The David Gibbons Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £125,000 (approx.)
• Grant Range: £170 - £4,000
• Decision Time: 8 weeks (bimonthly meetings)
• Geographic Focus: Devon (with preference for East Devon)
• Application Method: Fixed deadlines (bimonthly)

Contact Details

Website: gibbonstrusts.org.uk

Email: enquiries@gibbonstrusts.org

Phone: 07483335759

Address: 24 Philip Avenue, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 3AQ

Applications are acknowledged immediately upon receipt with an automated response.

Overview

The David Gibbons Foundation (Charity Number 1134727) is a grant-making charity supporting vulnerable residents of Devon who are suffering from physical or mental illness, disability, financial hardship, or are elderly and in need of assistance. The Foundation operates alongside the Gibbons Family Trust (which supports young people), with both trusts sharing administrative infrastructure and trustee oversight. With an annual income of approximately £125,000 and annual expenditure of around £213,000 (suggesting they are drawing on reserves to maintain grant-making), the Foundation distributes approximately £30,000 per bimonthly meeting across 20-25 grants. The charity has a strong preference for supporting small, local Devon-based charities and organisations rather than large national charities, ensuring funds directly benefit local communities. The Foundation is governed by 6 trustees who receive no remuneration, and the charity operates without employees, keeping administrative costs minimal.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates a single grant program with rolling bimonthly deadlines:

• Main Grant Program: £170 - £4,000 per grant
• Applications accepted online only
• Bimonthly trustee meetings (January, March, May, July, August, November)
• Deadlines: Last day of month preceding each meeting
• Average distribution: £30,000 per meeting across 20-25 grants

Priority Areas

Primary Beneficiaries:

• Individuals and organisations supporting those with physical or mental illness
• People with disabilities requiring equipment or support
• Those in urgent financial hardship
• Elderly people needing assistance

Geographic Priority:

• Strong preference for East Devon residents
• All Devon residents eligible
• Local, small-scale Devon charities prioritised

Types of Support Funded:

• Medical equipment (e.g., mobility scooters, medical aids)
• Essential household items for those in financial hardship
• Support services through local charities (cancer charities, carers' organisations)
• Individual welfare grants through professional referrals

Organisation Preference:

• Small and local charities/organisations are actively prioritised
• Community groups, councils, schools, and sports clubs eligible
• Registered Charities, CIOs, and CICs all eligible

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

• Retrospective funding (items or services already purchased)
• Large national charities (even if supporting Devon residents)
• Overseas projects or trips
• Applicants who have received a grant within the past 12 months (financial year runs April-March)
• Applications from individuals without professional third-party referral

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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by 6 trustees who oversee both the David Gibbons Foundation and the Gibbons Family Trust. Trustees meet every 8 weeks to consider applications, demonstrating a consistent and regular commitment to grant-making. All trustees serve on a voluntary basis with no remuneration. The charity operates without paid employees, relying entirely on trustee governance and volunteer administration.

Specific trustee names are available on the Charity Commission register but were not disclosed in public-facing materials.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Online Application Process:

• Applications must be submitted via the online form on gibbonstrusts.org.uk
• Do NOT send applications directly to the office email - they will not be considered
• Applications are automatically acknowledged upon receipt

Required Documentation:

1. Bank Identification: ALL applications (charity, organisation, or individual) must supply bank identification with EVERY application. The online system will not accept applications without this.

• Must apply through referral from a not-for-profit organisation (NHS professional, teacher, social worker, charity representative)
• At least one written and signed reference from a professional independent third party
• Reference must be uploaded with application
• Referees may be contacted before the trustee meeting

• Must be a Registered Charity, CIO, CIC, or other non-profit body (community group, council, school, sports club)

Before Starting Your Application:

• Decide whether applying as an organisation or as a sponsor for an individual/family
• Read all information on the relevant Trust page
• Collect all required documentation before beginning the online form

Decision Timeline

Meeting Schedule:

• Trustees meet bimonthly at the end of: January, March, May, July, August, November
• Application deadlines: Last day of the month preceding each meeting
• December 31 for January meeting
• February 28/29 for March meeting
• April 30 for May meeting
• June 30 for July meeting
• July 31 for August meeting
• October 31 for November meeting

Processing Time:

• 8-week cycle from deadline to decision
• All applications acknowledged immediately upon receipt
• If information is missing or further information required, consideration may be deferred to a subsequent meeting
• Applicants notified of decision after trustee meeting

Success Rates

Recent data shows strong success rates:

• Example meeting: 25 applications received, 22 grants awarded (88% success rate)
• Example meeting: 27 applications considered, majority funded
• Trustees appear to fund the majority of eligible applications that meet criteria

The Foundation distributes approximately £30,000 per meeting, with recent distributions ranging from £29,000 to £32,582 per meeting.

Reapplication Policy

Strict Annual Limit:

• Only one application from any applicant will be considered in any 12-month financial year (April to March)
• This applies to both successful and unsuccessful applicants
• Applicants must wait until the next financial year before reapplying

Application Success Factors

Geographic Alignment is Critical:

• Applications from East Devon residents are explicitly prioritised
• While all Devon residents are eligible, being based in East Devon significantly strengthens applications
• Clearly state the applicant's location and connection to East Devon if applicable

Organisation Size Matters:

• Small and local charities/organisations are actively prioritised over large national charities
• If you're a small, local Devon-based organisation, emphasise this in your application
• Large national charities are discouraged from applying, even for Devon-specific projects

Demonstrate Urgent Need:

• The Foundation focuses on “urgent financial need” and immediate support
• Applications showing immediate, pressing need appear more successful
• Examples of funded items: mobility scooters for individuals with mobility issues, ovens for families in hardship, essential medical equipment

Professional Referrals for Individuals:

• Individual applications must come through professional referrals (NHS, social workers, teachers)
• Strong, detailed references from independent third parties are essential
• Referees may be contacted, so ensure they are prepared and supportive

Complete Applications Process Faster:

• Missing information or documentation can defer consideration to the next meeting (2-month delay)
• Ensure all required documents are ready before starting the online form
• Bank identification is mandatory - the system will not accept applications without it

Recent Funding Examples Reveal Patterns:

• Cancer charities: £4,000 grant to local cancer charity
• Carers' charities: £4,000 grant to Devon carers' charity
• Individual mobility needs: £250 for mobility scooter
• Essential household items: £170 for oven for couple in hardship
• Mix of organisation and individual grants: typically £27,000 to organisations and £3,500-4,000 to individuals per meeting

You Don't Need to Choose the Right Trust:

• The Foundation operates alongside the Gibbons Family Trust (for young people)
• Administrators will place your application in the appropriate trust
• Focus on clearly describing your beneficiaries and needs rather than worrying about which trust to apply to

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• East Devon location is a significant advantage - applications from this area are explicitly prioritised, so emphasise East Devon connections prominently
• Small and local wins - being a small, locally-based Devon charity is actively preferred over large national organisations; make your local impact and community connection clear
• No retrospective funding - apply before purchasing items or services; the Foundation will not reimburse costs already incurred
• Bank details are mandatory - the online system will reject applications without bank identification, so have this ready before starting
• One chance per year - with only one application permitted per 12-month financial year, make it count by ensuring completeness and alignment with priorities
• Professional referrals essential for individuals - individual applicants must apply through professional third-party referrals with written, signed references
• Plan around bimonthly deadlines - with meetings every 8 weeks, time your application strategically; missing a deadline means waiting 2 months for the next meeting
• High success rates for eligible applications - recent data shows 85-90% of applications are funded, so if you meet the criteria and demonstrate clear need, prospects are strong

References

• Charity Commission Register: The David Gibbons Foundation, Charity No. 1134727, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1134727
• The Gibbons Trusts official website: https://gibbonstrusts.org.uk/
• Funding criteria for The David Gibbons Foundation: https://gibbonstrusts.org/funding-criteria/the-david-gibbons-foundation/
• Devon Funding News - The Gibbons Trusts: https://www.devon.gov.uk/fundingnews/fund/the-gibbons-trusts/
• Pinpoint Devon - The Gibbons Family Trust and the David Gibbons Foundation: https://services.pinpointdevon.co.uk/kb5/devon/services/service.page?id=pzf37e0LQcU
• Grant spending and news updates: https://gibbonstrusts.wordpress.com/blog/