The Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £918,514
• Success Rate: Not published
• Decision Time: 3 months
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £20,000 (larger grants up to £500,000 exceptionally)
• Geographic Focus: Midlands region (Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire)

Contact Details

Website: www.edwardcadburytrust.org.uk

Email: sue.anderson@edwardcadburytrust.org.uk

Phone: 0121-472 1838

Trust Manager: Sue Anderson

Address: Woodbrooke, 1046 Bristol Road, Birmingham, B29 6LJ

Overview

The Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust was established in 1945 by Edward Cadbury (1873-1948), grandson of the founder of the Cadbury chocolate company and former chairman of Cadbury Brothers. A committed Quaker philanthropist, Edward Cadbury's personal interests in education, religion, and social welfare continue to shape the trust's work today. The trust is a grant-giving charity principally supporting the voluntary sector in the Midlands region, with total income of £1,535,162 and charitable expenditure of £918,514 in recent accounts. Guided by Quaker values of simplicity, equality, justice, peace, and care of the environment, the trust makes grants to registered charities across six priority areas. The trust is managed by seven trustees who receive no remuneration, maintaining the philanthropic ethos established by its founder.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single rolling grant program:

• General Grants: £5,000 - £20,000 (normally awarded on a one-off basis)
• One-off grants awarded for a specific purpose or part of a project
• Larger grants up to £500,000 made on an exceptional basis where there is a strong fit with the trust's long-term interests in social welfare, music, nature, education and training combined with Quaker values
• Applications accepted year-round on a rolling basis
• Decisions made within a three-month timescale

Priority Areas

The trust focuses on six core areas that reflect Edward Cadbury's legacy and Quaker values:

1. Arts and Culture - Supporting arts organisations and cultural initiatives
2. Community Projects and Integration - Building cohesive communities and promoting integration
3. Compassionate Support - Supporting the oppressed and disadvantaged
4. Conservation and Environment - Environmental protection and conservation projects
5. Education and Training - Educational initiatives and skills development
6. Research - Supporting research aligned with the trust's values

All funding must demonstrate alignment with Quaker values of simplicity, equality, justice, peace, and care of the environment.

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals - Only registered charities are eligible
• Non-registered organisations - Must be a registered charity
• Organisations outside the Midlands region - Principally fund charities operating in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire
• Applications outside stated areas of interest - May not be considered or acknowledged
• Ongoing operational costs - Grants are typically one-off for specific projects rather than core funding

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Governance and Leadership

Governance Structure:

• Seven trustees who receive no remuneration
• One employee (Trust Manager earning £70-80k annually)
• No trading subsidiaries
• Trustees assess applications against trust objectives and Charity Commission public benefit guidelines

The trust maintains the ethos established by founder Edward Cadbury, with trustees believing that “their mission today is as relevant as it was when Edward Cadbury first identified the need to support the local community.” This commitment to the founder's vision, combined with Quaker principles, guides all funding decisions.

How to Apply to The Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted at any time via:

• Online application through the trust website (www.edwardcadburytrust.org.uk)
• Written application to the Trust Manager by post or email

Required Information:

• Clear, concise description of the project
• Detailed breakdown of funding required and how it will be spent
• Explanation of fit with the trust's objectives
• Details of how funding will benefit the local Midlands community
• Latest annual report and accounts
• Charity registration details
• Website or social media links showcasing your work

Decision Timeline

• Application review period: Within a three-month timescale
• Rolling basis: Applications accepted year-round
• Assessment process: Trustees review and assess each application against trust objectives and Charity Commission public benefit guidelines
• Notification: Applicants are informed of decisions after trustee meetings

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The trust makes grants totaling approximately £918,514 annually across multiple charities in the Midlands region.

Reapplication Policy

The trust welcomes reapplications from previously funded charities, noting their “aim is to support rather than be relied on for funding, enabling us to support a wide breadth of charities each year.”

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Factors:

1. Geographic Focus - Organisations must principally operate within the Midlands region (Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire)

1. Values Alignment - Demonstrate clear connection to Quaker values: simplicity, equality, justice, peace, and care of the environment

1. Clear Project Focus - Applications should be for specific, one-off projects rather than general running costs

1. Outcomes-Focused - Clearly articulate who and how many people will benefit

1. Financial Planning - Provide detailed breakdown with quotes where available

1. Public Benefit - Show how the project meets Charity Commission public benefit guidelines

Application Tips:

• Be concise and clear - The trust values straightforward, well-articulated proposals
• Match priority areas - Ensure your project clearly fits within one or more of the six funding areas
• Show values alignment - Explicitly connect your work to Quaker values where genuine alignment exists
• Demonstrate local impact - Focus on benefits to the local Midlands community
• Provide complete information - Include all required documentation to avoid delays
• Show your work - Include website and social media links to demonstrate your impact
• Consider grant size - Target grants within the normal £5,000-£20,000 range unless your project qualifies for exceptional larger funding

Warning: Applications outside the trust's stated areas of interest may not be considered or acknowledged. Ensure strong alignment before applying.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Midlands-focused - Geographic location is crucial; principally funding organisations operating in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire

• Quaker values matter - Projects demonstrating alignment with simplicity, equality, justice, peace, and environmental care have stronger appeal

• Project-specific funding - Target grants of £5,000-£20,000 for specific projects; exceptional larger grants up to £500,000 possible for projects with strong fit

• Three-month decision window - Plan applications with a quarterly decision timeline in mind

• Six clear priority areas - Ensure strong fit with arts/culture, community integration, compassionate support, conservation, education, or research

• Complete applications - Submit all required documentation including annual accounts, project breakdowns, and evidence of your work

• Rolling applications - No deadline pressure; applications accepted year-round allows for thoughtful, well-prepared submissions

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Arts Council Of England
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• The Eveson Trust
• The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust
• The D'oyly Carte Charitable Trust
• Baron Davenport's Charity
• The Steel Charitable Trust
• The John Horseman Trust
• Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund
• Vaughan Williams Foundation
• The Scops Arts Trust
• G J W Turner Trust
• The Grimmitt Trust
• The Saintbury Trust
• The Austin And Hope Pilkington Trust
• The Grantham Yorke Trust
• The Cole Charitable Trust
• The Summerfield Charitable Trust
• The Foyle Foundation

References

• Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust official website: https://www.edwardcadburytrust.org.uk/
• Edward Cadbury Trust - About Us: https://www.edwardcadburytrust.org.uk/about-us
• Edward Cadbury Trust - Applying for Grants: https://www.edwardcadburytrust.org.uk/applying-for-grants
• Edward Cadbury Trust - Contact Us: https://www.edwardcadburytrust.org.uk/contact-us
• Charity Commission Register - THE EDWARD CADBURY CHARITABLE TRUST (1160334): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1160334&subid=0
• Wikipedia - Edward Cadbury: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Cadbury
• Get Grants - Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust: https://www.getgrants.org.uk/edward-cadbury-charitable-trust/