The Grimmitt Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £370,647 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Applications considered three times per year
• Grant Range: Up to £4,000 (typical grants around £3,000)
• Geographic Focus: Birmingham, Dudley, Wolverhampton, and Walsall postcode areas

Contact Details

• Email: admin@grimmitt-trust.org.uk
• Phone: 07576 195955 / 0121 251 2951
• Address: 151B All Saints Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 6AT
• Charity Number: 801975

Pre-Application Support: Applicants are encouraged to contact the Secretary for guidance on designing a grant request to ensure all necessary information is included.

Overview

The Grimmitt Trust is a West Midlands-based grant-making foundation, registered with the Charity Commission on 30 August 1989. With an annual income of £430,786 and total grant expenditure of £370,647 (2024), the Trust operates under an eight-member board of trustees who receive no remuneration. The Trust's mission is to encourage and strengthen community activities within Birmingham, Dudley, Wolverhampton, and Walsall postcode areas. Unlike many regional funders, the Trust explicitly excludes national charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), and social enterprises from its funding priorities, focusing instead on locally-rooted charitable organizations. The Trust has established long-term relationships with beneficiaries, exemplified by its sustained support for organizations like Chamberlain's Highbury Trust.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Community Grants: Up to £4,000 per application (typical grants £3,000)
• Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
• Decisions made at trustee meetings held three times annually (typically May/June and November/December cycles mentioned)
• Written applications must be submitted to the Secretary

Priority Areas

The Trust supports charitable causes across a broad spectrum of activities:

• General charitable purposes
• Education and training
• Advancement of health or saving of lives
• Disability support
• Prevention or relief of poverty
• Arts, culture, heritage, and science
• Environment, conservation, and heritage
• Economic and community development/employment
• Human rights, religious or racial harmony, equality, or diversity
• Children and young people
• Elderly people
• Charities and voluntary bodies

What They Don't Fund

• National charities
• Community Interest Companies (CICs)
• Social enterprises
• Organizations operating outside Birmingham, Dudley, Wolverhampton, and Walsall postcode areas

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust operates with eight trustees who serve without remuneration or benefits. The Trust employs no staff with salaries exceeding £60,000 and has no trading subsidiaries. Specific trustee names are available on the Charity Commission register but were not publicly disclosed in accessible sources. The Trust maintains a relatively low profile without a dedicated website or formal online presence, preferring direct communication with potential applicants.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Grimmitt Trust does not maintain a website or formal application form. Applications must be made in writing to the Secretary at:

Email: admin@grimmitt-trust.org.uk

Postal Address: 151B All Saints Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 6AT

Pre-Application Contact: Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Secretary by email or phone (07576 195955 / 0121 251 2951) for guidance on designing their grant request and ensuring all necessary information is included.

Decision Timeline

• Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
• Trustees meet three times per year to consider applications
• Meeting cycles typically occur around May/June and November/December
• Specific notification timelines not publicly stated, but applicants should account for the meeting schedule when planning

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. Contact the Trust directly to discuss your project's suitability before submitting a formal application.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Organizations are advised to contact the Trust directly to discuss reapplication possibilities following an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's documented practices and known awards:

Geographic Alignment is Critical: The Trust explicitly restricts funding to organizations serving Birmingham, Dudley, Wolverhampton, and Walsall postcode areas. Applications from outside these areas will not be considered.

Local vs. National: The Trust “does not normally support national charities,” showing a clear preference for locally-rooted organizations with direct community connections in the West Midlands.

Entity Type Matters: CICs and social enterprises are explicitly excluded. Ensure your organization is a registered charity or charitable organization operating under appropriate legal structures.

Long-term Relationships: The example of Chamberlain's Highbury Trust demonstrates the value of sustained relationships. The Trust has been described as “a good friend to CHT for many years,” suggesting they value ongoing partnerships with organizations they support.

Pre-Application Engagement: The Trust specifically recommends contacting the Secretary to discuss applications before submission. This suggests they value dialogue and want to help applicants succeed by ensuring requests are well-designed.

Community Strengthening Focus: All funding decisions are made within the framework of “encouraging and strengthening community activities” in the target postcodes. Applications should clearly articulate community benefit and strengthening outcomes.

Broad Charitable Scope: While the Trust funds across multiple charitable purposes, applicants should clearly demonstrate how their work aligns with one or more of the Trust's stated priority areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Contact before applying: The Trust explicitly encourages pre-application contact to discuss your request and ensure all necessary information is included—take advantage of this accessibility
• Geographic fit is non-negotiable: Your organization must serve Birmingham, Dudley, Wolverhampton, or Walsall postcode areas; applications outside this geography will not succeed
• Entity structure matters: Confirm you are a registered charity or charitable organization, not a CIC, social enterprise, or national charity
• Plan for trustee meeting cycles: With three annual meetings, factor in potential waiting periods of several months between submission and decision
• Emphasize local community impact: Frame your application around strengthening community activities in the West Midlands target areas
• Grants typically around £3,000: While the maximum is stated as £4,000, plan project budgets around the £3,000 typical grant level
• Build relationships for the long term: The Trust values sustained partnerships with grantees, as evidenced by their multi-year support for organizations like Chamberlain's Highbury Trust

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• THE EVESON TRUST
• The Arts Council of England
• The Cole Charitable Trust
• Souter Charitable Trust
• The Henry Smith Foundation
• THE VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
• The Hobson Charity Limited
• Baron Davenport's Charity
• THE STEEL CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust
• Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund
• VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FOUNDATION
• THE SCOPS ARTS TRUST
• G J W Turner Trust
• The Rowlands Trust
• The Saintbury Trust
• The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust
• The Grantham Yorke Trust
• National Lottery
• THE FOYLE FOUNDATION

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities. “THE GRIMMITT TRUST - 801975.” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=801975&subId=0
• Sport Birmingham. “The Grimmitt Trust.” https://sportbirmingham.org/opportunity/the-grimmitt-trust/
• Chamberlain's Highbury Trust. "The Grimmitt Trust Supports CHT's Restoration Project." 31 January 2023. https://chamberlainhighburytrust.co.uk/2023/01/31/the-grimmitt-trust-supports-chts-restoration-project/
• Dudley CVS. "March's funding news." https://www.dudleycvs.org.uk/marchs-funding-news-3/
• Find That Charity. “GB-CHC-801975 | The Grimmitt Trust.” https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-801975