The 1485 Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £345,661 (year ending March 2025)
• Success Rate: N/A (does not accept unsolicited applications)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Global (anywhere in the world)

Contact Details

• Address: 3rd Floor, 28 Austin Friars, London, EC2N 2QQ
• Phone: 020 3540 8910
• Website: None
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The 1485 Charitable Trust is a grant-making Christian trust established in 2017 through a Trust Deed dated 18 June 2017 (amended 22 November 2017). The trust supports organisations and projects that are either explicitly Christian or operate according to Christian values. The name “1485” references Blessed Michael Giedroyc (c.1420-1485), a beatified Lithuanian Catholic lay brother from the Giedroyć princely family, who was renowned for his piety and was formally beatified by Pope Francis in 2018.

The trust has grown substantially in recent years, with total income increasing from £70,438 in 2021 to £340,000 in 2025, and expenditure rising from £123,071 to £345,661 over the same period. The trust operates with 5 trustees and 2 volunteers, with no paid staff. Critically, the trust does not accept unsolicited applications for funding—it proactively identifies and selects organisations to support.

Funding Priorities

Charitable Objects

The trust's formal objects are:

• To advance the Christian faith
• To relieve poverty, sickness, distress and hardship
• To advance education and training

These aims are achieved through the provision of financial support to charitable organisations and projects anywhere in the world which are either explicitly Christian or which operate according to Christian values.

Activity Areas

Based on Charity Commission classifications, the trust funds work in:

• Education and training
• Disability support
• Poverty relief
• Religious activities

Known Grant Recipients

• Christian Aid - Listed as a funding partner, supporting their global work fighting poverty and injustice

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the trust's focus is exclusively on:

• Organisations that are explicitly Christian, OR
• Projects that operate according to Christian values

Non-faith-based or secular organisations without clear Christian principles are unlikely to receive support.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Michal Graham Dowmont Giedroyc (Chair)

• Appointed: 18 June 2017 (founding trustee)
• Also known as “Miko Giedroyc”
• Founder and trustee of Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir CIO
• Also trustee of The Two Walters Trust
• Former trustee of the Henry Smith Charity (one of the UK's largest grant-making charities)
• Founder of New Philanthropy Capital, serving as its first Head of Research
• Former Director of Deutsche Bank Securities and SGW Securities
• Education: Mathematics at Oxford University; Economics at New York University and Birkbeck College
• Member of the historic Giedroyć princely family of Lithuania

Philip John Parham CMG

• Appointed: 22 November 2017
• Distinguished British diplomat with extensive international experience
• Former UK Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (2014-2018)
• Former UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York (2009-2013)
• Former UK High Commissioner to Tanzania (2006-2009)
• Former UK Envoy to the Commonwealth (2018-2021)
• Trustee of The King's Trust International
• Appointed CMG in 2015 New Year Honours
• Married to Kasia Giedroyc (sister of TV presenter Mel Giedroyc and director Coky Giedroyc)

Dorothee Alexandra Ulrike Giedroyc

• Appointed: 22 November 2017
• Member of the Giedroyć family

Joseph Michal John Parham

• Appointed: 12 June 2021

Anna Viva Magdalene Giedroyc

• Appointed: 12 June 2021

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The 1485 Charitable Trust explicitly states that it does not accept unsolicited applications for funding. The trust proactively identifies and selects the organisations and projects it wishes to support, rather than accepting open applications from external parties.

Grants appear to be awarded at the discretion of the trustees, who identify suitable recipients through their own networks and research.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the trust's closed application process, organisations seeking funding should consider:

1. Christian Aid Partnership: The trust has funded Christian Aid, suggesting alignment with established Christian development organisations. Organisations working in partnership with or through Christian Aid may come to the trust's attention.

• Miko Giedroyc has deep roots in UK philanthropy through New Philanthropy Capital and the Henry Smith Charity
• Philip Parham has international diplomatic networks and serves on The King's Trust International
• Working with organisations connected to these trustees may increase visibility

1. Christian Funders Forum: While The 1485 Charitable Trust is not confirmed as a member, engaging with the Christian Funders Forum network may provide connection opportunities with similar funders.

1. Gospel and Faith-Based Music: Given Miko Giedroyc's involvement with Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir, organisations working at the intersection of Christian faith and music/arts may align with trustee interests.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The trust does not publish information about its grant-making cycles or decision timelines.

Success Rates

Not applicable—the trust does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—as the trust does not accept applications, there is no formal reapplication process.

Application Success Factors

Since the trust does not accept applications, traditional “success factors” do not apply. However, based on the trust's stated purpose and trustee backgrounds, organisations most likely to receive support would:

1. Have explicit Christian identity or values - The trust's objects specifically reference supporting organisations that are “explicitly Christian or which operate according to Christian values”

1. Work in established Christian development - The funding relationship with Christian Aid suggests support for established Christian organisations working on poverty and justice

1. Operate internationally - The trust can support projects “anywhere in the world”

1. Align with education, poverty relief, or disability support - These are the trust's registered activity areas

1. Have connections to trustee networks - Given the closed application process, relationships with trustee networks appear essential

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Closed to applications: The trust does not accept unsolicited funding requests—do not waste time submitting speculative applications
• Christian focus is essential: Only organisations that are explicitly Christian or operate according to Christian values are eligible
• Family trust with distinguished trustees: The Giedroyć/Parham family trust has trustees with significant philanthropic and diplomatic experience
• Growing funder: The trust's financial capacity has increased substantially in recent years, suggesting potential for larger grants
• Relationship-based giving: Without a public application process, building relationships through trustee networks is the only path to funding
• Global scope: The trust can fund projects anywhere in the world, not just UK-based work
• Named for Blessed Michael Giedroyc: The “1485” references a beatified Catholic saint, indicating deep Catholic/Christian roots

References

• UK Charity Commission Register - The 1485 Charitable Trust (1175902) -
• Charity Commission Full Print - The 1485 Charitable Trust -
• Greenwood Place - Miko Giedroyc Profile -
• The King's Trust International - Philip Parham CMG -
• Wikipedia - Philip Parham -
• Wikipedia - Michał Giedroyć (Blessed) -
• Wikipedia - Giedroyć Family -
• Christian Aid - Trusts and Foundations -