Miss E F Rathbone Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £300,000-£356,618
• Success Rate: Not published
• Decision Time: 4-6 months (applications reviewed at 3 trustee meetings per year)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000
• Geographic Focus: Merseyside (priority), National (UK-wide charities), International (Sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Palestine)

Contact Details

Address: 546 Warrington Road, Rainhill, Prescot, L35 4LZ

Phone: 07837656314

Email: eleanorrathbonetrust@gmail.com

Website: https://www.eleanorrathbonetrust.org.uk

Charity Number: 233241

Overview

Established on 4th February 1947 by Dr. BL Rathbone using money left by his aunt Eleanor Rathbone (1872-1946), the Miss E F Rathbone Charitable Trust operates under the working name “The Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust.” The trust has approximately £300,000 available annually for distribution after expenses, regular annual grants, and outstanding promises. In recent years, the trust has made approximately 150 grants annually with a combined value of around £500,000 (this includes the related but separately administered Elizabeth Rathbone Trust). The trust honors Eleanor Rathbone's legacy as Britain's first woman elected to Liverpool City Council (1909-1934) and an Independent MP (1929-1946) who campaigned for social reforms, women's rights, and family allowances. The trust focuses on causes that Eleanor Rathbone or her father William Rathbone VI would have had a special interest in, prioritizing small and medium-sized charities that benefit economically deprived and socially excluded people, with particular emphasis on women, girls, young people, and unpopular or neglected causes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Merseyside Grants: Up to £5,000

Grants for charities and charitable projects based in or delivered in Merseyside, particularly in the more deprived areas of the county. This is the trust's primary geographic focus, with 63% of grants by value going to Merseyside-based charities. Most grants are awarded for one year, although requests for 2 and 3-year grants will be considered.

National Grants: £1,000 - £3,000

Grants for small or medium-sized UK charities with nationwide scope that align with the trust's priorities.

International Grants: £1,000 - £3,000

Grants for international projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or projects in Palestine supporting Palestinian refugees. These must be sponsored by a UK registered charity and prioritize projects benefiting women, orphaned children, war-damaged regions, and clean water/sanitation projects.

Holiday Fund: Small grants

A small holiday fund providing grants for holidays and outings, restricted to charities helping disadvantaged children and adults from Merseyside.

Priority Areas

• Economically deprived and socially excluded women, girls, young people, and families
• Unpopular and neglected causes
• Women's health and support (e.g., menopause support groups)
• Disadvantaged children and families in Merseyside
• Refugees, prisoners, their families, and ex-offenders
• Palestinian refugees
• International projects focusing on women, orphaned children, clean water, and sanitation
• War-damaged regions

What They Don't Fund

• Local charities outside Merseyside (unless they have nationwide scope or meet international criteria)
• Large charities (only small or medium-sized charities are eligible)
• Charities with sectarian interests
• Organizations that have received a grant within the past two years

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Andrew Lyle Rathbone (Chair) - Also trustee of The Children's Rest School of Recovery and Leeds Refugee Forum
• Joan Elizabeth Bonenfant (Trustee, appointed 20 February 2020) - Also trustee of The Children's Rest School of Recovery
• Jenny Rathbone (Trustee) - Also trustee of The Children's Rest School of Recovery
• Lady Angela Mary Eleanor Morgan (Trustee) - Also trustee of The Children's Rest School of Recovery
• Mark Edward Rathbone (Trustee) - Also trustee of The Children's Rest School of Recovery

Administrator: Liese van Alwon

The trustees meet three times a year to agree on broad strategy and areas of activity for the charity including grantmaking, investment, reserves, and risk management. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust has no trading subsidiaries, and governance costs are allocated to charitable activities.

How to Apply to Miss E F Rathbone Charitable Trust

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis at any time throughout the year. The process involves:

• Organizational overview (1-2 A4 pages)
• Detailed project description (2-4 A4 pages)
• Project budget breakdown
• Details of any secured funding and any shortfall
• Specific statement of what you would like the trust to fund
• Your organization's most recent accounts

Important: Previous grant recipients must submit a report on how the prior grant was used before applying again.

Decision Timeline

Applications are reviewed at trustee meetings which occur three times a year. Meeting dates vary. Applicants should expect a decision timeframe of approximately 4-6 months depending on when their application is submitted relative to the next trustee meeting.

Success Rates

The trust does not publish specific success rate data. However, with approximately 150 grants made annually from likely hundreds of applications, the trust appears to have a moderately selective process.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have previously received a grant must wait two years before reapplying. This is a strict eligibility requirement rather than a recommendation.

Application Success Factors

Based on the trust's priorities and recent grant awards, successful applications demonstrate:

• Clear alignment with Eleanor Rathbone's legacy: Projects that benefit women, address unpopular or neglected causes, or focus on social justice issues that Eleanor Rathbone championed are strongly favored.

• Focus on disadvantaged groups: Applications that demonstrate direct benefit to economically deprived and socially excluded women, girls, young people, and families are prioritized.

• Merseyside connection: If your organization is based in or delivers services in Merseyside, particularly in more deprived areas, this significantly strengthens your application. 63% of grants go to Merseyside-based organizations.

• Small to medium-sized charities: The trust specifically targets smaller organizations where their grants can make a significant difference. Large, well-established charities are not eligible.

• Specific, well-defined projects: Recent successful grants (such as the £2,000 for a Menopause Support Group) show the trust values projects with clear objectives, defined activities (expert speakers, resources, materials), and tangible community benefit.

• Addressing women's issues: Projects specifically addressing women's health, women's rights, or supporting women in vulnerable situations align strongly with the trust's core mission.

• Unpopular causes: Don't shy away from applying if your cause is considered “unpopular” or “neglected” - this is explicitly a priority for the trust.

• International projects with UK charity sponsorship: If applying for international work, ensure your project is properly sponsored by a UK registered charity and clearly addresses one of the priority areas (women, orphaned children, war-damaged regions, clean water/sanitation).

• Clear budget and funding gap: Applications should clearly articulate total project costs, any secured funding, and specifically what you're asking the trust to fund.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Merseyside-based organizations have a significant advantage - 63% of grant funding goes to this region, so emphasize any Merseyside connection strongly.

• The two-year waiting period is mandatory - if you've received a grant before, ensure two full years have passed before reapplying, and include a report on the previous grant's impact.

• Think “unpopular and neglected” - the trust explicitly seeks causes that might struggle to find funding elsewhere, so don't assume your cause is too niche or controversial.

• Women-focused projects are core priorities - any project benefiting women, girls, or addressing women's health and rights should highlight this prominently.

• Size matters - only small or medium-sized charities are eligible, so if you're a smaller organization competing with larger entities elsewhere, this trust may be ideal for you.

• Rolling applications but quarterly decisions - while you can apply anytime, plan for a 4-6 month decision timeline depending on trustee meeting schedules.

• International applicants must show UK connection - international projects need UK registered charity sponsorship and should focus on specific regions (Sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Palestine).

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Rainford Trust
• The Steve Morgan Foundation
• The Northwick Trust
• The Blyth Watson Charitable Trust
• The Hamilton Wallace Trust
• The Marjory Boddy Charitable Trust
• The Inman Charity
• The Eric Wright Charitable Trust
• The Ashworth Charitable Trust
• The General Charity Fund

References

• Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust Official Website: https://eleanorrathbonetrust.org.uk/
• Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust Guidelines: https://eleanorrathbonetrust.org.uk/guidelines.html
• Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust Application Page: https://eleanorrathbonetrust.org.uk/apply.html
• Charity Commission Register: Miss E F Rathbone Charitable Trust (233241): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/233241
• NGO Portal - Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust Guidelines for Applicants: https://ngoportal.org/eleanor-rathbone-charitable-trust-guidelines-for-applicants/
• St Mary's Millennium Centre Funding Success Story: https://smmcwd.co.uk/f/recent-funding-success-story-eleanor-rathbone-charitable-trust
• LCVS Training - Meet the Funder: https://www.lcvs.org.uk/training/lcvs-training-free-meet-the-funder-eleanor-rathbone-trust-elizabeth-rathbone-trust/