The Basil Samuel Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 206579

Annual Expenditure: £1.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??1,139,500 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified - rolling basis
  • Grant Range: ??1,000 - ??25,000
  • Typical Grant: ??1,000 - ??5,000
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Address: 45 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7BG

Alternative correspondence address: c/o Smith and Williamson, 25 Moorgate, London, EC2R 6AY

Phone: 020 7131 4376

Website: None - The Trust does not maintain a website

Note: The Trust does not operate online applications. All applications must be submitted in writing to the address above.

Overview

The Basil Samuel Charitable Trust was registered on 22 September 1962 (Charity Number 206579). The Trust holds capital and income for general charitable purposes, with trustees exercising discretion to support charitable work both in England and Wales and elsewhere. In the year ending 5 April 2023, the Trust awarded 93 grants totalling ??1,139,500, representing an average grant of ??12,252. This marked a significant increase from the previous year (2022: 87 grants totalling ??777,500). The Trust focuses on making grants to medical, socially supportive, educational and cultural charities, supporting a broad range of organisations from small community projects to larger national causes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single grant program on a rolling basis:

  • General Grants: ??1,000 - ??25,000
  • Most grants range between ??1,000 and ??5,000
  • Larger awards up to ??25,000 are regularly awarded for national causes
  • Applications accepted at any time in writing
  • Rolling basis with no fixed deadlines

Priority Areas

The Trust actively funds organisations working in:

  • Medical: Hospices, medical research, health-related charities
  • Social Care/Social Welfare: Organisations supporting vulnerable groups and socially supportive services
  • Education: Educational charities and institutions
  • Culture: Museums, arts organisations, and cultural activities
  • Disability: Organisations supporting people with hearing or sight impairments and other disabilities
  • Animal Welfare: Charities working with animals

What They Don't Fund

  • Information not publicly specified
  • The Trust appears to focus exclusively on registered charities in England and Wales
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Trust is governed by four trustees (as of April 2024):

  • Kathleen O'Donovan
  • Penelope Peskin
  • Simon Godwin
  • Richard Martin Peskin

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. The Trust does not have any trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Method: Applications must be made in writing
  • Submission address:
  • The Basil Samuel Charitable Trust, 45 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7BG, OR
  • c/o Smith and Williamson, 25 Moorgate, London, EC2R 6AY
  • Schedule: Rolling basis - applications accepted at any time
  • No online portal: The Trust does not operate a website or online application system
  • Format: Written application (letter format)
  • Match funding: Not required

Decision Timeline

Specific timelines for decisions are not publicly available. As the Trust operates on a rolling basis, applications are likely reviewed periodically throughout the year.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, in 2023 the Trust made 93 grants, indicating a reasonably active grant-making program.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly available. Given the rolling nature of applications, unsuccessful applicants may wish to contact the Trust directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

While the Trust does not publish detailed guidance for applicants, the following factors emerge from analysis of their grant-making:

  • Broad charitable focus: The Trust supports a wide range of charitable causes across four main sectors (medical, social welfare, education, culture)
  • Registered charity status essential: Only registered charities in England and Wales are eligible
  • Flexibility in grant size: The Trust awards both small grants (??1,000-??5,000) and larger awards (up to ??25,000), suggesting they consider both small community organisations and larger national charities
  • Increasing grant-making: The significant increase in total giving from 2022 (??777,500) to 2023 (??1,139,500) suggests the Trust is expanding its grant-making activities
  • Diverse portfolio: Past beneficiaries have included hospices, medical research organisations, museums, and charities supporting people with sensory impairments
  • Traditional approach: The absence of a website and requirement for written applications suggests a traditional, formal approach to grant-making

Types of Organizations Previously Supported

  • Hospices
  • Medical research organisations
  • Museums
  • Charities supporting people with hearing or sight impairments
  • Educational institutions
  • Cultural organisations
  • Social welfare charities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Keep it simple and professional: With no online portal or detailed application guidance, a clear, concise written application letter is essential
  • Demonstrate charitable registration: Ensure your charity registration number and status in England and Wales is clearly stated
  • Be flexible on amount: Consider the Trust's range (??1,000-??25,000) and request an amount appropriate to your project scale
  • Align with one of four sectors: Clearly position your work within medical, social welfare, education, or cultural activities
  • No fixed deadlines means plan ahead: Applications are accepted year-round, so time your application strategically
  • Traditional communication: Prepare for postal correspondence - the Trust operates without digital infrastructure
  • Consider the increase in giving: The Trust's growing grant-making budget (46% increase from 2022 to 2023) may indicate expanding opportunities

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