Myristica Trust

Charity Number: 1092431

Annual Expenditure: £1.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,058,000 (FY 2023-24)
  • Annual Income: £5,188,000 (FY 2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (proactive grantmaker)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: £100,000 - £1,000,000+ (based on known awards)
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Registered Address: Solus, Coxen Lane, Cowbridge, CF71 7EP, United Kingdom

Phone: 02920 391731

Charity Number: 1092431

Website: No public website

Note: The Trust does not appear to have a public website or published application guidelines. Contact via telephone or written correspondence to the registered address.

Overview

The MYRISTICA TRUST was registered as a charity (1092431) and operates as a private grant-making trust supporting organisations across England and Wales. With annual expenditure on charitable activities of over £1 million and significant income (£5.2 million in FY 2023-24, including a £5 million donation/legacy), the Trust supports organisations which the trustees consider merit support in medical research, care for children and animals, and foreign aid. The Trust operates through proactive grantmaking, identifying and approaching organisations directly rather than accepting unsolicited applications. Notable for building long-term relationships with beneficiaries, including an 18-year funding partnership with Cardiff University's cancer research programmes. Recent major contributions include a £1 million grant to Cardiff University for cancer research studentships and substantial funding toward a £2.5 million Shannon Class lifeboat for Barry Dock RNLI. No trustees receive remuneration from the charity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust does not operate formal grant programmes with fixed criteria or deadlines. Instead, funding is provided at the discretion of trustees who proactively identify organisations they wish to support.

Known Grant Examples:

  • Cancer Research Funding: £100,000 - £1,000,000 (Cardiff University received £100,000 for a Bioinformatics PhD studentship and subsequently £1 million for nine cancer research PhD studentships over three years)
  • Emergency Services/Maritime Safety: Substantial contribution toward £2.5 million Shannon Class lifeboat for Barry Dock RNLI
  • Application Method: Trustee-initiated/proactive grantmaking (not rolling applications or fixed deadlines)

Priority Areas

Based on the Trust's stated charitable objects and confirmed grants:

  • Medical Research: Particularly cancer research, biomedical research, and research studentships
  • Care for Children: Support for organisations benefiting children (specific examples not publicly available)
  • Animal Welfare: Support for organisations providing care for animals
  • Foreign Aid: International development and humanitarian organisations
  • Emergency Services: Maritime rescue services (RNLI)

The Trust appears to favour:

  • Research institutions and universities
  • Organisations providing front-line services
  • Projects with long-term impact
  • Building sustained partnerships rather than one-off grants

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but as a proactive grantmaker:

  • The Trust does not accept unsolicited applications
  • Unlikely to fund individuals directly
  • Unlikely to fund projects outside England and Wales (except for foreign aid initiatives)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: The Trust has 3 trustees (names not publicly disclosed on Charity Commission register)

Governance Standards:

  • No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity
  • The charity does not have trading subsidiaries
  • Reporting is up to date with the Charity Commission

Leadership Approach: The trustees operate with full discretion to identify and support organisations they consider merit support. The Trust's 18-year relationship with Cardiff University demonstrates a commitment to sustained, long-term partnerships with organisations whose work aligns with their charitable objectives.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The MYRISTICA TRUST operates as a proactive grantmaker and does not appear to accept unsolicited applications.

This means:

  • The Trust does not have a public website with application guidelines
  • The Trust does not have an online application portal
  • Trustees proactively identify and approach organisations they wish to fund
  • Funding relationships appear to be built over time through direct trustee engagement

If you wish to make contact:

  • Write to the Trust at their registered address: Solus, Coxen Lane, Cowbridge, CF71 7EP
  • Call: 02920 391731
  • Be aware that unsolicited approaches may not receive a response or funding consideration

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a proactive grantmaker, decision timelines are likely determined by trustee meetings and internal processes rather than fixed cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. The Trust operates through trustee-initiated grants.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. Given the Trust's approach of building long-term relationships (e.g., 18-year partnership with Cardiff University), sustained funding appears possible for organisations that align with trustee priorities and demonstrate impact.

Application Success Factors

Since the MYRISTICA TRUST operates as a proactive grantmaker, traditional “application success factors” do not apply. However, analysis of their known grants reveals what attracts trustee support:

Characteristics of Funded Organisations:

  1. Track Record and Reputation: Cardiff University is a Russell Group research institution with established research excellence; RNLI is a highly respected national charity
  2. Alignment with Core Priorities: Both major grants align perfectly with stated priorities (medical research and life-saving services)
  3. Long-Term Impact: Cancer research studentships create lasting impact through training the next generation of researchers; lifeboats provide decades of service
  4. Geographic Connection: Barry Dock RNLI serves the South Wales coast, suggesting possible regional preference given the Trust's Cardiff/Cowbridge base
  5. Sustained Relationships: The 18-year partnership with Cardiff University shows the Trust values ongoing relationships over one-off grants

Projects Recently Funded:

  • Nine fully-funded cancer research PhD studentships at Cardiff University (£1 million over three years) covering cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and drug discovery
  • Shannon Class all-weather lifeboat for Barry Dock RNLI (substantial contribution toward £2.5 million total cost)
  • Previous Bioinformatics PhD studentship at Cardiff University (£100,000)

Language and Approach:

Cardiff University's announcement emphasized:

  • The long-term relationship with the Trust
  • Specific research outcomes and impact
  • The breadth of cancer research that would be supported
  • Gratitude for “very generous contribution”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Proactive Grantmaking: This Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. They identify and approach organisations themselves, making traditional grant applications unlikely to succeed.
  1. Relationship-Driven: With an 18-year partnership with Cardiff University, the Trust clearly values sustained relationships. If you're unknown to the trustees, securing funding is extremely difficult.
  1. Substantial Grants: Known grants range from £100,000 to £1 million+, indicating the Trust makes significant investments rather than many small grants (annual charitable spending of £1,058,000 supports this).
  1. Regional Consideration: Both major known grants (Cardiff University and Barry Dock RNLI) have Wales connections, and the Trust is based in Cowbridge, South Wales. Geographic proximity or Welsh connection may be relevant.
  1. Strategic Focus: The Trust supports medical research (especially cancer research), emergency/life-saving services, and likely animal welfare and foreign aid, though fewer examples are publicly available in these areas.
  1. Long-Term Impact: Funded projects demonstrate sustained impact—research training programmes and lifeboats provide decades of benefit rather than short-term interventions.
  1. High Standards: Both major beneficiaries are well-established, highly reputable organisations with proven track records, suggesting the Trust has high expectations for organisational quality and impact.

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