The Belstead Ganzoni Charitable Settlement

Charity Number: 1053321

Annual Expenditure: £0.9M
Norfolk, Suffolk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (small to medium grants typical)
  • Geographic Focus: Suffolk (primary), Norfolk and Essex (exceptional circumstances)

Contact Details

Correspondence Address:

Birketts LLP

Providence House

141-145 Princes Street

Ipswich IP1 1QJ

Email: bill-white@birketts.co.uk

Phone: 01473 232300

Overview

The Belstead Ganzoni Charitable Settlement was registered as a charity in February 1996 (originally as The Lord Belstead Charitable Settlement) and operates under a trust deed from 1972, most recently amended in 2024. The trust is named after Lord Belstead (John Ganzoni, 2nd Baron Belstead, 1932-2005), a Conservative politician and peer who served as Leader of the House of Lords, and reflects the Ganzoni family's long-standing philanthropic commitment to Suffolk. In June 2023, the Settlement received an asset transfer from the related Ganzoni Charitable Trust (established by Lord Belstead's sister, Jill Ganzoni), consolidating the family's charitable giving. The Settlement primarily supports registered charities working in Suffolk, with a strong track record of funding arts and cultural organizations, capital projects, and community initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Settlement operates a discretionary grant-making approach without formal grant tiers or fixed application cycles. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis as applications are considered by trustees.

Priority Areas

Geographic Focus:

  • Primary area: Suffolk
  • Secondary consideration: Norfolk and Essex (exceptional circumstances only)
  • Never funds local charities for work outside these three counties
  • Occasionally supports national charities for national purposes

Project Types:

  • Capital projects (primary focus)
  • Running expenses (may be considered)
  • Arts and cultural organizations (demonstrated priority)
  • Education and community initiatives

Known Beneficiaries:

  • Suffolk Artlink
  • DanceEast
  • Ipswich Chamber Choir
  • Britten Pears Arts (schools programme at The Red House)
  • Suffolk Historic Churches Trust

What They Don't Fund

  • Local charities working outside Suffolk, Norfolk, and Essex
  • Projects without clear Suffolk/East Anglia connection (except national charities for national purposes)

Governance and Leadership

The trust is administered by Birketts LLP, a law firm with offices across East Anglia specializing in charity law. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust has no trading subsidiaries and operates solely as a grant-making entity.

The Ganzoni family legacy in Suffolk philanthropy is significant. According to the East Anglian Daily Times, Jill Ganzoni's approach emphasized making “small donations that could make a large difference,” targeting local charitable concerns across a “huge range of causes.” This philosophy appears to inform the Settlement's continued grant-making approach.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications should be directed to:

Bill White

Birketts LLP

Email: bill-white@birketts.co.uk

Phone: 01473 232300

The Settlement operates on a rolling basis without published application deadlines or formal online portal. Applications are likely reviewed as received by the trustees.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As the trust operates through solicitors who manage trustee meetings, applicants should expect decisions may take several weeks to months depending on trustee meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Contact the trust directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Alignment is Critical:

The trust's geographic restrictions are strict and clearly stated. Only charities working in Suffolk, Norfolk (exceptionally), or Essex (exceptionally) should apply. This is a hard requirement.

Capital Projects Preferred:

The trust explicitly states capital projects are their primary focus, though running expenses may be considered. Applications for building improvements, equipment, or infrastructure are likely to be well-received.

Arts and Cultural Heritage:

Given the trust's demonstrated support for arts organizations (DanceEast, Britten Pears Arts, Suffolk Artlink, Ipswich Chamber Choir) and Jill Ganzoni's work founding Suffolk Historic Churches Trust, applications from cultural, artistic, and heritage organizations in Suffolk appear particularly aligned with trustee interests.

Suffolk Community Benefit:

The Ganzoni family's approach emphasized supporting local Suffolk communities. Applications should clearly demonstrate how the project benefits Suffolk residents and communities.

Smaller, Targeted Grants:

Based on Jill Ganzoni's philosophy of “small donations that could make a large difference,” the trust may favor modest, well-defined requests that will have clear impact rather than large-scale projects requiring substantial funding.

Professional Presentation:

As the trust is administered by a law firm, applications should be professional, clear, and well-documented with appropriate financial information and organizational credentials.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic eligibility is non-negotiable – only apply if working primarily in Suffolk (or exceptionally in Norfolk/Essex)
  • Capital projects are strongly preferred over general running costs – frame your application around infrastructure, equipment, or building needs
  • Arts, culture, and heritage projects have strong precedent – if your organization works in these sectors in Suffolk, you're well-aligned
  • Contact the trust proactively – with no formal guidelines published, speaking with Bill White at Birketts may help clarify whether your project fits their criteria
  • Emphasize Suffolk community benefit – the Ganzoni family legacy is deeply rooted in Suffolk; demonstrate clear local impact
  • Consider smaller, targeted requests – the trust's philosophy favors grants that make a significant difference relative to their size
  • Be patient with decision timelines – trustee-managed funds without rolling deadlines may take time to process applications

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References