The Frank Litchfield General Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £341,153 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle (approximately 3 months)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £25,000
• Geographic Focus: Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and Essex (particularly rural communities)

Contact Details

• Website: https://franklitchfieldtrust.co.uk
• Email: womack@btinternet.com
• Phone: 01223 358012
• Address: 12 De Freville Avenue, Cambridge, CB4 1HR

Overview

The Frank Litchfield General Charitable Trust was established in 1994 following the death of Frank Litchfield, who spent his life living and farming in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and Essex. He left his entire estate to fund charitable causes benefitting these three counties, with a particular interest in enhancing the lives of those living in rural communities. Since its founding, the Trustees have disbursed over £4.5 million to support a diverse range of causes. For the financial year ending March 31, 2024, the trust had income of £378,536 and expenditure of £341,153. The trust is managed by five trustees and operates with a clear commitment to alleviating the challenges of rural life while supporting community projects, small group charitable initiatives, hospices, regional medical facilities, and medical research across the three target counties.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single grant program with rolling applications reviewed quarterly. Grants range from £1,000 to £25,000, with applications accepted at any time throughout the year.

Application Method: Rolling basis with quarterly decision-making

Priority Areas

The trust funds a broad range of charitable activities, including:

• Community Projects: Supporting local community initiatives and development
• Health and Medical: Hospices, regional medical facilities, and medical research
• Rural Communities: Projects addressing rural isolation and challenges of rural life
• Social Support: Homelessness projects and poverty relief
• Environmental: Environmental conservation and sustainability projects
• Education: Educational support programs
• Disability: Disability support projects
• Heritage and Culture: Museums and cultural preservation

The trust welcomes applications from a wide variety of sources and is particularly interested in projects that demonstrate clear benefit to residents of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, or Essex. They will consider regional or national projects provided they are satisfied that the population of those target counties will benefit.

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated in available documentation, though the geographic restriction to Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, and Essex is a key limitation.

Ready to write a winning application for The Frank Litchfield General Charitable Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Join the Launch List

Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by five trustees:

• Michael Womack (Chair): Retired commercial solicitor
• Robert Law: First-generation farmer
• Gina Vivian-Neal: University support staff
• Annie Sunderland: Solicitor with charity experience
• Jane Follows: Professional from a global consulting company

The diverse backgrounds of the trustees reflect Frank Litchfield's own life as a farmer and his commitment to rural communities, while ensuring professional expertise in legal, agricultural, and community sectors.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications may be made at any time throughout the year. The trust welcomes applications from a wide variety of sources, including both established organizations and small community groups.

Contact the trust via:

• Email: womack@btinternet.com
• Phone: 01223 358012

For small organizations, the trust is particularly accommodating and happy to consider being part of wider fundraising efforts, either by helping with the cost of a fundraising campaign or undertaking to match funds raised up to a specified limit.

Note: There is limited information available on the trust's website about specific application forms or detailed submission requirements. Prospective applicants should contact the trust directly to discuss their project and obtain application guidance.

Decision Timeline

The trustees make funding decisions quarterly, meaning applications are typically reviewed every three months. The exact timing from submission to decision will depend on when your application is received in relation to the quarterly review schedule.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly documented.

Application Success Factors

While the trust does not publish detailed application guidance, the following factors appear important based on the trust's stated mission and priorities:

• Geographic Relevance: Clearly demonstrate how the project benefits residents of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, or Essex
• Rural Impact: Projects addressing rural isolation or challenges of rural life align closely with Frank Litchfield's original vision
• Community Connection: The trust values organizations that are well-connected to their communities
• Clear Objectives: Well-thought-out projects with clear objectives and measurable outcomes
• Appropriate Costing: Projects should be appropriately costed with realistic budgets
• Timely Delivery: Organizations should be able to spend funding within 12 months of the award (based on criteria used by community foundation funds)
• Small Organization Support: The trust explicitly welcomes applications from small groups and is willing to support fundraising campaigns or match funding, suggesting they are sympathetic to smaller charities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic focus is critical - Your project must clearly benefit Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, or Essex residents
• Rural communities are a priority - Frank Litchfield's passion for rural life remains central to the trust's mission
• Broad funding scope - The trust supports an exceptionally wide range of causes from homelessness to museums to medical research
• Small organizations are encouraged - Don't be deterred if you're a small charity; the trust explicitly welcomes applications from small groups
• Quarterly decisions mean planning ahead - With reviews happening every three months, factor this into your funding timeline
• Match funding opportunities - If you're fundraising, the trust may help with campaign costs or match funds raised
• Make initial contact - With limited online guidance, reaching out directly to discuss your project before applying is advisable

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• THE SIMON GIBSON CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Earl Fitzwilliam Charitable Trust
• The Tony Bramall Charitable Trust
• The Gerald Micklem Charitable Trust
• THE BASIL SAMUEL CHARITABLE TRUST
• Langdale Trust
• THE ANDOR CHARITABLE TRUST
• Duke of Devonshire's Charitable Trust
• The Thompson Family Charitable Trust
• The Payback Time Trust

References

• The Frank Litchfield Charitable Trust website - About Us page: https://franklitchfieldtrust.co.uk/about-us/
• UK Charity Commission Register - The Frank Litchfield General Charitable Trust (1038943): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1038943
• Hertfordshire Community Foundation - Frank Litchfield General Charitable Trust fund information: https://www.hertscf.org.uk/litchfield-trust
• St Neots Timebank - How We Are Supported page (example of grant recipient): https://stneotstimebank.org.uk/support/
• Charity I Choose - The Frank Litchfield General Charitable Trust profile: https://www.charityichoose.com/cambridge/general-charitable-purposes/the-frank-litchfield-general-charitable-trust