The Hamilton Wallace Trust

Charity Number: 1052453

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

Geographic Focus: Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £57,749 (FY 2024)
Grant Range: £500 - £1,000
Decision Time: Approximately 1-2 months (applications reviewed in May and November)
Geographic Focus: National (UK)
Funding Focus: Children & young people, health (physical & mental), older people, veterans

Contact Details

Address: 38 Craven Street, London, WC2N 5NG

Phone: 020 7925 2244

Email: hamiltonwallace@plslex.com or office@plslex.com

Website: No dedicated website

Charity Number: 1052453

Overview

The Hamilton Wallace Trust was founded in 1996 as a modest grant-making charity operating from London. With just two trustees, the Trust makes small grants to UK registered charities for a variety of charitable purposes. For the financial year ending 31 January 2024, the Trust had total income of £21,842 and total expenditure of £57,749, demonstrating its commitment to distributing funds to charitable causes even when annual giving exceeds income. The Trust's charitable objectives allow trustees to distribute funds to “such charity or charities or for such legally charitable purpose or purposes as the trustees shall from time to time in their absolute discretion determine,” giving them broad flexibility in their grant-making. In the 2019-2020 period (the most recent year for which detailed accounts are available), 59 grants were awarded, predominantly to national charities augmented by several local charities such as the Archway Project in London.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates a single grant program with standardized amounts:

Small Grants: £500 or £1,000 per award
Application method: Rolling basis via written applications
Review schedule: Twice yearly (May and November meetings)

Priority Areas

Grants are predominantly made in the following areas:

Children and young people - supporting charities working with young beneficiaries
Health - both physical and mental health charities, with national health charities frequently supported
Older people - charities supporting elderly populations
Veterans - organizations working with armed forces veterans

The Trust has a broad charitable remit and can support UK registered charities working in any area that falls within general charitable purposes.

What They Don't Fund

Individual appeals (only registered charities are eligible)
Organizations not registered with the Charity Commission
Non-charitable purposes

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Governance and Leadership

Structure: The Trust is governed by just two trustees who meet twice yearly to review grant applications.

Key Contact: Peter Phillips, Trustee

C/o Phillips Lewis Smith (or Belluzzo Lewis Smith)

38 Craven Street, London, WC2N 5NG

The small trustee board allows for streamlined decision-making, with trustees exercising discretion in selecting recipients twice per year.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications may be made at any time in writing to:

The Hamilton Wallace Trust

C/o Belluzzo Lewis Smith

38 Craven Street

London, WC2N 5NG

Or via email: hamiltonwallace@plslex.com

Important notes:

Individual letters of appeal are not acknowledged
Only successful applicants are notified of awards (due to cost considerations)
No online portal or formal application form
Write a clear, concise letter outlining your charity's work and funding need

Decision Timeline

Trustee Meetings: May and November (twice yearly)

Recommended submission deadlines:

April - for consideration at the May meeting
September - for consideration at the November meeting

While applications can be submitted at any time, submitting by these deadlines ensures timely consideration. Decision time from recommended deadline to meeting is approximately 1-2 months.

Success Rates

In the 2019-2020 financial year, 59 grants of either £500 or £1,000 were awarded. With total expenditure of £57,749 in FY 2024, the Trust likely continues to make approximately 50-60 grants per year (assuming similar grant amounts).

Specific application-to-award ratios are not published.

Reapplication Policy

No specific restrictions on reapplication are documented. Charities may submit applications for consideration at either or both trustee meetings annually.

Application Success Factors

National vs. Local Focus: While the Trust has national reach, national charities are “frequently supported” according to multiple sources. However, local charities such as the Archway Project in London have also received funding, indicating that smaller, well-aligned local charities can succeed.

Alignment with Priority Areas: Applications from charities working with children and young people, health (especially mental and physical health at national level), older people, or veterans appear most likely to succeed based on stated priorities.

Grant Amount Standardization: All grants are either £500 or £1,000. Do not request specific amounts - trustees determine the grant level at their discretion.

Written Communication: With no formal application form, the quality of your written appeal is critical. Be concise, clear about your charitable purpose, and specific about how the grant would be used.

Registered Charity Status: You must be a UK registered charity. This is a firm requirement.

Expectation Management: Only successful applicants are contacted. If you don't hear back after the trustee meeting following your submission deadline, assume the application was unsuccessful.

Small Trust Operations: With just two trustees and no dedicated website, this is a small, administratively lean operation. Keep correspondence brief and professional, respecting their limited administrative capacity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Small but consistent funder: With approximately 50-60 grants annually of £500-£1,000 each, this is a reliable source of small grants for UK charities
Timing is key: Submit by April for May consideration or September for November consideration to align with trustee meeting schedule
National health charities favored: If you're a national-level health charity (physical or mental health), you appear to have strong alignment with trustee preferences
No feedback loop: Only successful applicants are notified, so you won't receive explanations for unsuccessful applications - useful for small grant amounts where follow-up would be disproportionate
Broad discretion: Trustees have wide latitude in their decision-making, so even if your area isn't explicitly listed in priorities, a well-written application for general charitable purposes may succeed
Simple process: No complex forms or online portals - just write a compelling letter explaining your work and funding need
Don't expect acknowledgment: Applications are not acknowledged upon receipt; patience is required as you wait for the next trustee meeting