Miss Mary Dunlop Murdoch Andrew Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £55,000 (approximate based on recent expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not specified (rolling applications)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Scotland only

Contact Details

Address: Mitchells Roberton, George House, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD

Phone: 0141 552 3422

Email: [email protected]

Application Method: Written applications to the Trustees

Overview

The Miss Mary Dunlop Murdoch Andrew Charitable Trust (also known as The Mary Andrew Charitable Trust) is a Scottish charitable trust registered with OSCR since September 20, 1993 (Charity Number SC021977). The trust operates as a standard regulatory trust established by deed of trust, with an annual expenditure of approximately £55,000 based on recent accounts. Administered by the long-established Glasgow law firm Mitchells Roberton, the trust focuses on supporting charitable organizations working across multiple sectors including Christian churches, vulnerable populations, education, youth welfare, and historic preservation. The trust operates with a modest but consistent annual income of around £38,000-£39,000, making regular grants to charitable organizations throughout Scotland.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single grant program with applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Grant amounts are not publicly disclosed and are determined by the trustees based on the merits of each application and available funds.

Application Method: Written applications by letter to the trustees at any time (rolling basis)

Priority Areas

The trust funds charities working in the following specific fields:

• Religious Organizations: Maintenance and expansion of Christian churches and organizations
• Health and Disability: Maintenance, relief, medical treatment or care of the sick, blind, deaf, and those with disabilities
• Social Welfare: Support for the aged, those in poverty, and relief of those in need by reason of age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
• Education: Education and training programs
• Children and Youth: Care and upbringing of young people
• Historic Preservation: Preservation of places and buildings of historic or artistic interest
• Animal Welfare: Advancement of animal welfare

The trust's charitable purposes span ten OSCR categories: poverty relief, education advancement, religious advancement, health improvement, community development, arts/heritage/culture, sports participation, environmental protection, relief of disadvantaged persons, and animal welfare.

Beneficiary Groups: Children, older people, young people, people in poverty, and individuals with disabilities or health conditions

Funding Type: Both capital and revenue costs

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations operating outside Scotland
• Individuals (the trust only funds charitable organizations)

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is administered by Mitchells Roberton, one of Scotland's oldest law firms dating back to the 1740s. The firm specializes in charitable trust administration and has dedicated solicitors managing trusts, including Alasdair Fraser who acts for a number of charitable trusts and is working towards his STEP qualification, and Lauren Booth in their Private Client Department handling trust administration.

Trustee Information: Under OSCR regulations, trustee names will be published from January 2026. Currently, the trustees operate through the administration of Mitchells Roberton solicitors.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be made in writing to the Trustees at:

Miss Mary Dunlop Murdoch Andrew Charitable Trust

c/o Mitchells Roberton

George House

36 North Hanover Street

Glasgow, G1 2AD

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0141 552 3422

The trust operates on a rolling application basis with no fixed deadlines, allowing organizations to apply at any time throughout the year.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified. As applications are processed on a rolling basis, applicants should contact the trust administrators directly for guidance on expected timeframes.

Success Rates

Success rates and data on the number of applications received versus grants awarded are not publicly disclosed. This information is restricted to SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) members and supporters.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly specified. Organizations are advised to contact the trust administrators for guidance on reapplication procedures.

Application Success Factors

While the trust does not publish detailed application guidance or success criteria, the following factors can be inferred from the trust's structure and priorities:

Alignment with Priority Areas

Applications should clearly demonstrate how the organization's work aligns with one or more of the trust's specific funding priorities. Given the breadth of the trust's charitable purposes, successful applicants likely articulate a strong fit with the explicitly stated priority areas such as Christian churches, support for vulnerable populations, education, youth welfare, or historic preservation.

Examples of Potential Recipients

The trust's founding deed mentions consideration of well-established national and Scottish charities including: British Red Cross, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, Army Benevolent Fund, Royal National Institute for the Blind, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Age Concern Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, Salvation Army, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and the University of Glasgow Trust. This suggests the trust has historically supported both large established charities and organizations with proven track records.

Geographic Focus

Organizations must operate in Scotland or demonstrate clear benefit to Scottish communities. This is a strict criterion for this trust.

Written Applications

The requirement for written applications (rather than online forms) suggests the trustees value detailed, well-considered proposals. Applications should be professional, clear, and comprehensive.

Professional Administration

As the trust is administered by a professional legal firm specializing in charitable trusts, applications should be well-organized, legally compliant, and demonstrate sound governance and financial management.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Small but Consistent Funder: With annual expenditure around £55,000, this is a modest trust that likely makes multiple smaller grants rather than large single awards. Tailor funding requests accordingly.

• Broad Charitable Scope: The trust has an unusually wide range of charitable purposes (10 OSCR categories), providing opportunities for diverse organizations, but applications must still clearly fit one or more stated priorities.

• Scotland-Only Focus: Geographic restriction is strict—only organizations operating in Scotland or serving Scottish beneficiaries will be considered.

• Traditional Application Process: Written applications suggest a more traditional, formal approach. Invest time in crafting a well-written, professional proposal letter rather than filling out a standardized form.

• Professional Administration: Trustees work through experienced solicitors at Mitchells Roberton, indicating a preference for well-governed organizations with professional practices.

• Rolling Applications Welcome: No deadlines means organizations can apply when ready and when funds are needed, but also means competition is ongoing throughout the year.

• Limited Public Information: Grant amounts and success rates are not disclosed, so applicants may benefit from initial contact with the trust administrators to discuss potential fit and appropriate funding levels before submitting a full application.

References

• Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). “Charity Details: Miss Mary Dunlop Murdoch Andrew Charitable Trust (SC021977).” Available at: https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=sc021977

• Funding Scotland. “Miss Mary Dunlop Murdoch Andrew Charitable Trust.” Available at: https://funding.scot/funds/a0Rb0000000Ng7NEAS/miss-mary-dunlop-murdoch-andrew-charitable-trust

• Mitchells Roberton Solicitors. “Trusts Services.” Available at: https://mitchells-roberton.co.uk/

• OSCR Annual Accounts for SC021977, years ending September 2021-2024