The Delius Trust

Charity Number: 207324

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £261,069 (expenditure)
  • Annual Income: £96,851
  • Success Rate: Not published
  • Decision Time: Applications reviewed three times yearly (February, June, October meetings)
  • Grant Range: Not specified publicly
  • Geographic Focus: UK and international (particularly for Delius works)
  • Application Method: Rolling (three deadlines per year)

Contact Details

Address: 13 Calico Row, Plantation Wharf, London, SW11 3YH

Phone: 020 7924 4250

Email: deliustrust@deliustrust.org.uk

Website: www.delius.org.uk

For projects that fall outside standard guidelines, prospective applicants must discuss with the Secretary before applying.

Overview

The Delius Trust was established in 1935 following the death of Jelka Delius, widow of British composer Frederick Delius, to carry out her wishes of recording, publishing, and promoting performances of his music. Since 1979, the trust has been administered by the Musicians Benevolent Fund. The Trust's income derives from royalties, hire fees, and performing rights payments from Delius's music, plus investment income. While originally focused exclusively on Delius, a 1997 scheme broadened the Trust's scope to support British composers born since 1860. The Trust is chaired by Paul Guinery, a broadcaster and pianist who took over leadership in 2017. It operates as a specialized grant-making foundation supporting performances, recordings, publications, and archival work related to Delius and British classical music.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single grant program with applications reviewed at three meetings annually (February, June, and October). Applications should be received early in the month before each meeting. There is no standard application form, and grants are awarded on a rolling basis.

Priority Areas

Delius-Specific Funding:

  • Financing performances of particularly unusual or major Delius works in the UK
  • Encouraging performances of Delius works internationally, particularly where copyright continues
  • Encouraging availability of historical Delius recordings
  • Sponsoring recordings representing a new generation of interpreters
  • Acquiring secondary archive material related to Delius
  • Depositing primary archive materials with the British Library
  • Encouraging publishers to update parts and scores to agree with the Collected Edition
  • Maintaining unmarked parts for use if required

Broader British Music Support:

  • Organizations with a general remit to promote music by British composers born from 1860 onwards
  • Projects that broadly promote British music
  • Co-sponsorship of the Royal Philharmonic Society Composers programme for young composers

Recent Examples of Funded Projects:

  • Opera North: A Village Romeo and Juliet (1984, 50th anniversary commemoration)
  • Opera Holland Park: Margot la rouge (2020)
  • Northern Opera Group: Irmelin production
  • Opera North: Earth & Sky (Bradford 2025 City of Culture)

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital projects (e.g., buildings)
  • Individual performance, recording, or publishing projects for composers other than Delius (though exceptions may be considered)
  • Retrospective grants
  • Organizations that do not broadly promote British music (for non-Delius applications)
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Governance and Leadership

Chairman: Paul Guinery (since 2017, succeeding David Lloyd-Jones)

Paul Guinery is a BBC Radio 3 broadcaster, accomplished pianist, and supporter of The English Music Festival.

Trustees: 3 trustees including representation from the Musicians' Benevolent Fund (represented by John Axon)

No trustees receive remuneration or payments. The Trust has 3 volunteers and no employees.

The Trust underwent several key governance changes:

  • 1956: High Court ruling confirmed the Trust's educational purpose
  • 1964: Scheme approved adding a panel of three advisers
  • 1979: Administration transferred from Barclays Bank to Musicians Benevolent Fund
  • 1991: New scheme expanded activities to include educational initiatives
  • 1997: Scheme broadened scope to support British composers born since 1860

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Submission Method:

  • Applications can be submitted by hard copy to the address above or by email to deliustrust@deliustrust.org.uk
  • If applying by email, a signed letter from the person responsible for the application must also be sent

No Standard Application Form - applicants should submit the required documentation listed below.

Required Documentation:

  1. Full budget for the project including details of all sources of funding
  2. Most recent audited or examined annual accounts of the applying organization
  3. Details of organizational governance OR, for individuals, a CV

Special Circumstances:

Unique, imaginative projects that fall outside the standard guidelines may be exceptionally considered. In such cases, the prospective applicant must discuss the project with the Secretary before applying for guidance.

Decision Timeline

Meeting Schedule:

The Trust meets three times per year:

  • February
  • June
  • October

Application Deadlines:

Applications should be received early in the month before each meeting.

Decision Notification:

Each application is considered on its merits, keeping in mind the specific terms of the Trust's objects. Notification methods are not specified.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not published. The Trust does not disclose how many applications it receives or what percentage are funded.

Reapplication Policy

The Trust does not specify restrictions on reapplication. However, they note that retrospective grants will not usually be made, so timing is important for applications.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Core Mission:

The Trust's primary purpose is promoting Delius's music. Projects focused on Delius works, particularly unusual or major works, are most likely to succeed. For non-Delius projects, organizations must demonstrate a broad commitment to promoting British music.

Historical Recording and Archive Focus:

The Trust shows particular interest in making historical recordings available and in supporting new generations of interpreters. Archival projects that preserve and make accessible materials related to Delius and British composers are valued.

Quality of Documentation:

While there is no standard form, applications must include comprehensive project details, full budgets with all funding sources identified, and appropriate financial documentation. The Trust expects professional, well-organized submissions.

Budget Transparency:

Full project budgets must detail all sources of funding. This suggests the Trust wants to understand how their grant fits into the overall project financing and may consider co-funding arrangements.

Organizational Credibility:

Requiring audited/examined accounts and governance details indicates the Trust values working with established, well-managed organizations. Individual applicants must demonstrate credibility through their CV.

Innovation Within Guidelines:

The Trust explicitly notes that “unique, imaginative projects which appear to fall, to some extent, outside the above guidelines may, exceptionally, be considered.” This suggests they are open to creative approaches, but applicants should discuss such projects with the Secretary before applying.

Timing:

The Trust will not usually make retrospective grants, so applications must be submitted before projects take place. Planning ahead to meet the three annual deadlines is essential.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Primary focus is Delius: If your project involves Frederick Delius's music, especially unusual or major works, you are in the Trust's sweet spot
  • Plan ahead for meeting schedule: With only three meetings per year (February, June, October), timing your application is critical; submit early in the month before the meeting
  • No standard form but comprehensive documentation required: Prepare detailed project information, complete budgets, and financial statements
  • Discuss unusual projects first: If your project falls outside standard guidelines but seems imaginative and relevant, contact the Secretary before applying
  • British music organizations have broader access: For non-Delius projects, demonstrate your organization's commitment to broadly promoting British music from 1860 onwards
  • Archive and recording projects welcome: The Trust has a strong interest in historical recordings, archival preservation, and supporting new interpreters
  • No retrospective funding: Apply before your project begins, not after

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