Old Possum's Practical Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £250,000
• Grant Range: £500 - £5,000 (typical); £5,000 - £30,000 (for 3-year revenue grants)
• Geographic Focus: National (UK), with concentration on London
• Total Distributed to Date: Over £7 million since 1990
• Application Method: Rolling basis via online contact form
• Decision Time: Not specified

Contact Details

Website: https://tseliot.com/foundation/old-possums-trust/

Phone: 01908 662255

Email: Via online contact form only

Overview

Old Possum's Practical Trust was founded by Valerie Eliot in January 1990 and endowed in 2001 with proceeds from the musical Cats, based on T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats." The Trust's primary purpose is “to increase knowledge and appreciation of any matters of historic, artistic, architectural, aesthetic, literary, musical or theatrical interest,” with a concentration on literary, educational, and theatrical endeavours. Having distributed over £7 million since its formation, the Trust gives away approximately £250,000 annually. The Trust emphasizes quality over quantity, preferring to make fewer, more substantial grants rather than numerous small donations, with a strong focus on continued support of previous grant recipients.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Standard Grants: £500 - £5,000

• Rolling application process
• Single grants for specific projects or activities
• Available to both organizations and individuals

Three-Year Revenue Grants: £5,000 - £30,000 (total over 3 years)

• For ongoing projects requiring sustained support
• Designed to give organizations certainty and enable sustainable planning
• Provides time to seek alternative funding when grants end
• Available to UK registered charities

The Trust retains the right to give discretionary grants outside these amounts in exceptional circumstances.

Priority Areas

Grants are more likely to be awarded for projects that fall within:

• Literary endeavours (writing, poetry, literature promotion)
• Theatrical projects (drama, performance, theatre groups)
• Musical initiatives (particularly classical or educational music)
• Artistic projects (general arts and culture)
• Educational programs (particularly those promoting literacy and arts education)
• Projects promoting freedom of speech

Applications must demonstrate:

• High level of sustainability
• Strong contextual impact
• Impact on future literary work
• Enterprise in artistic endeavor

What They Don't Fund

• Completed activities or projects (retrospective funding)
• Capital building projects
• Personal training or education costs
• Medical care or resources
• Feasibility studies

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by a trust deed dated 29 January 1990, as amended by deeds dated 16 April 2014 and 18 December 2019. Trustees are responsible for controlling the work, management, and administration of the charity. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The fund is managed professionally to generate sufficient income to meet the Trustees' annual donation needs.

While specific current trustee names are not publicly listed on the Trust's website, the Trustees continue the literary, educational, and theatrical focus established by founder Valerie Eliot.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines. Interested charities and individuals should:

• Email address
• Name
• Organization details
• Detailed project description
• Grant amount requested

Important application notes:

• The Trust does not acknowledge receipt of applications
• Applicants should not send follow-up emails after submission
• The Trust will only contact you when a decision has been made or if further information is required
• Be patient during the review process

Decision Timeline

The Trust does not specify a typical decision timeline. Applicants will be contacted only when a decision has been made or if additional information is needed. No acknowledgment is sent upon submission.

Success Rates

Success rate data and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly specified. However, the Trust emphasizes “continued support of previous grant recipients,” suggesting they favor building long-term relationships with organizations they have previously funded.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated priorities and funding history, successful applicants should:

Demonstrate Strategic Alignment

• Focus on literary, theatrical, musical, or arts education projects
• Show how the project increases knowledge and appreciation of artistic/cultural matters
• Emphasize enterprise and innovation in artistic endeavor

Highlight Sustainability and Impact

• Clearly articulate high-level sustainability plans
• Demonstrate strong contextual impact, particularly on future literary or artistic work
• For three-year grants, explain how the time will be used to develop alternative funding sources

Learn from Past Recipients

• HighTide: Received five years of funding, which provided a springboard to obtain Arts Council Funding and develop the HighTide Festival in Aldeburgh
• First Story: The Trust was an initial funder of this landmark creative writing initiative in UK state schools
• Shakespeare for Schools: Funded for multiple years
• Sandy Hill Arts: Received £2,000 in August 2024 for their Poetry Weekend + Comedy event

These examples demonstrate the Trust's preference for:

• Projects developing emerging talent (young directors, playwrights)
• Educational initiatives bringing arts to wider audiences
• Programs with potential to scale and secure additional funding
• Literary and theatrical activities with community impact

Application Best Practices

• Be patient and avoid follow-up communications after submission
• Request appropriate amounts (£500-£5,000 for single grants; £5,000-£30,000 for three-year support)
• For ongoing projects, consider requesting three-year funding to demonstrate long-term planning
• Emphasize how the grant will enable sustainable development

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Multi-year funding available: The Trust offers three-year grants for ongoing projects, providing rare funding certainty in the arts sector
• Quality over quantity: The Trust prefers making substantial grants to carefully chosen causes rather than numerous small grants
• Continued relationships valued: Emphasis on “continued support of previous grant recipients” suggests building a relationship with the Trust can lead to ongoing funding
• No acknowledgment system: Don't expect confirmation of receipt; the Trust only contacts applicants with decisions or requests for information
• Rolling deadlines: Applications accepted year-round, allowing flexibility in timing
• Strong T.S. Eliot connection: Projects connected to poetry, literature, or theatre aligned with Eliot's legacy may resonate particularly well
• Sustainability critical: Demonstrate clear plans for impact and long-term viability, especially for three-year grants

References

• Old Possum's Practical Trust official website: https://tseliot.com/foundation/old-possums-trust/
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity No. 328558: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=328558
• Making Music funding opportunity listing: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/funding-opportunity/old-possum's-practical-trust
• Sandy Hill Arts grant announcement: https://sandyhillarts.co.uk/news/t-s-eliot-foundation-old-possums-practical-trust-grant/
• SCIPS funding directory: https://www.scips.org.uk/news/funding/5982-old-possum-s-practical-trust-uk-deadline-rolling
• Bath and North East Somerset Council funding database: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/node/88941