Grace Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,829,845 (FY ending April 2024)
• Annual Income: £2,379,242
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £3,000 (reported in grant directories)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Address: Swinford House GCT Office, Nortons Lane, Great Barrow, Chester, Cheshire CH3 7JZ

Phone: 01928 740773

Email: gracecharitabletrust@live.co.uk

Website: No website identified

Overview

The Grace Charitable Trust (charity number 292984) was registered on 19 November 1985 under a trust deed dated 30 March 1985. The trust operates throughout England and Wales with a focus on Christian-based activities, education, social and medical purposes, and general charitable purposes. With an annual income of £2.38 million for the year ending April 2024 (primarily from donations and legacies totaling £1.98 million), the trust distributed £1.83 million in charitable grants. The organization is governed by five trustees and employs one staff member. The trust makes grants to both individuals and organisations, and sponsors or undertakes research related to its charitable objects.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust provides grant funding across several areas, with reported grants typically ranging from £1,000 to £3,000, though this may not reflect the full range of their grant-making activities given their substantial annual charitable expenditure.

Application deadlines have been reported as 30 June and 31 December, with trustees meeting in March and September to review applications, though these details could not be verified from official sources.

Priority Areas

The trust supports projects in the following areas:

• Christian-based activities and religious purposes
• Education and training
• Health and saving lives
• Support for children and young people
• Support for people with disabilities
• Overseas aid and famine relief
• Social and medical purposes
• Other charitable purposes

The trust makes grants to individuals, organisations, and other charities or voluntary bodies throughout England and Wales.

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly documented.

Ready to write a winning application for Grace Charitable Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The Grace Charitable Trust is governed by five trustees:

• Eric Payne OBE - Trustee
• Angela Mary Clarice Payne - Trustee
• Robert Annesley Wright OBE - Trustee
• Robert Brisco Macgregor Quayle - Trustee
• Mark Steven Mitchell - Trustee
• Mrs Snaith - Trustee

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust operates with one employee and has no trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The trust does not appear to have a public website or online application portal. Based on available information, applications should be directed to the trust via:

• Email: gracecharitabletrust@live.co.uk
• Phone: 01928 740773
• Post: Swinford House GCT Office, Nortons Lane, Great Barrow, Chester, Cheshire CH3 7JZ

Some sources indicate application deadlines of 30 June and 31 December, though this has not been verified from official trust communications.

Decision Timeline

Trustees have been reported to meet in March and September to review applications, though specific decision timelines are not publicly documented.

Success Rates

Success rate information is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Applicants should contact the trust directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Due to limited public information about the trust's grant-making process, the following general guidance applies:

• Alignment with charitable objects: Ensure your project clearly aligns with the trust's focus areas, particularly Christian-based activities, education, health, or support for vulnerable groups
• Geographic eligibility: Confirm your project operates within England and Wales
• Clear project description: Given the trust's broad charitable purposes, provide a clear and compelling case for your project's impact
• Direct contact: Consider making initial contact via phone or email to discuss eligibility before submitting a formal application
• Christian ethos: Projects with a Christian foundation or ethos may be particularly well-aligned with the trust's priorities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Grace Charitable Trust is a substantial grant-maker with nearly £1.83 million in annual charitable expenditure, suggesting they fund beyond the £1,000-£3,000 range reported in some directories
• The trust has a strong focus on Christian-based activities alongside broader social, educational, and medical purposes
• Limited public information means direct contact with the trust is essential to understand current priorities and application requirements
• The trust makes grants to both individuals and organisations, offering flexibility in who can apply
• With only five trustees and one employee, this is a relatively small operation, suggesting a more personal, relationship-based approach to grant-making
• No website presence indicates a traditional, correspondence-based application process
• The trust's substantial income from donations suggests it may have connections to significant individual or institutional donors

References

1. UK Charity Commission - Grace Charitable Trust (Charity Number 292984), Register of Charities: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/292984

1. OpenCharities - Grace Charitable Trust Profile: http://opencharities.org/charities/292984

1. Charity Commission Financial Data - Grace Charitable Trust, Financial Year Ending 30 April 2024

1. Grant directory information sourced from various UK charity funding databases, October 2025