2013.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Organisations:

1. Contact secretary@gilchristgrants.org.uk to request an application form
2. Complete and return form by email
3. Send hard signed copy by post
4. Deadline: 28 February annually
5. Must be UK registered charity or company

For Individuals:

1. Make initial enquiry to establish eligibility
2. Submit application by post only
3. Rolling applications throughout the year

For Expeditions:

1. Contact Secretary for application details
2. Deadline: 28 February annually
3. Include team composition details (minimum 3 members)

For Gilchrist Fieldwork Award:

1. Apply through Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
2. Deadline: 23 November annually

Decision Timeline

• Organisational Grants: Decisions in April or May (2-3 months after deadline)
• Individual Grants: Rolling review process
• Expedition Grants: Decisions in April
• Gilchrist Fieldwork Award: Annual decision following November deadline

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. However, in 2019, 55 grants were made to individuals, with 59 students supported in the most recent reported year.

Reapplication Policy

For Organisations: Unlikely to be considered for consecutive year funding. Wait at least one year before reapplying.

For Individuals: Policy not explicitly stated, though grants typically address one-time unexpected difficulties.

Application Success Factors

• Academic focus essential: Demonstrate clear academic educational value rather than social or community aims
• Fill genuine gaps: Articulate what educational gap exists and how your project uniquely addresses it
• Specific purposes: Focus on equipment, furniture, or specific project elements rather than general operating costs
• Realistic budgets: Ensure the Trust's contribution will make meaningful difference to your project
• Clear outcomes: Align with the Trust's mission of “advancement and propagation of education and learning”
• For students: Show proper initial financial planning disrupted by unexpected circumstances
• For expeditions: Demonstrate strong scientific merit, host country support, and local counterpart involvement

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Modest but meaningful grants: Typical organisational grants of £500-£4,000; ensure your project is appropriately scaled
• Academic focus is essential: Clear exclusion of “social educational projects” - emphasize academic educational value
• Fill a gap, don't duplicate: Clearly articulate what unique educational gap your project addresses
• One-year funding cycle: Consecutive year funding unlikely for organisations - plan accordingly
• Heritage matters: One of Britain's oldest educational charities (since 1865) - reference the founder's mission appropriately
• Fixed annual deadline: February 28 for organisational and expedition grants - no late applications accepted
• Decision timeline allows planning: Build in 2-3 months for organisational grant decisions

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Educational Opportunity Foundation
• Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Settlement
• Newby Trust Limited
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• THE G C GIBSON CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust
• The Allen Lane Foundation
• The Lewin Trust
• The Savoy Educational Trust
• The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust

References

1. Gilchrist Educational Trust official website - www.gilchristgrants.org.uk
2. UK Charity Commission Register - Charity No. 313877, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/313877
3. Gilchrist Educational Trust - Grants to Organisations page, http://www.gilchristgrants.org.uk/grants-to-organisations.html
4. Royal Geographical Society - Gilchrist Fieldwork Award information, https://www.rgs.org/in-the-field/grants/research-grants/gilchrist-fieldwork-award/
5. PAVO - The Gilchrist Educational Trust: Grants to Organisations, https://www.pavo.org.uk/news/the-gilchrist-educational-trust-grants-to-organisations/
6. Bath and North East Somerset Council - The Gilchrist Educational Trust Grants programme, https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/node/87814