Lord Leverhulme's Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,084,000 (charitable expenditure 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not specified (invitation-only process)
• Grant Range: Variable (capital projects preferred; £1m for major projects)
• Geographic Focus: Cheshire, Merseyside, and South Lancashire
• Total Assets: £44.5 million

Contact Details

Address: Leverhulme Estates, Hesketh Grange Manor Road, Thornton Hough, Wirral, CH63 1JD

Email: llctadmin@leverhulme.net

Phone: 01513364828

Note: The Trust operates primarily on an invitation basis for charities outside its core relationship group.

Overview

Lord Leverhulme's Charitable Trust was established in 1962 under a trust deed dated 20 March 1957 (as amended in 2005 and 2024) by Philip William Bryce Lever, the 3rd Viscount Leverhulme. With total assets of £44.5 million and annual charitable expenditure of approximately £1.08 million, the Trust supports charitable organizations with a strong preference for those located in Wirral, Cheshire, Merseyside, and South Lancashire. The Trust maintains a distinctive approach to grant-making, emphasizing capital rather than revenue funding, and operates primarily through established relationships with a select group of charities. The Trust has historical connections to institutions such as the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), which received an endowment from the first Viscount Leverhulme in 1910.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates without formal application deadlines or fixed grant programs. Instead, grants fall into three main categories:

1. Proactive Grants: Very rarely, the Trust identifies charitable needs within its criteria and makes unsolicited grants
2. Responsive Grants: The majority of grants support charities' capital projects or running costs (application required)
3. Relationship Grants: A handful of charities with ongoing relationships receive larger, often unrestricted grants

Application Method: Initial inquiry on a single sheet describing aims, with full application only upon invitation (for organizations outside priority areas).

Priority Areas

• Geographic: Cheshire, Merseyside, and South Lancashire (priority)
• Charities supported by the settlor during his lifetime
• Capital projects: Strong preference for funding capital rather than revenue costs
• Major institutional projects: “Once-in-a-generation” capital projects and significant anniversaries
• Educational institutions and medical research: Historical connections to universities and health research organizations in the region
• General charitable purposes: Helping children/young people, people with disabilities, and the general public

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside geographic priority area without prior invitation
• Revenue costs are generally not preferred (capital costs prioritized)
• Charities without established regional connections (unless invited)

Ready to write a winning application for Lord Leverhulme's 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 Trust is governed by a single corporate trustee: Hulme Trustee Ltd.

Key Trustee: Anthony Hewitt Scott Hannay, an alumnus of the University of Liverpool and supporter of LSTM, represents the Trust's approach to grant-making.

Trustee Philosophy (Anthony Hannay):

“I personally prefer as light a touch as possible, trusting the charity (about which we will have enquired) to make the best use of the funds.”

On unrestricted funding: The Trust “like[s] to give annual support on an unrestricted basis so that [charities] may use grants for what they deem to be their area of most need.”

On capital funding: The Trust has “a preference for making grants to meet capital rather than revenue costs believing that this enables a charity to do something which it could not otherwise achieve.”

Governance Note: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Priority Geographic Areas (Cheshire, Merseyside, South Lancashire):

• Direct application appears to be accepted, though specific process not publicly detailed
• Contact via email (llctadmin@leverhulme.net) or phone (01513364828)

For Other Organizations:

• Should NOT apply without prior invitation
• Submit a brief inquiry on a single sheet stating aims
• Apply fully only if invited to do so

Note: The Trust operates primarily through established relationships and tends to respond to requests rather than soliciting applications.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The Trust appears to operate on a case-by-case basis without fixed meeting schedules or deadlines.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The Trust maintains a selective approach, particularly for organizations outside its geographic priority area or established relationship group.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified. Given the invitation-based approach, unsuccessful applicants outside the priority area may have limited opportunities to reapply.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors:

1. Geographic Location: Being based in or serving Cheshire, Merseyside, or South Lancashire significantly increases likelihood of consideration

1. Capital Projects: The Trust explicitly prefers capital funding over revenue costs. Frame applications around tangible, lasting assets or facilities.

1. Significant Milestones: Major anniversaries or “once-in-a-generation” projects attract substantial grants

1. Established Relationships: The Trust favors ongoing relationships with a core group of charities, suggesting relationship-building is valuable

1. Trust-Based Approach: Demonstrate organizational competence and trustworthiness. The Trust prefers minimal oversight and trusts charities to use funds effectively.

1. Historical Connections: Organizations with connections to causes supported by the Leverhulme family historically may have stronger chances

Example Grants:

• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM): Receives annual unrestricted support; received support for 125th anniversary appeal (2020)
• University of Liverpool: £1 million for new equine facilities at Leahurst campus (25-year relationship with the Trust)
• Major projects: The Trust is “generally pleased to help” with substantial grants for major capital projects

Language and Approach:

The Trust values:

• Autonomy and organizational expertise
• Long-term impact through capital investment
• Regional connections and local knowledge
• Minimal bureaucracy and “light touch” oversight

What NOT to Do:

• Do not apply without invitation if outside the priority geographic area
• Avoid focusing primarily on revenue/running costs without capital elements
• Do not submit lengthy initial applications (single sheet for preliminary inquiry)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Geographic priority is critical: Organizations in Cheshire, Merseyside, and South Lancashire have significantly better prospects. Others should not apply without invitation.

1. Capital projects win: Frame proposals around capital needs that create lasting change rather than ongoing revenue requirements. The Trust believes capital funding enables organizations to achieve things they couldn't otherwise.

1. Relationship development matters: The Trust favors a small group of charities with ongoing relationships who receive larger grants. Building trust over time is valuable.

1. Keep initial contact brief: For preliminary inquiries, use a single sheet describing your aims. Only submit full applications when invited.

1. Demonstrate organizational competence: The Trust prefers minimal oversight and trusts organizations to allocate funds where most needed. Show you're capable of managing funds effectively.

1. Major milestones attract support: Significant anniversaries or transformational “once-in-a-generation” projects are more likely to receive substantial grants.

1. Historical connections help: Organizations with ties to causes the Leverhulme family supported historically (especially in the Liverpool/Wirral region) may have stronger cases.

References

• Charity Commission for England & Wales: Lord Leverhulme's Charitable Trust (212431). Retrieved from https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=212431

• Giving is Great: Lord Leverhulme's Charitable Trust Charity Factsheet. Retrieved from https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=212431

• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine: Lord Leverhulme's Charitable Trust. Retrieved from https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/lord-leverhulmes-charitable-trust - Includes quotes from Trustee Anthony Hannay

• Vet Times: University of Liverpool gets £1m boost for equine work. Retrieved from https://www.vettimes.com/news/vets/equine/university-of-liverpool-gets-1m-boost-for-equine-work

• Charity Commission Register: Full print of charity details including financial information for year ending 05 April 2024