The Earl Fitzwilliam Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £306,664 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £2,000 (based on known awards)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire, and Ruthin (Wales) - linked to family estates

Contact Details

Address: Estate Office, Milton Park, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE3 9HD

Email: efct@miltonestate.co.uk

Phone: 01733 267740

Overview

The Earl Fitzwilliam Charitable Trust was registered in May 1975 (charity number 269388) and operates as a grant-making trust connected to the historic Fitzwilliam family estates. With an annual expenditure of approximately £307,000, the Trust makes one-off grants to charitable organizations in response to written applications. The Trust's geographic focus reflects the family's historic landholdings: the Fitzwilliam Estates in Cambridgeshire (centered around Milton Hall near Peterborough) and Yorkshire (particularly around Malton), as well as the Naylor-Leyland Estate near Ruthin in Wales. The Trust is managed by Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland Bt., grandson of the last Earl Fitzwilliam, who oversees the family's continuing philanthropic legacy through Milton (Peterborough) Estates Company and Fitzwilliam Malton Estate.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single grant program with rolling applications:

• One-off Community Grants: Typically £1,000 - £2,000 for charitable projects
• Application method: Written applications on a rolling basis
• Priority given to communities linked to the family's estates

Priority Areas

The Trust favours, but not exclusively, initiatives that benefit communities linked in some reasonably direct way to:

• The Fitzwilliam Estates in Cambridgeshire (particularly around Peterborough and Milton)
• The Fitzwilliam Estates in Yorkshire (particularly around Malton and North Yorkshire)
• The Naylor-Leyland Estate near Ruthin in Wales

What They Fund:

• Healthcare and hospital improvements (e.g., dementia-friendly dayrooms, hospice care)
• Community welfare projects
• Initiatives benefiting local residents in estate-connected areas
• One-off capital projects rather than ongoing operational costs

What They Don't Fund

The Trust explicitly states that grants tend to be one-off, not merely for annual expenses. This indicates they do not typically fund:

• Ongoing running costs
• Annual operational expenses
• Core funding or salary costs
• Multi-year revenue grants

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland Bt. (Chair) - Grandson of the last Earl Fitzwilliam, Sir Philip manages the extensive family estates spanning approximately 25,000 acres across Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire, and Wales. He also serves as trustee for several related charities including Wentworth Almshouses, The Fitzwilliam Wentworth Amenity Trust, The Wentworth Charity, and The Wentworth Barrow Educational Foundation.
• Lady Isabella Naylor-Leyland - Also active in charitable work, Lady Isabella has been noted for her volunteer work supporting refugees.

The Trust has 2 trustees with no paid staff. Neither trustee receives remuneration, demonstrating a commitment to maximizing grant distributions. The family's ongoing connection to the communities they fund is maintained through Tom Naylor-Leyland (Sir Philip's son), who lives in Malton town centre and actively promotes the town as "Yorkshire's Food Capital."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Trust accepts written applications on a rolling basis. Applications should be submitted by email or post:

Email: efct@miltonestate.co.uk

Post: Estate Office, Milton Park, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE3 9HD

Phone: 01733 267740

Applications are accepted from charitable or appropriately constituted bodies (registered charities, CICs, charitable companies, etc.). There is no formal application deadline - the Trust considers applications throughout the year.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As a small family trust with two trustees, decisions may be made relatively quickly compared to larger institutional funders, though applicants should allow reasonable time for consideration.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. Given the Trust's annual expenditure of approximately £307,000 and typical grants in the £1,000-£2,000 range, the Trust likely supports between 150-300 organizations per year, though this is an estimate.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. However, since the Trust prefers “one-off” grants rather than ongoing funding, successful applicants should not expect to receive annual grants. Organizations may likely reapply for different projects after a suitable interval.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated policies and known funding patterns, the following factors appear most important:

Geographic Connection is Critical

The Trust explicitly favours initiatives benefiting communities “linked in some reasonably direct way” to the Fitzwilliam Estates (Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire) or Naylor-Leyland Estate (Ruthin area). Applicants should clearly demonstrate this connection:

• Projects serving residents in these areas
• Organizations based in or primarily serving Peterborough, Malton, North Yorkshire, or Ruthin
• Community facilities or services in estate-connected towns

One-off Capital Projects Preferred

The Trust states grants are “one-off, not merely for annual expenses.” Successful applications will likely focus on:

• Specific capital improvements (equipment, building improvements)
• Discrete project costs with clear outcomes
• Time-limited initiatives rather than ongoing programs

Recent Funding Examples Indicate Health and Community Focus

Known recent grants include:

• £2,000 to Better Days Appeal for a dementia-friendly dayroom at Malton Community Hospital (Fitzwilliam Ward)
• £1,000 to St Johns Hospice Doncaster

These examples suggest the Trust supports healthcare improvements, care facilities, and projects that directly benefit vulnerable community members.

Clear Community Benefit

Applications should articulate how the grant will benefit local residents in the geographic areas connected to the family estates. The Trust's multi-century connection to these communities suggests they value projects that strengthen local community life.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic eligibility is essential - clearly establish your connection to Cambridgeshire (especially Peterborough/Milton area), Yorkshire (especially Malton/North Yorkshire), or Ruthin in Wales
• Focus on one-off capital costs - equipment, building improvements, or specific project expenses rather than ongoing operational funding
• Keep requests modest - known grants range from £1,000-£2,000; this is a small family trust, not a major institutional funder
• Emphasize local community benefit - demonstrate how your project serves residents in estate-connected areas
• Written applications on a rolling basis - no deadlines mean you can apply when ready, but provide a well-articulated case in your written submission
• Build the estate connection - if your organization serves communities historically linked to these estates, make this connection explicit
• Healthcare and vulnerable populations - recent awards suggest strong interest in health facilities and services for elderly, hospice care, and community welfare

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• P F Charitable Trust
• The Strangward Trust
• Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
• THE EVELYN TRUST
• The Shanly Foundation
• The Education Endowment Foundation
• The Henry Smith Foundation
• THE EVESON TRUST
• Baron Davenport's Charity
• The Apax Foundation
• THE ASDA FOUNDATION
• THE ZOCHONIS CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund
• The Grace Trust
• The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
• Charity of Sir Richard Whittington
• THE SIR JAMES RECKITT CHARITY
• The Edward Gostling Foundation
• AKO Foundation
• THE FOYLE FOUNDATION

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities, “THE EARL FITZWILLIAM CHARITABLE TRUST - 269388,”, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=269388&subId=0
• NHS Health Star, “Better Days Appeal Receives First Grant From the Earl Fitzwilliam Charitable Trust,”, https://healthstars.org.uk/news/better-days-appeal-receives-first-grant-from-the-earl-fitzwilliam-charitable-trust
• Fitzwilliam Malton Estate, “The Estate,”, https://www.maltonestate.co.uk/the-estate
• Fitzwilliam Malton Estate, “History,”, https://www.maltonestate.co.uk/history
• X (formerly Twitter), St Johns Hospice Doncaster post regarding £1,000 grant from Earl Fitzwilliam Charitable Trust, https://x.com/StJohnsHospice1/status/1983107974873907389
• Wikipedia, “Philip Naylor-Leyland,”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Naylor-Leyland