Peter Dixon Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £250,000 - £350,000 (varies by year)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (trustee-discretion grants)
• Decision Time: Trustee meetings held periodically
• Grant Range: £500 - £50,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide with emphasis on London and Southeast

Contact Details

• Email: rcrowley@wedlakebell.com
• Phone: 020 7395 3000
• Address: c/o Wedlake Bell LLP, 71 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4AY
• Website: No dedicated website

Overview

The Peter Dixon Charitable Trust (registered charity 261158) is a private grant-making trust established in 1969. With annual grant distributions typically ranging between £250,000 and £350,000, the trust operates as a general charitable trust supporting a wide range of causes across the UK. The trust is administered through Wedlake Bell LLP, a London-based law firm that provides secretarial and administrative services. The trust operates on a trustee-discretion basis without a public application process, making grants primarily to organizations known to the trustees or brought to their attention through professional networks.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust makes discretionary grants across several areas:

• Education and Training: £5,000 - £25,000 (support for educational institutions and youth development programs)
• Health and Medical: £2,000 - £20,000 (medical research and healthcare charities)
• Social Welfare: £1,000 - £15,000 (community support and social services)
• Arts and Culture: £500 - £10,000 (cultural institutions and arts organizations)
• Religious Organizations: £1,000 - £50,000 (various denominational charities)

Priority Areas

• Education and youth development
• Healthcare and medical research
• Social welfare and community services
• Arts, culture and heritage preservation
• Religious and faith-based initiatives
• Disability support services

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals (personal appeals)
• Animal welfare organizations
• Political campaigns or lobbying activities
• Overseas development (focus is UK-based)
• Retrospective funding

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by a board of trustees who meet periodically to review funding decisions. The trust's administration is handled by Wedlake Bell LLP, with Robert Crowley serving as the primary contact for trust matters. The trustees maintain a low public profile, focusing on effective grant distribution rather than public engagement. Trust decisions are made collectively by the trustees based on their assessment of charitable need and organizational effectiveness.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they have identified or that have been brought to their attention through their professional networks and advisors. The trust does not maintain an open application system or accept unsolicited funding requests through a formal portal.

Getting on Their Radar

Organizations seeking support from the Peter Dixon Charitable Trust should note that grants are typically made to charities known to the trustees through:

• Recommendations from Wedlake Bell LLP's charitable sector clients
• Existing relationships with previously funded organizations
• Professional networks within the London charitable sector
• Referrals from other grant-making trusts with which they collaborate

Decision Timeline

Trustee meetings are held periodically throughout the year, typically quarterly. Organizations brought to the trustees' attention may be considered at the next available meeting. Grant notifications are typically made within 2-4 weeks of trustee meetings.

Success Rates

Not applicable as the trust does not operate an open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have previously received funding may be considered for future support, with many recipients receiving multi-year or repeat funding based on demonstrated impact and ongoing relationship with the trustees.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's operating model, organizations most likely to receive support are those that:

• Have established credibility within their sector
• Can demonstrate clear impact and effective use of previous grants
• Align closely with the trust's broad charitable purposes
• Have connections to the trust's professional advisors or existing beneficiaries
• Operate with strong governance and financial management
• Focus on UK-based activities with demonstrable local impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Peter Dixon Charitable Trust operates as a relationship-based funder without public applications
• Contact through Wedlake Bell LLP is the primary route for initial engagement
• The trust supports a broad range of charitable causes with a UK focus
• Grant amounts are modest but meaningful, typically under £25,000
• Building relationships with existing beneficiaries or professional advisors is key
• The trust values organizational effectiveness and demonstrated impact
• Multi-year relationships are possible for successful grant recipients

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Gosling Foundation Limited
• Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust
• The Albert Hunt Trust
• Army Benevolent Fund
• The Michael Uren Foundation
• THE ARMY CENTRAL FUND
• The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity
• BUTTLE UK
• The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust
• Stelios Philanthropic Foundation
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• The Syncona Foundation
• THE HEALTH FOUNDATION
• Smallwood Trust
• John Swire 1989 Charitable Trust
• The Rayne Foundation
• John Laing Charitable Trust
• THE BARBOUR FOUNDATION
• The Muriel and Gershon Coren Charitable Foundation
• Lloyd's Register Foundation

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales - Registered Charity 261158
• Wedlake Bell LLP - Charity and Social Enterprise sector information
• UK Charity Commission annual returns and financial statements (2020-2023)
• Directory of Grant Making Trusts entries
• Charity sector networking intelligence regarding private trust operations