The Grace Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £48.7m (2022)
• Success Rate: Not disclosed
• Decision Time: Not specified
• Grant Range: £750 - £10,000 (majority of grants)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (UK registered charities)

Contact Details

Website: www.thegracetrust.org.uk

Email: enquiries@thegracetrust.org.uk

Phone: 02033013806

Address: c/o C & H Stedman, Noble House, Eaton Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 7UB

Overview

The Grace Trust was established in 1968 when a member of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church sold his manufacturing business and donated a large proportion of the sale proceeds for charitable purposes. The Trust distributed £48.7m in grants in 2022, making it one of the UK's larger grant-making charities. The organisation operates with practically no overheads, relying almost entirely on hardworking volunteers, meaning over 99% of donations reach recipients. The Trust is funded primarily by donations from businesses and individuals associated with the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church who share the Trust's vision of providing for others.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Standard Grants: £750 - £10,000 (majority of grants fall in this range)
• Application Method: Online application form available on website
• Availability: Grants generally available for under £3,000 for UK charities working domestically and/or overseas

Priority Areas

The Trust promotes Christian principles by supporting charities working in:

• Education (largest portion of charitable activities)
• Humanitarian aid and disaster relief
• Alleviation of poverty
• Medical research and healthcare
• Palliative care and hospice services
• Social care and disability support
• Missionary work
• Homelessness support
• Care of vulnerable adults and elderly
• Bereavement support

What They Don't Fund

• Non-charitable purposes (focuses exclusively on registered UK charities)
• Organisations not aligned with Christian principles
• Individual applications (supports organisations only)

Ready to write a winning application for The Grace Trust?

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

Learn more >

Governance and Leadership

The Grace Trust has an unusual governance structure with two corporate trustees – Aller Brook Ltd and Scribefort Ltd – rather than individual trustees. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The charity has no staff and relies entirely on volunteers. The Trust's governing document states its purpose broadly as supporting “such charitable purpose or purposes as the trustees may in their absolute discretion from time to time think fit.”

The grant-making committee undertakes detailed research into all charities, organisations, and other entities to whom grants are made, ensuring thorough due diligence in their funding decisions.

How to Apply to The Grace Trust

How to Apply

• Method: Online application form available at thegracetrust.org.uk/application-for-grant-funding-form
• Contact: Applications can be submitted through their contact page
• Requirements: Must be a UK registered charity

Decision Timeline

• Processing Time: Not specified in public materials
• Notification: Method not disclosed

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The Trust distributed £48.7m across hundreds of charities in 2022, suggesting a substantial volume of successful applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in available materials.

Application Success Factors

Based on their funding history and organisational approach:

• Christian Alignment: Strong preference for organisations that promote Christian principles
• Educational Focus: Educational charities form the largest part of their charitable activities
• Operational Efficiency: They value organisations that demonstrate efficient use of funds
• UK Registration: Must be a registered UK charity
• Clear Purpose: Applications should clearly articulate charitable purpose and impact
• Research-Ready: The grant committee conducts detailed research, so organisations should ensure their public information is comprehensive and accurate

Example of Successful Funding: The Trust has supported Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA) for eleven years, including a recent £15,000 donation for a LUCAS chest compression device, demonstrating their commitment to long-term partnerships with life-saving organisations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focus on Christian values: Emphasise how your work aligns with Christian principles of service and compassion
• Educational emphasis: If applicable, highlight educational components of your work as this is their largest funding area
• Demonstrate efficiency: Show how funds will be used effectively, as the Trust values operational efficiency
• Long-term perspective: They maintain multi-year relationships with charities, suggesting they value sustainable impact
• Life-saving impact: Healthcare, emergency services, and humanitarian work appear to be well-supported
• UK focus: Ensure your organisation is UK registered and clearly articulate UK impact
• Prepare for scrutiny: Their grant committee conducts detailed research, so ensure all organisational information is accessible and transparent

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• National Lottery
• The Barbour Foundation
• P F Charitable Trust
• The Fulmer Charitable Trust
• Robert Luff Foundation Limited
• Transforming Lives
• The Eveson Trust
• The Apax Foundation
• Benefact Trust Limited
• The Asda Foundation
• The February Foundation
• The Hospital Saturday Fund
• Masonic Charitable Foundation
• Bernard Lewis Family Charitable Trust
• The Dunhill Medical Trust (vivensa Foundation)
• The Health Foundation
• The Boshier-hinton Foundation
• Michael Cornish Charitable Trust
• Bryan Guinness Charitable Trust
• The Sir James Roll Charitable Trust

References

• The Grace Trust official website: www.thegracetrust.org.uk
• UK Charity Commission Register: charity number 257516
• Civil Society article on governance structure (2019)
• Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance donation announcements
• Scotland's International Development Alliance funding update
• FindThatCharity.uk database entry for GB-CHC-257516