The Halpin Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £335,157 (2024)
• Total Income: £346,938 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only model)
• Decision Time: 3-4 months between trustee meetings
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £15,000 (first-time applicants); higher amounts for subsequent grants
• Geographic Focus: UK and international (including Borneo)
• Applications: Invitation only

Contact Details

• Website: www.halpintrust.org
• Email: info@halpintrust.org
• Phone: 020 7593 5109
• Address: (ref: RHAM/32780/1/TJSS) Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London SE1 9BB
• Legal Contact: halpintrust@wslaw.co.uk

Overview

The Halpin Trust was established in 2011 by Les and Claire Halpin as a grant-making charity focused on delivering “powerful and lasting impact” in three priority areas: nature conservation and the environment, education, and healthcare. Les Halpin, who sadly passed away in 2013, was a philanthropist who sought to “invest in projects which would tackle systemic issues and change the world, in bite sized chunks.” Since 2013, the Trust has worked with more than a dozen different charities and supported over 40 projects. The Trust operates with four trustees and maintains an invitation-only application process, focusing on building long-term relationships with partner organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grants: £5,000 - £10,000 (first-time applicants)

• First-time applications by new charities are typically in the £5,000-£10,000 range
• Subsequent projects can be higher amounts, subject to satisfactory completion and reporting of initial grants
• No fixed deadlines; rolling basis for invited applicants
• Trustees meet 3-4 times per year to review applications

Development Grants: Up to £15,000

• Designed to help charities with organizational capacity building
• Supports business planning, strategic development, fundraising planning, or staff capability building
• Aims to help charitable organizations become “more robust and resilient”

Priority Areas

Nature Conservation and Environment

• Focuses on protection of wildlife habitat and systems conservation rather than individual species
• Notable support for the Heart of Borneo Rainforest Foundation, protecting Borneo's rainforests from degradation and destruction
• Preference for projects addressing underlying causes rather than symptoms

Education

• Projects focused on tackling disadvantage
• Providing opportunities for merit/ability to overcome disadvantage
• Particularly interested in environmental education projects

Healthcare

• Focus on understanding causes, epidemiology, and treatment of degenerative neurological illness or mental health
• Medical research is of particular interest
• Open to medical research studentships

Multi-Disciplinary Projects

The Trust particularly values projects that address more than one priority area, for example:

• Environmental education programs
• Medical research studentships
• Environmental and educational projects that promote health and wellbeing

Strategic Approach

The Trustees prioritize support that addresses “the underlying cause of an issue – the systemic problem – rather than relieving the symptoms of a problem.” They will consider both salary and capital grants, provided there is a sustainable business model and the investment helps to tackle the underlying issue or unlocks a permanent/ongoing solution to a problem. The Trust operates on the principle of promoting “lasting societal and environmental impact” rather than requiring regular ongoing grant inputs.

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the invitation-only model suggests:

• The Trust does not accept unsolicited applications
• Focus is on systemic change rather than symptom relief
• Preference for sustainable models over ongoing dependency on funding

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Governance and Leadership

Founders: Les and Claire Halpin established the Trust in 2011 with the intention of leaving the bulk of their estate to the Trust upon their deaths.

Claire Halpin trained and worked as a software engineer until 2007, working in the software industry as an application developer before taking early retirement. After retirement, she became actively involved in local conservation work, primarily with her local Wildlife Trust.

Les Halpin (deceased 2013) was a philanthropist who believed in investing in projects that would “tackle systemic issues and change the world, in bite sized chunks.”

Current Governance: The Trust has four trustees who receive no remuneration or payments. The Trust has no employees with benefits over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Applications for grants are by invitation only. The Trust's website serves as "an online resource for the Trust's partners," and unsolicited approaches will not be considered and will not receive any response.

For invited applicants:

• Submit applications using the General Grant Application Form (available on their website)
• All completed documents and queries should be sent to info@halpintrust.org
• No fixed deadlines for applications

Decision Timeline

• Trustees meet 3-4 times per year to review applications and discuss progress of funded projects
• Applications will normally be reviewed at the meeting following submission
• Occasionally an application might be carried over to the subsequent meeting if the agenda is very full or requires additional consideration
• Expected timeline: 3-4 months between trustee meetings

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. The invitation-only model means success rates are not comparable to open grant programs.

Reapplication Policy

Subsequent applications from previously funded organizations are welcomed and can be for higher amounts than first-time grants, subject to satisfactory completion and reporting of initial projects.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Already Invited to Apply:

1. Demonstrate Systemic Impact

The Trust explicitly seeks projects that address “the underlying cause of an issue – the systemic problem – rather than relieving the symptoms of a problem.” Applications should clearly articulate how the project tackles root causes and creates lasting change.

2. Show Sustainability

Trustees will consider salary and capital grants “providing there is a sustainable business model and the investment helps to tackle the underlying issue or unlocks a permanent/ongoing solution to a problem.” Demonstrate how the project will create lasting impact rather than requiring ongoing grant support.

3. Consider Multi-Disciplinary Approaches

The Trust “particularly likes projects which address more than one of these areas, for instance environmental education, medical research studentships or environmental and educational projects that promote health and wellbeing.” If your project bridges multiple priority areas, highlight these connections.

4. Focus on Systems, Not Species

For conservation projects, note that the Trust supports “the protection of wildlife habitat and systems conservation rather than individual species.” Frame projects in terms of ecosystem and habitat protection.

5. Address Disadvantage

For education projects, clearly demonstrate how the project tackles “points of disadvantage and providing opportunity for merit/ability to overcome disadvantage.”

6. Build Long-Term Relationships

The Trust has worked with “more than a dozen different charities” since 2013, suggesting they value ongoing partnerships. First grants tend to be smaller (£5,000-£10,000), with higher amounts possible for subsequent projects based on satisfactory completion and reporting.

7. Strong Reporting on Initial Grants

Subsequent grants “could be higher pending satisfactory completion and reporting” of initial projects. Demonstrate strong project management and reporting capabilities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-only model: This Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. The website states clearly that “unsolicited approaches will not be considered and will not receive any response.”
• Start small, grow relationships: First-time grants typically range from £5,000-£10,000, with potential for larger grants in subsequent applications based on satisfactory delivery.
• Think systemically: The Trust prioritizes projects that address root causes and create permanent solutions rather than treating symptoms or requiring ongoing support.
• Multi-disciplinary advantage: Projects that bridge two or more priority areas (environment, education, healthcare) are particularly appealing to trustees.
• Patience required: With trustees meeting 3-4 times per year, expect a 3-4 month timeline from application to decision.
• Sustainability is key: Demonstrate how your project creates lasting impact with a sustainable business model rather than ongoing grant dependency.
• Consider development grants: If organizational capacity building would strengthen your charity, the Trust offers development grants up to £15,000 for strategic planning, fundraising development, and staff capability building.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Rowlands Trust
• The Joyce Fletcher Charitable Trust
• The Saintbury Trust
• Lady Gould's Charity
• ST ANDREW HOLBORN AND STAFFORD'S CHARITY
• The Charterhouse Charitable Trust
• THE VERDON-SMITH FAMILY CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT
• The Englefield Charitable Trust
• The Octopus Foundation
• County of Gloucestershire Community Foundation

References

1. The Halpin Trust official website - www.halpintrust.org
2. Charity Commission Register - The Halpin Trust (Charity Number 1150540), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/5032661
3. Heart of Borneo Project - The Halpin Trust partnership page, http://www.heartofborneo.org/our-directory/halpin-trust/
4. The Halpin Trust - Who We Support page, www.halpintrust.org/who-we-support/ (Referenced in search results, December 2025)
5. The Halpin Trust - About Us page, www.halpintrust.org/about-us/ (Referenced in search results, December 2025)
6. The Halpin Trust - Documents page, www.halpintrust.org/documents/ (Referenced in search results, December 2025)