The Dyers' Company Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 289547

Annual Expenditure: £1.0M
Scotland, Throughout England And Wales, Northern Ireland

Contact Info

Website:www.dyerscompany.co.uk

Phone:020 7236 7197

Email:office@dyerscompany.com

Stay updated on changes from The Dyers' Company Charitable Trust and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £938,050 (charitable activities, 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified (invitation-only process)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed for general grants
  • Geographic Focus: UK-based charities, with emphasis on local communities
  • Total Grants: Supports over 150 charities annually

Contact Details

Address: Dowgate Hill House, 14-16 Dowgate Hill, London, EC4R 2SU

Phone: 020 7236 7197

Email: office@dyerscompany.com

Website: www.dyerscompany.co.uk

Contact Person: Assistant Clerk for general enquiries

Overview

The Dyers' Company Charitable Trust (registered charity 289547) was established by The Worshipful Company of Dyers, one of the ancient Livery Companies of the City of London dating back to the twelfth century with a Royal Charter from 1471. The Trust supports over 150 charities annually with total charitable expenditure of £938,050 (year ending October 2024). The Trust's mission is to make grants to registered charities supporting young people, medical and social welfare, and local community organizations. Critically, the Trust does not accept unsolicited applications and only invites applications from charitable organizations recommended by members of The Dyers' Company. Many organizations receive support on a regular, ongoing basis. Beyond general grant-making, the Company also operates specialized programs including a £25,000 annual research grant for academics studying dyes and dyeing technology, and a Seed Capital Investment Fund for color-related business innovation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Charitable Trust

  • Grant amounts not publicly disclosed
  • Application method: Invitation-only through member recommendation
  • Rolling basis for invited organizations
  • Many organizations receive ongoing support

Research Grant

  • £25,000 annually for UK academics
  • Focus: Research into dyes, dyeing technology, and color science
  • Application method: Invitation/announcement basis

Seed Capital Investment Fund

  • Up to £25,000 per venture
  • For businesses and entrepreneurs with links to color or colouration
  • Example: Loom and Power received inaugural funding in 2023

Priority Areas

The Trust focuses on:

  • Young People: Educational support and youth charities (supports approximately 30 schools and educational charities)
  • Medical and Health: Health-related charities and medical welfare
  • Social Welfare: Organizations supporting community wellbeing
  • Local Community: Charities involved in their local communities
  • Color Science and Textile Design: Through educational connections and research grants

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals (personal education or welfare requests)
  • International aid charities
  • Charities based overseas
  • National charities (though occasional exceptions made, such as RNLI and Help for Heroes)

Governance and Leadership

The Dyers' Company Charitable Trust operates under modern governance provisions following a 2023 supplemental Charter that updated the Company's objects, powers, and governance. The Trust has 4 employees and 1 trustee. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Key Staff:

  • The Clerk: clerk@dyerscompany.com
  • Assistant Clerk/Miss Clare Missen: office@dyerscompany.com (handles general enquiries)
  • Master: Mr Bernard Cazenove TD

The Trust produces a Trustees Annual Report at the end of each financial year in October, published in March of the following year. The Company's governance reflects its evolution from a trade association for the dyeing industry to primarily a charitable institution.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Dyers' Company Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations cannot apply directly.

Access Route: Applications are by invitation only from charitable organizations recommended by members of The Dyers' Company. Organizations interested in support must first establish a connection with a member who can recommend them.

Ongoing Support: Many organizations receive support on a regular basis once they are in the Trust's portfolio of supported charities.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As the application process is invitation-only based on member recommendations, standard decision timelines do not apply.

Success Rates

Not available. With over 150 charities supported annually from an invitation-only pool, traditional success rate metrics are not applicable.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified. Organizations already receiving support often continue to receive funding on a regular basis.

Application Success Factors

Given the unique invitation-only nature of this trust, success factors differ significantly from typical grant applications:

Essential Requirement: Connection to a member of The Dyers' Company who can recommend your organization. Without this connection, access to funding is not possible.

Alignment with Priorities: Organizations working in youth support, medical/social welfare, and local communities are most likely to receive support.

Geographic Focus: UK-based registered charities only. Organizations must be properly registered with the Charity Commission.

Regular Relationships: The Trust favors ongoing relationships, with many organizations receiving repeat funding. Once accepted into their portfolio, continued support is likely.

Local vs. National: Strong preference for local charities over national organizations, though exceptions exist for specific national causes.

Specialized Opportunities: Organizations involved in color science, textile design, or dyeing technology may access specialized funding streams beyond the general charitable trust.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only access: This trust is effectively inaccessible without a connection to a Dyers' Company member. Standard grant prospecting and application strategies will not work.
  • Member networking essential: If your organization aligns with their priorities, the only path to funding is building relationships with members of The Worshipful Company of Dyers.
  • Strong annual capacity: Supporting over 150 charities with nearly £1 million in annual giving indicates significant capacity for those who gain access.
  • Ongoing relationships valued: Once in their portfolio, organizations typically receive regular, continuing support rather than one-off grants.
  • Youth, health, and community focus: Organizations working in these areas are most aligned with the Trust's priorities.
  • Local charities preferred: Better prospects for locally-focused organizations than national charities.
  • Not suitable for most grant writers: Unless you have specific connections to The Dyers' Company, this funder should not be included in standard grant prospect lists.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References