The Dr Sheila Millar-danks Charitable Trust
Charity Number: 1113906
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £230,155 (2024)
- Annual Income: £64,136 (2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Not publicly available - discretionary basis
- Grant Range: Not publicly specified
- Geographic Focus: East of England
- Application Method: Applications reviewed as received
Contact Details
Primary Contact:
- Email: EWoollard@prettys.co.uk
- Phone: 01473 298342
- Administered by: Prettys Solicitors LLP, Ipswich
Contact Person: Emma Woollard, Partner at Prettys Solicitors (Wills, Trusts and Estates Department)
Overview
THE DR SHEILA MILLAR-DANKS CHARITABLE TRUST (registered charity number 1113906) is a discretionary grant-making trust administered by Prettys Solicitors in Ipswich. The trust operates with a clear focus on animal welfare charities, particularly in the East of England region. In the year ending April 2024, the trust distributed £230,155 in grants despite receiving £64,136 in income, demonstrating significant capital deployment from the trust fund. Dr Sheila Millar-Danks was a devoted cat lover, and the trust honors her memory by supporting animal welfare causes, with particular emphasis on cat welfare projects. The trust is governed by three trustees who receive no remuneration, and grants are awarded at the trustees' absolute discretion when applications are received and reviewed by the trust manager.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The trust operates a single discretionary grant program:
- Discretionary Grants: No specified range - awards made at trustees' discretion
- Application Method: Rolling basis - applications reviewed when received
Priority Areas
The trust's primary focus is:
- Animal welfare charities in the East of England
- Cat welfare projects - reflecting the founder's particular devotion to cats
- Projects that provide direct care and housing for animals, particularly cats and kittens
Known Recent Grants:
- £7,000 to Woodgreen Pets Charity for a brand-new cat holding room to house mother cats with kittens and accommodate larger groups of cats
What They Don't Fund
While not explicitly stated, the trust's focus on animal welfare suggests they fund only charitable institutions aligned with this mission. The trust's objects specify grants go “for the benefit of such charitable institutions as the trustees in their absolute discretion think fit.”
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Governance and Leadership
The trust is governed by three trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust is administered by Prettys Solicitors LLP, an Ipswich-based law firm established in 1906.
Key Contact:
- Emma Woollard, Partner at Prettys Solicitors, specializing in Wills, Trusts and Estates, elderly client advice, powers of attorney, and trust administration
The trust operates with no employees and does not operate any trading subsidiaries.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The trust manager reviews applications for grants when received, with awards determined at the trustees' discretion.
Contact for Applications:
- Email: EWoollard@prettys.co.uk
- Phone: 01473 298342
There is no public online application portal. Applicants should contact Emma Woollard at Prettys Solicitors to inquire about the application process and requirements.
Decision Timeline
Decision timelines are not publicly specified. Grants are made at the trustees' discretion after review by the trust manager.
Success Rates
Success rate data is not publicly available.
Reapplication Policy
No public information available regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants.
Application Success Factors
Based on the available information about the trust's grant-making:
Alignment with Mission:
- Animal welfare focus: The trust provides crucial grant funding for animal welfare charities across the East of England
- Cat welfare priority: Dr Sheila Millar-Danks was a devoted cat lover - projects involving cat welfare appear particularly aligned with the trust's mission
- Practical infrastructure: The known grant to Woodgreen Pets Charity funded a tangible facility improvement (cat holding room) that directly enhanced animal care capacity
Geographic Preference:
- East of England focus - organizations in this region appear to be the primary beneficiaries
Project Type:
- The Woodgreen grant suggests the trust values capital projects that provide lasting infrastructure improvements for animal care
- Projects that accommodate vulnerable animals (mothers with kittens, larger groups requiring specialized housing) align with demonstrated funding patterns
Institutional Capacity:
- As a discretionary trust with no public application guidelines, demonstrating established organizational credibility and financial accountability may be important
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Strong animal welfare focus: This trust specifically supports animal welfare charities, with particular affinity for cat welfare projects given the founder's devotion to cats
- East of England priority: Geographic focus on the East of England region for grant-making
- Discretionary decision-making: No published criteria or timelines - trustees exercise absolute discretion in awarding grants
- Significant grant capacity: Despite modest income (£64k), the trust distributed £230k in 2024, indicating substantial trust fund capital available
- Infrastructure projects welcomed: Known grant supported capital improvements (cat holding room), suggesting receptiveness to facility enhancement projects
- Contact via administrators: Applications managed through Prettys Solicitors in Ipswich - direct contact with Emma Woollard recommended
- No public application portal: Personal inquiry and relationship-building with trust administrators likely important for successful applications
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