Gowling Wlg (uk) Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £229,080 (2024)
• Annual Income: £166,063 (2024)
• Decision Time: Not applicable - no public application process
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: West Midlands (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton) and throughout London
• Application Method: No public application process - trustee discretion only

Contact Details

Address: Gowling WLG UK LLP, Two Snowhill, Snow Hill Queensway, Birmingham B4 6WR

Phone: 0121 233 1000

Charity Registration Number: 803009

Overview

The Gowling WLG (UK) Charitable Trust was registered on 9 March 1990 and was previously known as The Wragge & Co Charitable Trust and Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co Charitable Trust, reflecting the evolution of the law firm it is affiliated with. The trust is funded by donations from partners of Gowling WLG law firm and operates as the firm's primary vehicle for corporate social responsibility. With total expenditure of £229,080 in the financial year ending April 2024, the trust makes grants to dozens of charities each year. The trust primarily functions to match employee fundraising efforts (up to £500 per employee and £4,000 per team/event) and to make grants to charitable organizations as determined by trustees in their absolute discretion. The trust's income is applied for such charitable institutions or charitable purposes as the trustees determine, with no formal public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate formal grant programs with published amounts or application cycles. Grants are made at the trustees' absolute discretion. The trust operates two primary funding mechanisms:

• Employee Fundraising Match: Matches employee fundraising on a pound-for-pound basis up to £500 per employee and up to £4,000 per team, event, or charity
• Trustee-Directed Grants: Makes grants to charitable organizations selected by trustees, often based on employee nominations

Priority Areas

Generally, help is given to charities supporting:

• Young people
• The elderly
• The sick/infirm
• People with disabilities
• Those who are disadvantaged

The trust also supports:

• General charitable purposes
• Education/training
• The advancement of health or saving of lives
• Disability services
• The prevention or relief of poverty
• Arts/culture/heritage/science

Geographic Focus

The trust operates primarily in:

• West Midlands: Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton
• Throughout London

What They Don't Fund

• Animal charities (explicitly excluded)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

1. Lee Nuttall (Chair) - Appointed 12 March 2003
2. Felicity Jane Lindsay - Appointed 19 May 2022
3. Andreas Savvas Stylianou - Appointed 09 March 2020

The charity has 3 trustees and 1 volunteer. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

Policies

The trust has established policies on:

• Financial controls
• Risk management
• Conflict of interest

The charity is recognized by HMRC for gift aid.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The trust operates through trustee discretion, with grants typically made to:

1. Charities nominated by Gowling WLG employees through their fundraising activities
2. Organizations selected by trustees in their absolute discretion
3. The firm's chosen “Charity of the Year” (for example, Cancer Research UK was supported as the UK Charity of the Year in 2020)

The trust's governing document states: “Income is to be applied for such charitable institutions or charitable purposes as the trustees shall (in their absolute discretion) determine.”

Unsolicited applications from organizations without a connection to Gowling WLG or its employees are unlikely to be successful.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This trust functions primarily as a corporate charitable vehicle for Gowling WLG law firm rather than a traditional grant-making foundation
• There is no public application process - grants are made at trustees' absolute discretion
• The trust primarily supports charities through employee fundraising matching (up to £500 per employee, £4,000 per team)
• Charities are typically nominated by employees or selected by trustees
• The trust makes grants to “dozens of charities” each year, with total annual expenditure of approximately £229,000
• Geographic focus is primarily West Midlands and London, reflecting the firm's office locations
• Building a connection with Gowling WLG employees or the firm itself would be necessary for consideration
• The trust does not support animal charities
• Focus areas include young people, elderly, sick/infirm, disability, and disadvantaged populations

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: GOWLING WLG (UK) CHARITABLE TRUST - 803009. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/803009/full-print (Accessed: 28 November 2025)
• Giving is Great: GOWLING WLG (UK) CHARITABLE TRUST Charity Factsheet. Available at: https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=803009 (Accessed: 28 November 2025)
• Double the Donation: Gowling WLG Corporate Sponsorships & Matching Gifts Info. Available at: https://doublethedonation.com/sponsorships/gowling-wlg-formerly-wragge-lawrence-graham-co (Accessed: 28 November 2025)
• The World Law Group: "impact '24: Gowling WLG's Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign". Available at: https://www.theworldlawgroup.com/membership/news/news-wlg-impact-24-gowling-wlg-s-corporate-social-responsibility-campaign (Accessed: 28 November 2025)