The Dmf Ellis Charitable Trust
Charity Number: 1129340
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £341,175 (year ending 31 December 2024)
- Success Rate: Not available
- Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
- Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
- Geographic Focus: West Midlands (Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Solihull, Dudley, Coventry) and broader areas including Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Powys, and Ceredigion
Contact Details
Email: dmfellis@gmail.com
Phone: 7812743485
Registered Address: Walsall
Charity Number: 1129340
Overview
THE DMF ELLIS CHARITABLE TRUST was registered with the Charity Commission for England & Wales on 28 April 2009. The trust operates as a grant-making charity, distributing funds to organizations supporting elderly people and disadvantaged children. In the year ending 31 December 2024, the trust had total income of £33,498 but distributed £341,175 in grants, drawing down accumulated capital reserves to support its charitable objectives. The trust is governed by a small board of three trustees who receive no remuneration for their service. Operations are focused primarily in the West Midlands region, though the trust also operates in parts of Wales and western England including Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Powys, and Ceredigion.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The trust operates a single grant program focused on supporting charities working with their priority beneficiary groups. Specific grant amounts are not publicly disclosed, and awards are made at the trustees' discretion.
Priority Areas
- Support for the elderly: Organizations providing services, care, or support for older people
- Support for disadvantaged children: Organizations working with children facing disadvantage or hardship
The trust has broad discretion to apply both income and capital for charitable purposes as the trustees determine appropriate.
What They Don't Fund
Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. However, the trust's charitable objectives are clearly focused on the elderly and disadvantaged children, suggesting projects outside these beneficiary groups would not be eligible.

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Governance and Leadership
Trustees
Mr Gary Barber (Chair): Gary Barber serves as Chair of the DMF Ellis Charitable Trust and also holds trusteeships with The Michael Marsh Charitable Trust, The Rowlands Trust, and The Montal Charitable Trust, demonstrating significant experience in charitable governance and grant-making.
Louise Sarah Woodhead: Louise Woodhead is a trustee of the DMF Ellis Charitable Trust and also serves as a trustee of The Eveson Trust.
Third Trustee: A third trustee serves on the board but their identity is not publicly disclosed.
The trust maintains a lean governance structure with no staff members and no trustee remuneration, ensuring resources are directed toward grant-making activities.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. The DMF Ellis Charitable Trust operates through trustee discretion, with grants awarded to organizations identified by the trustees rather than through an open application system.
The trust's grant-making appears to be proactive, with trustees selecting recipient organizations based on alignment with the trust's objectives of supporting the elderly and disadvantaged children.
Known Grant Recipients
Organizations that have received support from the DMF Ellis Charitable Trust include:
- Ex Cathedra: A choral music organization that has explored choral repertoire for 50 years, inspiring singing through performances and participatory experiences
- Community Action Ledbury: A community organization serving the Ledbury area
These recipients suggest the trust may support both cultural/educational initiatives and community development projects that align with their focus on disadvantaged children and elderly people.
Decision Timeline
Not publicly disclosed. As the trust operates through trustee discretion rather than an application cycle, decision timelines are not standardized or published.
Success Rates
Not applicable - the trust does not accept unsolicited applications.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - the trust does not have a public application process.
Application Success Factors
As this trust does not accept public applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, organizations seeking potential support should note:
- The trust draws on accumulated capital reserves to fund grants substantially exceeding annual income, suggesting significant resources available for distribution
- Grant recipients to date include both cultural/arts organizations and community development charities
- Geographic focus is clearly on the West Midlands and adjoining areas
- The trustees have experience across multiple grant-making trusts, bringing informed perspectives to funding decisions
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No public application process: This trust identifies and approaches grant recipients rather than accepting applications
- Focused charitable objectives: Clear commitment to supporting elderly people and disadvantaged children
- Significant capital deployment: The trust is actively drawing down reserves, distributing over ten times its annual income in grants
- Regional focus: Strong emphasis on West Midlands, with some activity in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Welsh borders
- Small governance structure: Three-trustee board with cross-over to other charitable trusts
- Diverse recipient profile: Known recipients include both arts/cultural organizations and community development projects
- Relationship-based grant-making: Without a public application process, grants likely flow from existing networks and trustee awareness of organizations
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References
- Charity Commission Register of Charities - THE DMF ELLIS CHARITABLE TRUST: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1129340&subId=0
- Giving is Great Charity Factsheet - THE DMF ELLIS CHARITABLE TRUST: https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1129340
- Ex Cathedra Trusts & Foundations page: https://excathedra.co.uk/support-us/trusts-foundations/
- Community Action Ledbury Supporters page: https://www.caledbury.org.uk/our-supporters.html
- The Rowlands Trust Charity Factsheet: https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1062148
All information.