The Duke Of Northumberland's Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £183,249 (2024/25)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: Under £5,000 (typical) to £37,000 (exceptional larger awards)
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, and Scotland (with particular focus on Northumberland and North East England)

Contact Details

Address: Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1NQ

Phone: 01665 510777

Charity Number: 278584

No website or email publicly available

Overview

The Duke of Northumberland's Charity was established in 1979 by Hugh Percy (1914-1988), the 10th Duke of Northumberland, a keen agriculturalist who created the trust to assist charitable organizations in local communities. Registered with the Charity Commission in 1980, the trust operates under a Deed of Trust dated 17 August 1979 and a Sealed Scheme dated 20 July 2000. With an annual expenditure of approximately £183,249 (2024/25), the charity functions primarily as a grant-making trust, with its income applied through subscriptions to charitable organizations and bodies as directed by the designated person—currently the 12th Duke of Northumberland. The trust predominantly makes small grants of under £5,000 to environmental, educational, arts, and heritage organizations, along with a limited number of larger awards.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity does not operate formal grant programs with fixed deadlines. Instead, grants are awarded at the discretion of the 12th Duke of Northumberland, who directs how the trust's income is distributed.

Typical Grant Size: Under £5,000

Larger Awards: The charity occasionally makes larger grants. In 2016/17, total grants awarded were £115,630, including:

• £37,000 to Northumberland Church of England Academy
• £30,000 to Alnwick Playhouse

Application Method: By letter to the address above (no online portal or formal application process)

Priority Areas

The trust focuses on four main areas:

• Environmental organizations: Projects supporting conservation and environmental protection
• Educational organizations: Educational institutions and programs (the present Duke is a sponsor of the Northumberland Church of England Academy)
• Arts organizations: Support for arts and cultural activities, including theater and performance venues
• Heritage organizations: Preservation of historical and cultural heritage

The charity makes grants to both organizations and individuals, helping other charities, voluntary bodies, and the general public.

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are documented, though the charity appears to favor local organizations in Northumberland and the North East of England.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• His Grace the 12th Duke of Northumberland (Ralph Percy) - Chair and designated person (born 1956)
• Lord James Percy - Trustee (younger brother of the 12th Duke, born 1965)

The charity has no employees and trustees receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The unique governance structure gives the designated person (the 12th Duke) directive authority over how the trust's income is distributed. Trustees can also, with the consent of the designated person, pay or transfer all or part of the capital to charitable organizations.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Duke of Northumberland's Charity does not have a formal public application process or online portal. Applications are made by letter to:

The Duke of Northumberland's Charity

Alnwick Castle

Alnwick

Northumberland

NE66 1NQ

Important Note: Grants are awarded at the discretion of the 12th Duke of Northumberland, who personally directs how the trust's income is applied to charitable organizations and bodies.

Decision Timeline

No specific decision timeline is publicly available. The grant-making process operates on a discretionary basis rather than fixed decision cycles or deadlines.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available due to the discretionary nature of the grant-making process.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is documented. Organizations are advised to contact the charity directly regarding reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Given the discretionary nature of this charity and the direct involvement of the 12th Duke of Northumberland in decision-making, the following factors appear important:

Strong Local Connection: The charity was established to assist organizations in local communities, with historical evidence showing support for Northumberland-based organizations such as Alnwick Playhouse and Northumberland Church of England Academy.

Alignment with Priority Areas: Projects should clearly fall within the trust's four priority areas: environmental, educational, arts, or heritage work.

Appropriate Grant Size: Most grants are under £5,000. While larger awards have been made (up to £37,000), these appear to be exceptional. Organizations should request amounts appropriate to the charity's typical giving patterns.

Organizational Track Record: As a trust supporting “charitable organizations in local communities,” demonstrating a strong track record of charitable work and community impact is likely important.

Clear Charitable Purpose: The trust's governing documents specify that income is applied to “charitable organisations and bodies.” Applications should clearly articulate charitable purposes and benefits to the general public or specific beneficiary groups.

Letter-Based Application: Applications must be submitted by letter rather than through formal application forms, suggesting a preference for personalized communication that explains the organization's work and specific funding needs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Discretionary grant-making: The 12th Duke of Northumberland personally directs how grants are awarded, making this a relationship-based rather than competitive application process
• Focus on local impact: The charity was established to support local communities, with evidence of strong support for Northumberland-based organizations
• Small grants typical: Most grants are under £5,000, though exceptional larger awards (£30,000-£37,000) have been made to established institutions
• Four priority areas: Ensure your project clearly aligns with environmental, educational, arts, or heritage work
• Simple application process: Apply by letter to Alnwick Castle—no formal application forms or online portals
• No fixed deadlines: The trust operates on a rolling, discretionary basis rather than annual funding rounds
• Personal connection matters: With only two trustees (both members of the Percy family) making decisions, building awareness of your organization's work in the local community may be beneficial

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, "THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND'S CHARITY - 278584," https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/278584/full-print
• Charity Commission, "What, who, how, where - THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND'S CHARITY," https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/278584/what-who-how-where
• Charity Commission, "Governance - THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND'S CHARITY," https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/278584/governance
• Financial data from Charity Commission records for financial year ending 31 March 2025
• Historical grant data (2016/17) cited in multiple sources showing grants to Northumberland Church of England Academy (£37,000) and Alnwick Playhouse (£30,000)