The Dulverton Trust

Charity Number: 1146484

Annual Expenditure: £3.6M
Geographic Focus: Kenya, Uganda, Scotland

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £3.6m (2024/25)
  • Success Rate: Approximately 14% (around 6 in 7 eligible applications unsuccessful)
  • Decision Time: 1-3 months depending on Trustee meeting timing
  • Grant Range: £25,000 - £35,000 per year (typically 1-3 years)
  • Geographic Focus: England, Scotland, and Wales (excluding London)

Contact Details

Website: www.dulverton.org

Email: grants@dulverton.org

Phone: 020 7495 7852

The Trust welcomes informal discussions before submitting an application. Contact the grants team to discuss potential applications or decisions.

Overview

The Dulverton Trust was founded in 1949 by Sir Gilbert Alan Hamilton Wills, 1st Lord Dulverton, with an initial endowment of over £2 million. Since its establishment, the Trust has awarded over £120 million in grants to thousands of charities. The endowment has grown to over £100 million, with investments managed by Sarasin and Partners, Oxford University Endowment Management, and Royal London Asset Management. The Trust supports medium-sized UK charities tackling social issues, protecting the natural world, and preserving heritage crafts. In 2024/25, the Trust awarded £3.6m across 50 grants to charity partners, including 19 new charities, with a record 20 core unrestricted grants (several multi-year). The Trust prioritizes independent organizations with national or multi-regional reach that demonstrate adaptability and deliver high-quality, needed work representing value for money.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: £25,000 - £35,000 per year

  • Single-year grants for new applicants (£25,000-£35,000)
  • Multi-year grants (1-3 years) available for previous grantees
  • Both project-specific and core unrestricted funding available
  • Core funding considered for previous grantees
  • Applications accepted on rolling basis
  • Trustee meetings held in February, June, and October

Priority Areas

Youth Opportunities (largest category)

  • Supports socio-economically disadvantaged children and young people aged 25 and under
  • Focus on developing life skills including employability, academic, and social-emotional skills
  • Strengths-based approach recognizing existing capabilities
  • Programs helping young people progress into education, employment, or training

General Welfare

  • Supports charities benefiting disadvantaged people and communities
  • Wide range of social welfare initiatives

Conservation

  • Focus on health and resilience of UK wildlife habitats
  • Protecting, planting, and sympathetically managing trees and native woodlands

Heritage/Preservation

  • Development of craftsmanship in traditional techniques of repair and restoration

Kenya and Uganda

  • Restricted to UK registered charities with long-standing association with the Trust

International Stability and Reconstruction

  • Invitation only

What They Don't Fund

Geographic Exclusions:

  • Work primarily for benefit of London residents
  • Northern Ireland
  • Purely local work (unless delivering across at least two English regions)

Organizational Characteristics:

  • Charities receiving substantial income from government/local authority contracts
  • Regional charities affiliated with national bodies (e.g., local Scout groups, YMCAs, Age UK, Wildlife Trusts)
  • Individual schools

Subject Areas:

  • Health, medicine, and medical conditions including drug and alcohol addiction
  • Animal welfare projects focused on single species
  • Political campaigning
  • Overseas activities (except Kenya/Uganda through established relationships)
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Governance and Leadership

Director: Binda (appointed 2024) - Previously worked at the Sutton Trust with over 15 years in the charity sector. Holds several trustee positions including the Diana Award and Arts Emergency.

Finance Director: Emma - Chartered accountant with over 30 years' experience in audit, investment banking, and 13 years in education and charity sectors.

Head of Grants: Ella (joined 2018) - Manages day-to-day grant making, grant management, and Community Foundation partnerships.

Grants Officer and Administrator: Lexi (joined 2024) - Supports grants assessment process alongside office management and administrative support.

Trustees: Include members of the Founder's family and distinguished individuals with wide experience in areas supported by the Trust. Trustees make decisions in February, June, and October.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Complete the eligibility questionnaire on the Trust's website (www.dulverton.org) to access the online application form
  2. All applications reviewed at weekly team meetings and by the Director
  3. Applications submitted on a rolling basis
  4. Recommend applying at least 3 months before desired Trustee meeting
  5. Informal discussions with the grants team welcomed before applying

Decision Timeline

For Unsuccessful Applications: Typically notified within 1 month of application

For Successful Applications: Typically notified within 3 months of application (timing depends on proximity to Trustee meetings)

Trustee Meetings: February, June, and October/November

Success Rates

Approximately 14% success rate - around 6 in 7 eligible applications are unsuccessful due to high demand. In 2024/25, the Trust made 50 grants from significantly more applications received.

Reapplication Policy

No mandatory waiting period - charities can reapply at any time after an unsuccessful application.

Important caveat: If declined due to being marginal to Trustees' priorities (e.g., working locally or in non-focus thematic areas), chances of success with a second application soon after are low.

Recommendation: If context has changed since rejection, phone the office before resubmitting to discuss whether reapplication is appropriate.

Application Success Factors

Financial Assessment Insights

The Trust has shared specific insights into their assessment approach:

  • Not risk-averse: Low reserves or significant funding gaps don't mean automatic rejection
  • Practical approach: Only request financial information that informs decisions and that charities already have
  • Focus on planning: Want assurance that charities have right information to plan ahead and make decisions if circumstances change

What They Value

  • Medium-sized charities: Income between £200,000 and £3 million (up to £10 million considered, but preference for under £5 million)
  • Independence: Organizations not heavily reliant on government contracts
  • National or multi-regional reach: Working across England, Scotland, and Wales, or across at least two English regions
  • Adaptability: Organizations that evolve to ensure work remains high quality, needed, and value for money
  • Core funding approach: June 2024 saw highest ever proportion of core funding grants awarded - Trust values unrestricted funding

Recent Grant Example

For Baby's Sake Trust (2024): Three-year grant awarded for core work supporting families affected by domestic abuse, providing stability for ongoing programme delivery and team expansion.

Strategic Tips

  • Clearly demonstrate alignment with one of the five main priority areas
  • Emphasize organizational independence and medium size
  • Highlight national or multi-regional reach
  • Show how work benefits socio-economically disadvantaged groups
  • Consider requesting core/unrestricted funding if eligible (previous grantees)
  • Apply with realistic timelines (at least 3 months before needed Trustee meeting)
  • Contact the office for informal discussion if uncertain about fit

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Perfect fit profile: Medium-sized (£200k-£3m income), independent charities with national/multi-regional reach working on youth opportunities, welfare, conservation, or heritage
  • Core funding opportunity: The Trust actively supports core unrestricted funding, especially for previous grantees - consider this over project-specific requests
  • Timing matters: Apply at least 3 months before desired Trustee meeting (February, June, October/November) for best consideration
  • Low success rate requires strong alignment: With only ~14% success rate, ensure your work clearly fits priority areas and organizational profile before applying
  • Pre-application contact welcomed: The Trust encourages informal discussions before applying - use this to test fit and strengthen application
  • Financial transparency valued over perfection: Low reserves or funding challenges won't automatically disqualify you - focus on demonstrating good planning and decision-making
  • Reapplication is possible: No waiting period for unsuccessful applicants, but contact office first if circumstances have changed since initial rejection

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