The Boltini Trust

Charity Number: 1123129

Annual Expenditure: £0.6M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £633,500
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available (varies by program)
  • Grant Range: £100 - Multi-year substantial grants
  • Geographic Focus: Home counties of England, particularly Surrey and West Sussex; national for music programs

Contact Details

Address: Woolbeding Glebe, Woolbeding, Midhurst, GU29 9RR

Email: boltinitrust@gmail.com

Phone: 01730 817324

Website: No public website available

Overview

The Boltini Trust (charity number 1123129) is a family philanthropic trust founded by Anthony Bolton, a former successful investment fund manager who is also a composer and musician. The Trust primarily operates through its investment income of approximately £536,000 annually and distributed £633,500 in grants in the financial year ending March 2024. The Trust supports deserving charitable causes undertaking particularly worthwhile activities, with geographic focus on the home counties of England, particularly Surrey and West Sussex. The Trust also has a significant national presence supporting contemporary music and the arts, particularly organizations involved in new music composition and performance. The Trust operates both by making direct grants and through partnership funds managed by organizations such as Sussex Community Foundation and South Downs National Park Trust.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Direct Grant-Making: The Trust makes grants directly to organizations aligned with its charitable priorities. Grant amounts vary significantly based on the project scope, from small community grants to substantial multi-year funding commitments. Applications should be directed to boltinitrust@gmail.com.

Boltini Fund (via Sussex Community Foundation): Established in 2013, this fund supports charities and community groups in West Sussex addressing:

  • Social disadvantage
  • Needs of disabled people and those with chronic illness
  • Children and young people
  • Homelessness

The fund has particular focus on the Crawley area and issues related to poverty and disadvantage. Grant amounts typically range from several hundred to several thousand pounds.

Boltini Litter Picking Fund (via South Downs Trust): Rolling grant program supporting litter picking activities in the South Downs National Park.

  • Informal groups: Up to £100
  • Schools, parish councils, and partner organizations: Up to £500
  • Total fund: £2,500 allocated on first-come-first-served basis
  • Applications reviewed at the beginning of each month
  • 100% project cost funding available (match funding not required, though may be prioritized)

Contemporary Music Programs: Multi-year substantial funding commitments to support:

  • Music Patron platform (5-year commitment to Sound and Music)
  • Britten Pears Young Artist Programme (ongoing support)
  • New music composition and early career composers
  • Opera production and development

Priority Areas

Geographic Charitable Causes:

  • Community projects in Surrey and West Sussex
  • Environmental conservation and improvement
  • Support for vulnerable populations
  • Social welfare initiatives

Arts and Music:

  • Contemporary and new music composition
  • Support for early career composers
  • Opera and classical music performance
  • Music education and artist development programs

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, given the Trust's focused priorities, it is unlikely to fund:

  • Projects outside the home counties (except for music/arts initiatives)
  • Causes not aligned with social disadvantage, disability, youth, homelessness, or music
  • Individuals (grants are made to organizations)
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Governance and Leadership

The Boltini Trust is governed by eight trustees, primarily members of the Bolton family:

Anthony John Bolton - Founder and Trustee. Former investment fund manager (managed Fidelity Special Situations fund 1979-2007 and Fidelity China Special Situations until 2014). Studied composition at Trinity, Cambridge under Nicholas Maw, and later with Colin Matthews and Julian Anderson. Completed his first opera, “The Life and Death of Alexander Litvinenko,” which premiered at Grange Park Opera in Surrey in 2021. Bolton's vision for the Trust combines his financial acumen with his passion for music composition.

Other Trustees:

  • Fiona Elizabeth Millward Bolton (appointed 15 May 2016)
  • Phoebe Eleanor Jewell Bolton (appointed 15 May 2016)
  • James David Hamilton Lamont (appointed 9 June 2014)
  • Benjamin Alexander Bolton
  • Emma Louise Lamont
  • Oliver James Bolton
  • Sarah Clare Bolton

No trustees receive remuneration or benefits from the charity. The family governance structure ensures focused decision-making aligned with the founder's philanthropic vision.

Anthony Bolton stated about Music Patron: “Music Patron has never felt more important,” noting the platform's significance in supporting composers facing financial challenges.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Direct Grants: Contact the Trust directly via email at boltinitrust@gmail.com with:

  • Description of your organization
  • Details of the project or program requiring funding
  • Amount requested
  • Alignment with Trust priorities (geography or music focus)
  • Charitable impact

Boltini Litter Picking Fund: Rolling applications reviewed monthly

  • Submit Expression of Interest to South Downs Trust
  • Include project description and budget
  • Payment made by cheque upon presentation of invoices or receipts
  • Simple application form available from South Downs Trust

Boltini Fund (Sussex Community Foundation): Apply through Sussex Community Foundation's standard application process for West Sussex organizations addressing social disadvantage.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified and likely vary by grant size and complexity. For the Litter Picking Fund, applications are reviewed at the beginning of each month on a rolling basis until funds are allocated.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The Trust appears to take a strategic, relationship-based approach to funding, supporting organizations over multiple years and through partnership arrangements.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Organizations should contact the Trust directly to discuss future applications if unsuccessful or seeking renewed funding.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment: The Trust clearly values both local impact in Surrey/West Sussex and national significance in contemporary music. Applications should demonstrate clear alignment with one of these priorities.

Partnership Approach: The Trust works through established partner organizations (Sussex Community Foundation, South Downs Trust, Sound and Music, Britten Pears Arts), suggesting they value institutional credibility and professional grant administration.

Long-Term Commitment: Multi-year funding commitments (e.g., 5-year support for Music Patron) indicate the Trust prefers sustained impact over one-off projects.

Innovation in Music: The Trust has supported innovative approaches to funding composers, particularly addressing financial challenges facing contemporary music creators. Projects that create new models or address systemic issues in the arts may be particularly appealing.

Local Environmental and Social Impact: For geographic grants, demonstrate clear community benefit, particularly around environmental conservation (litter picking fund) and support for vulnerable populations.

Practical Implementation: The Litter Picking Fund's requirement for receipts and invoices, plus simple reporting (short report within six months), suggests the Trust values practical, deliverable projects with straightforward accountability.

Recent Funding Examples:

  • Music Patron platform (Sound and Music): 5-year substantial annual funding
  • Britten Pears Young Artist Programme: Multi-year support for young composers and opera production
  • Boltini Litter Picking Fund: £2,500 annual fund for environmental community action

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Demonstrate geographic or thematic alignment: Clearly establish you are either based in Surrey/West Sussex addressing community needs, OR are a music organization supporting contemporary composition.
  • Emphasize innovation and sustainability: The Trust's support for Music Patron shows interest in innovative funding models and long-term solutions to systemic challenges.
  • Build relationships through partners: If you fit the criteria for Sussex Community Foundation or South Downs Trust programs, these may be more accessible entry points than direct applications.
  • Think multi-year: The Trust makes significant long-term commitments. Frame proposals around sustained impact rather than one-off activities.
  • Keep it practical: For smaller grants (like the Litter Picking Fund), simple, practical projects with clear deliverables and straightforward reporting requirements are favored.
  • Connect to founder's vision: For music projects, understanding Anthony Bolton's background as a composer and his commitment to supporting contemporary music creation may help frame compelling proposals.
  • No website means direct contact is essential: Without public application guidelines, building a relationship through email contact and clearly articulating your alignment with Trust priorities is crucial.

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