Penelope Martin Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1127485

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M
Geographic Focus: Kenya, Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £147,800 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not specified
  • Grant Range: Not disclosed (likely smaller grants to many charities)
  • Geographic Focus: UK and Kenya
  • Founded: 1985, registered 2009

Contact Details

Address: Progeny House, 46 Park Place, Leeds, LS1 2RY

Telephone: 0113 467 1741

Email: martin.hasyn@theprogenygroup.com

Contact Person: Martin Hasyn (trustee) or Antonia Forsythe (Chair)

Overview

The Penelope Martin Charitable Trust was founded in 1985 and registered with the Charity Commission in 2009 (charity number 1127485). The Trust is a general grant-making charity based in Leeds, Yorkshire, with the ability to make grants for a diverse range of charitable causes. It operates by holding a portfolio of stocks and shares and distributing the income from those investments annually to a variety of charities. In the financial year ending April 2024, the Trust had an income of £24,223 and distributed £147,800 in grants. The Trust maintains a low-profile operation with three trustees who receive no remuneration and no employed staff. While the Trust does not maintain a public website or publish lists of grant recipients, it has consistently supported UK registered charities working both domestically and internationally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single grant-making program with rolling applications accepted throughout the year. Based on available information:

  • General Grants: Amount not specified; applications accepted in writing on a rolling basis
  • The Trust distributed £159,750 to charities in the year ending April 2021
  • Annual accounts indicate grants are made to a “wide variety of independent charities,” suggesting awards are likely to be many and small rather than few and large

Priority Areas

The Trust has broad charitable objectives and can make grants for a diverse range of charitable causes. Specific priority areas include:

  • Geographic preference: UK charities working in the UK and/or Kenya (particular focus on Kenya for overseas grants)
  • Charitable flexibility: The trustees have the power to apply income to charitable foundations and purposes as they determine, with no restrictions on their charitable benevolence and no obligation to follow precedent

The Trust does not publish a list of grant recipients or specify particular cause areas, making it difficult to identify specific thematic priorities beyond the geographic focus on Kenya.

What They Don't Fund

The Trust only funds UK registered charities. Beyond this requirement, specific exclusions are not publicly stated.

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by three trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity:

  • Sister Penelope Ann Martin - Founder/Trustee
  • Mrs Antonia Clare Forsythe - Chair
  • Mr Martin James Hasyn - Solicitor/Trustee, Partner and Head of Private Law at Progeny

Martin Hasyn serves as the primary contact for the Trust and has more than 15 years of experience specializing in wealth and succession planning. The Trust is administered through Progeny Law and Tax Limited in Leeds.

The Trust operates with no employees and maintains a focused investment and grant-giving strategy without trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications may be made in writing at any time - there is no specific application deadline.

Written applications should be addressed to:

  • Antonia Forsythe (Chair) or Martin Hasyn
  • The Penelope Martin Charitable Trust
  • C/o Progeny Law and Tax Limited
  • Progeny House, 46 Park Place
  • Leeds, LS1 2RY

Alternatively, you may email: martin.hasyn@theprogenygroup.com or call 0113 467 1741

Application format: The Trust does not specify application requirements or provide application forms. Standard practice for written charitable trust applications would include:

  • Organization details and charity registration number
  • Amount requested
  • Project description
  • How funds will be used
  • Expected outcomes

Decision Timeline

The Trust does not publicly disclose typical decision timeframes. Since income is distributed annually from investment returns, the timing of decisions may be influenced by the Trust's grant-making cycle and available funds.

Success Rates

Success rates and application volumes are not publicly disclosed. The Trust does not publish information about how many applications it receives or what proportion are successful.

Reapplication Policy

No information is available regarding reapplication policies or waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Due to the limited public information available about this Trust, specific success factors are difficult to determine. However, based on the Trust's characteristics:

Alignment considerations:

  • Geographic focus: The Trust has a stated preference for Kenya for overseas work. Organizations with projects in Kenya or UK charities working in Kenya may be particularly well-positioned
  • Flexibility of trustee discretion: The trustees have broad discretion to support charitable causes as they determine, with no obligation to follow precedent. This suggests they may be open to supporting diverse causes and innovative approaches
  • Investment-based funding: Understanding that grants come from annual investment income may help explain potential variations in available funding year-to-year

Practical considerations:

  • The Trust maintains a low public profile and does not publish grant recipients lists, suggesting they may prefer quiet, relationship-based grant-making
  • References to supporting a “wide variety” of charities suggest the Trust may favor spreading funding across multiple organizations rather than making large single awards
  • With only three trustees and no staff, decision-making is likely personal and relationship-driven

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Rolling applications: You can apply at any time in writing - there are no fixed deadlines to worry about
  • Kenya connection: If your UK charity works in Kenya, this Trust has a specific stated interest in this geographic area
  • Broad discretion: The trustees have wide-ranging discretion to support different causes, so don't be deterred if your cause isn't explicitly mentioned
  • Expect smaller grants: With annual giving of around £150,000 distributed to a “wide variety” of charities, individual grants are likely modest rather than transformational
  • Low profile operation: This Trust doesn't publish recipient lists or maintain a website, suggesting a preference for quiet, relationship-based grant-making
  • Written applications only: Craft a clear, concise written application - there's no online portal or complex application form
  • Be patient: With three volunteer trustees and no staff, decision-making may take time and depend on the Trust's annual grant-giving cycle

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