The Gannochy Trust

Charity Number: CUSTOM_7DCFDCC1

Annual Expenditure: £5.0M

Stay updated on changes from The Gannochy 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: £5,000,000
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months
  • Grant Range: Up to £10,000 (Small); up to £30,000 (Main); £30,000+ (Major - Perth & Kinross only)
  • Geographic Focus: Scotland (primarily Perth and Kinross)
  • Registered Charity: SC003133
  • Board Meetings: Three times per year

Contact Details

Address: The Gannochy Trust, Pitcullen Crescent, Perth, PH2 7HX

Phone: 01738 620653

Email:

  • General enquiries: admin@gannochytrust.org.uk
  • Grant enquiries: grants@gannochytrust.org.uk

Website: www.gannochytrust.org.uk

Online Application Portal: gannochytrust.benefactorcloud.co.uk

Overview

The Gannochy Trust was founded in 1937 by Scottish businessman and philanthropist Arthur Kinmond Bell (A.K. Bell) to improve the quality of community life in Perth and Kinross, and for people across Scotland. The Trust distributes approximately £5 million annually to registered Scottish charities, with the majority awarded to organizations based or working in Perth and Kinross. Beyond grant-making, the Trust manages an estate of 700 acres including farms and woodlands, and provides almost 300 houses for rent. The current Grant Strategy runs from 2022-2027 and was developed through extensive consultation with the third sector, including #BeConnected conversations with Perth and Kinross organizations in 2021. The Trust has funded landmark projects including Bell's Sports Centre (1968), A.K. Bell Library, and Perth Theatre refurbishment (2017).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants: Up to £10,000 per year for a maximum of three years

  • Available for all eligible Scottish charities
  • Online application via portal

Main Grants: Up to £30,000 per year for a maximum of three years

  • Available for all eligible Scottish charities
  • Online application via portal

Major Grants: Over £30,000 per year for a maximum of three years

  • Only available for charities and work based in Perth and Kinross
  • Online application via portal

Capital Grants: Project dependent amounts

  • Two-stage application process
  • Applicants must first email grants@gannochytrust.org.uk to request Stage 1 Capital Project Summary Template
  • Trustees review Stage 1 submissions before inviting full applications

Youth Panel Fund: Up to £10,000 for youth projects

  • Delegated authority to Youth Panel (budget of approximately £100,000 annually)
  • Four meetings per year
  • Separate application deadlines

Funding Types Available

  1. Project Funding: For delivery of specific projects and activities (available Scotland-wide)
  2. Core Funding: For operational costs including salaries, overheads, and day-to-day running expenses (Perth & Kinross only)
  3. Capital Funding: To create or improve assets such as buildings or refurbishments (Perth & Kinross only)

Priority Areas

For Perth and Kinross (ages 0-21 for youth work):

  • Positive change in people's lives and communities
  • Increased inclusion, enablement, independence, mental health and wellbeing
  • Increased access to employment, volunteering, learning, culture, sport, and leisure opportunities
  • Increased equality of opportunity and active citizenship
  • Increased participation, opportunities, and experiences through culture, leisure, play, environment, and heritage
  • Increased access to sporting opportunities at all levels of participation and ability
  • Increased leadership or mentoring
  • Accredited non-formal learning through voluntary activity in the community
  • Greater access to services and facilities
  • Improved infrastructure for the built and natural environment
  • More sustainable services and facilities that reflect local priorities

For the Rest of Scotland (ages 11-21 only):

  • Developing and inspiring children and young people aged 11 to 21
  • Better employment options that can be measured
  • Programs that lead to improved mental health or wellbeing are particularly encouraged

What They Don't Fund

The Trust has specific exclusions detailed in their Grant Strategy 2022-2027. Applicants must review these exclusions before applying. Both exclusions and eligibility criteria are described in detail in the Grant Strategy document available on their website.

Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for The Gannochy Trust?

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

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Chair: Roland (appointed July 2025, previously vice chair from July 2023)

Trustees include:

  • Stephen: Joined the board in 2016, served as vice chair (February 2019-June 2023), then as chair (July 2023-July 2025), remains a Trustee
  • Ailsa: Trained journalist with successful career in public relations and fundraising, currently works in Development Department of Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre
  • Ruth: Nearly thirty years' experience in the charitable sector, currently Fundraising Manager for Refuweegee
  • David: Joined in 2024
  • Michael Spence: Joined November 2024
  • Karen: Chief Executive of NHS Education for Scotland, joined 2022

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Read the Grant Strategy 2022-2027 (available on website)

Step 2: Review the Guidance Notes for Grant Applicants, which include:

  • Step-by-step guide to completing the online application form
  • Guidance on presenting aims, outcomes, targets/indicators
  • Budget schedule guidance

Step 3: Complete online application via gannochytrust.benefactorcloud.co.uk

Important: As of August 15, 2023, all applications must be completed using the online portal. Microsoft Word format applications are no longer accepted.

Capital Projects: Must first email grants@gannochytrust.org.uk to request Stage 1 Capital Project Summary Template before proceeding to full application.

Decision Timeline

  • Board meetings: Three times per year
  • Decision time: Trustees aim to notify applicants within three weeks of the meeting
  • Total timeline: Typically 3-4 months from deadline to decision notification
  • Youth Panel: Meets four times per year, aims to notify within three weeks of meeting

Success Rates

At the December 2023 grant-making meeting, 33 charities were awarded grants totaling £1,561,042.75. The Youth Panel awarded 5 grants totaling £25,155. Specific overall success rate statistics are not publicly published.

Reapplication Policy

First-time applicants or organizations that have not received funding within the past ten years: Should only apply for one year initially to establish or re-establish a relationship with the Trust.

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not detailed in publicly available materials. Applicants should contact grants@gannochytrust.org.uk for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors

  1. Eligibility is Critical: Must be registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)
  1. Alignment with Outcomes: Applications must clearly demonstrate delivery of one or more Gannochy Trust outcomes as specified in the Grant Strategy
  1. Geographic Focus: Understand the distinction between Perth & Kinross funding (broader criteria, all three funding types available, ages 0-21 for youth) versus Scotland-wide funding (youth focus only, ages 11-21, project funding only)
  1. Evidence and Impact: Clearly present aims, outcomes, targets/indicators, and evaluation methods. The Trust values measurable impact.
  1. First-time Applicants: If applying for the first time or haven't received funding in 10 years, apply for one year only initially
  1. Budget Clarity: Provide clear, detailed budget schedules as guided in application notes
  1. Strategic Alignment: The 2022-2027 strategy emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and collaboration

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

  • Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust: Three-year grant for Discovery Learning and Engagement Officer post focusing on outdoor learning (resulted in 606 trees planted, 168 children participating from five schools)
  • PKAVS Youth Council: Young Carers Den program
  • Perth Riverside Church of Scotland: Youth programme at Bertha Park
  • Various charities at December 2023 meeting: 33 charities awarded grants totaling over £1.5 million

Grants Plus Programme

The Trust offers additional support beyond funding through their “Grants Plus” programme:

  • Masterclasses and consultations on working with boards
  • Courses on measuring impact (led by Evaluation Support Scotland)
  • Networking events
  • Leadership programmes
  • Mentoring and development work (led by The Cranfield Trust)

This demonstrates the Trust's commitment to building organizational capacity and relationships.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Study the Grant Strategy 2022-2027 thoroughly - This document is repeatedly referenced as essential reading and contains crucial information about outcomes, exclusions, and eligibility criteria
  1. Geographic focus matters significantly - Perth & Kinross organizations have access to all three funding types (project, core, capital) and broader age ranges, while rest-of-Scotland charities are limited to project funding for youth ages 11-21
  1. Build relationships strategically - First-time applicants should request one-year funding initially. The Trust values long-term relationships and offers “Grants Plus” support to build capacity
  1. Timing is crucial - With only three board meetings per year and 3-4 month decision timelines, plan applications well in advance
  1. Evidence-based applications win - The Trust specifically requires clear outcomes, indicators, and evaluation methods. Their partnership with Evaluation Support Scotland signals the importance of demonstrating measurable impact
  1. Youth mental health and employment are priority areas - Particularly for Scotland-wide applicants, programs leading to improved mental health/wellbeing or measurable employment outcomes are “particularly encouraged”
  1. Capital projects require pre-application contact - Don't submit a full capital application without first going through the Stage 1 summary process

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get Beta Access NowLearn More

References