The Golden Bottle Trust

Charity Number: 327026

Annual Expenditure: £2.8M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £2,830,000 (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 307 grants (2023)
  • Grant Range: £250 - £30,000
  • Total Given Since 1985: Over £30 million
  • Geographic Focus: UK and developing world
  • Application Method: Invitation only - no unsolicited applications accepted

Contact Details

Website: https://www.hoaresbank.co.uk/golden-bottle-trust

Phone: 020 7353 4522

Registered Charity Number: 327026

Important: The Golden Bottle Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. They proactively identify and select charities through their own research and trusted networks.

Overview

Established in 1985, The Golden Bottle Trust furthers the philanthropic aims of the Hoare family and C. Hoare & Co., Britain's oldest privately-owned bank. Named after the “Sign of the Golden Bottle” from the bank's early history, the trust receives up to 10% of the bank's annual profits from its partners. Since inception, it has distributed over £30 million to thousands of organizations. In 2023 alone, the trust awarded £2.83 million across 307 grants. The trust has achieved “total portfolio impact” with 100% of its reserves invested in social impact investments since 2019, demonstrating a pioneering approach that combines grant-making with impact investing. Recent initiatives include “350 grants” launched to celebrate the bank's 350th anniversary, specifically supporting innovation and catalytic change in the charitable sector.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Standard Grants: £250 - £10,000

Typical grants supporting a wide range of charitable causes. Selection made through the trust's research and network.

Small to Medium Grants (via Bulldog Trust partnership): £1,000 - £30,000 (over maximum 3 years)

Partnership program with the Bulldog Trust for new and existing organizations. This program may have different application procedures - check www.bulldogtrust.org/grantmaking.htm for details.

350 Grants

Special initiative launched to celebrate C. Hoare & Co.'s 350th anniversary, designed to support innovation and catalytic change. These grants have supported organizations across London, Manchester, Somerset, Yorkshire, and Cambridge.

Priority Areas

The trust supports UK registered charities and international organizations working in:

  • Arts: Supporting cultural and creative organizations
  • Education: Educational initiatives and access programs
  • Environmental Sustainability: Environmental protection, conservation, and climate initiatives
  • Health: Health and wellbeing programs
  • Social Investment: Microfinance and developing world projects
  • Community Development: Local community initiatives

The trust seeks projects where:

  • The grant will generate results proportionately much greater than the sum of money received
  • The grant will help organizations overcome a temporary hurdle, setting them on track to succeed
  • Funding will make a real difference and move the organization forward

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly listed, the trust emphasizes that projects must be charitable in nature and demonstrate clear impact potential.

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Governance and Leadership

The Golden Bottle Trust is governed by the partners of C. Hoare & Co., who donate up to 10% of the bank's profits annually.

Current Partners of C. Hoare & Co. (who oversee the trust):

  • Alexander Hoare
  • Venetia Hoare
  • Simon Hoare
  • Bella Hoare
  • Alex R Q Hoare
  • Rennie Hoare (Head of Philanthropy, chairs Philanthropy Impact, trustee of David Nott Foundation)
  • Amy Rodwell
  • Abigail Malortie

The trust works towards achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), using a blended approach that recognizes different SDGs require different types of funding.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Critical Information: The Golden Bottle Trust does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

The trust selects grant recipients through:

  • Their trusted network of charitable contacts
  • Internal research conducted by the trust
  • Proactive identification of organizations aligned with their priorities

Organizations cannot submit applications directly to the Golden Bottle Trust.

Alternative Route: The partnership program with the Bulldog Trust may offer an application pathway for some grants. Visit www.bulldogtrust.org/grantmaking.htm for information on this collaborative funding initiative.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, as applications are made by invitation only.

Success Rates

With 307 grants awarded in 2023 from a closed selection process, success rate data for general applicants is not applicable, as the trust operates on an invitation-only basis.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the trust does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

For organizations selected by the trust, the following factors appear important based on their stated priorities:

  • Demonstrable Impact: Show how funding will generate results proportionately greater than the grant amount
  • Catalytic Potential: Evidence that the grant will help overcome a specific hurdle and set the organization on a path to success
  • Innovation: The trust's “350 grants” specifically celebrate innovation and risk-taking in the charitable sector
  • Strategic Alignment: Projects should align with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 17
  • Clear Need: Articulate how the funding will make a real difference and move your organization forward

Recent funded areas include organizations like:

  • Coram (children's charity)
  • The Real Farming Trust (agroecology and sustainable farming)
  • The Tree Council (environmental conservation)
  • Organizations across multiple UK regions and developing world projects

Language and Approach: The trust uses terminology around “catalytic change,” “innovation,” “impact,” and “partnership,” suggesting they value transformational rather than purely operational funding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Direct Applications: The Golden Bottle Trust does not accept unsolicited applications - they select charities proactively through research and networks
  • Network Building: Building relationships within the philanthropic sector and with organizations connected to C. Hoare & Co. may increase visibility to the trust
  • Impact Over Scale: The trust seeks grants that create disproportionate impact relative to the amount given
  • Innovation Matters: Recent initiatives specifically celebrate innovation and risk-taking, suggesting openness to novel approaches
  • Total Portfolio Approach: The trust combines grant-making with impact investing, indicating sophisticated understanding of blended finance
  • Alternative Route: The Bulldog Trust partnership program may offer an accessible application pathway for small-to-medium grants
  • Geographic Spread: While focused on the UK, the trust also supports developing world projects, particularly in microfinance and development

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