The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 800493

Annual Expenditure: £1.7M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Charity Number: 800493
  • Annual Giving: £1,678,520 (year ending December 2024)
  • Total Assets: Significant investment portfolio
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom and overseas
  • Application Process: No public application process - trustee discretion only

Contact Details

The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust is managed by the same staff team as the Swire Charitable Trust.

Administrative Office:

Swire House, 59 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AJ

Staff Team Contact (for main Swire Charitable Trust):

  • Website: www.swirecharitabletrust.org.uk
  • Email: info@scts.org.uk

Overview

The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust (registered charity 800493) was established on 30 November 1988 as one of several Swire family charitable trusts. The trust operates as a private family foundation providing donations and grants for charitable purposes in the United Kingdom and overseas, with charitable expenditure of £1,678,520 in the year ending December 2024.

Unlike the main Swire Charitable Trust which accepts public applications, The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust is driven by the trustees and the Swire family, and according to the official Swire Trust website, “it is extremely rare for donations to be made in response to unsolicited applications.” The trust is part of the wider Swire family philanthropic network that collectively awarded £10 million in grants to more than 475 charities through five charitable trusts in 2023.

The trust operates with substantial investment income (£1,878,318 in 2024) and makes strategic grants aligned with the interests and priorities of the Swire family trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant-Making Approach

The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust operates under the trustees' “uncontrolled discretion” to determine which charitable causes receive support. Grants are awarded to charities across various sectors, both in the UK and overseas, based on the trustees' assessment of charitable need and strategic priorities.

Priority Areas

While specific funding priorities are not publicly disclosed for this private family trust, the broader Swire family philanthropic interests include:

  • Arts and Heritage: Supporting cultural institutions and heritage preservation projects
  • Education: Particularly initiatives that improve access and equity for disadvantaged groups
  • Environment and Conservation: Marine conservation and ecosystem health
  • Social Welfare: Supporting disadvantaged communities and vulnerable populations

What They Don't Fund

As a private trust operating at trustees' discretion, there are no published exclusions. However, given the trust's focus on strategic charitable impact, it is unlikely to support:

  • Unsolicited applications from organizations without existing connections
  • General fundraising appeals
  • Projects outside areas of trustee interest
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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees (as of latest filing)

  • Samuel Compton Swire - Chair
  • The Lady Judith Swire
  • Merlin Bingham Swire
  • Martha Virginia Allfrey
  • James Kidner
  • Camilla Soames

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

The Swire Family Legacy

The trust is named after the late Sir Adrian Christopher Swire (1932-2018), former Chairman of the Swire group (1987-1997 and 2002-2005). Sir Adrian was knighted in 1982 for services to shipping and played a crucial role in establishing Swire's strategic alliances in China and safeguarding the family's business interests in Hong Kong through the 1997 handover.

His sons Samuel (Sam) and Merlin Swire continue the family's philanthropic tradition as trustees of the charitable trust. The Swire family motto 'esse quam videri' (to be rather than to seem to be) guides the values and approach of their charitable work.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust does not have a public application process.

According to the official Swire Charitable Trust website: “The donations made by these family trusts are driven by the Trustees and the Swire family” and “it is extremely rare for donations to be made in response to unsolicited applications.”

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on their knowledge of charitable causes, existing relationships, and strategic priorities aligned with the Swire family's philanthropic interests.

Alternative: The Swire Charitable Trust

Organizations seeking Swire family funding should note that the main Swire Charitable Trust (charity number 270726) operates three open grant programmes - Opportunity, Heritage, and Nature - with a rolling application process accepting unsolicited applications. In 2024, this trust awarded over £7 million in grants to more than 280 charities, with grants generally up to £50,000.

For open application opportunities, visit: www.swirecharitabletrust.org.uk/our-funding/

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust is a private family foundation that does not accept unsolicited applications
  • Significant grant-maker: Despite the private nature, the trust distributed over £1.6 million in charitable expenditure in 2024
  • Trustee-driven: Grants are awarded based on trustees' discretion and the Swire family's philanthropic interests
  • Family legacy: The trust reflects the charitable priorities of the late Sir Adrian Swire and continues under the stewardship of his family
  • Consider alternatives: Organizations seeking Swire funding should explore the main Swire Charitable Trust which has open application programmes
  • Managed together: All Swire trusts are managed by the same staff team, suggesting some coordination of charitable interests across the family trusts
  • Broad charitable scope: The trust supports causes both in the UK and overseas, with interests spanning arts, heritage, education, environment, and social welfare

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