The Hawthorne Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £309,281 (2024)
• Annual Income: £243,549 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Hereford and Worcester areas (England and Wales)
• Application Type: Invitation only - not accepting unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: RSM UK Tax And Accounting Limited, Marlborough House, Victoria Road South, Chelmsford, CM1 1LN

Email: tatia.goldstone@rsmuk.com

Phone: 01245 354402

Charity Number: 233921

Overview

The Hawthorne Charitable Trust was registered with the Charity Commission in 1964 and has been supporting charitable organizations for over 60 years. The trust operates as a grant-making foundation with a focused geographic scope, distributing its income to charitable bodies “which will make good use of what they receive.” The trustees particularly aim to support charities in the Hereford and Worcester areas. In the financial year ending April 2024, the trust distributed £309,281 to charitable organizations, with an income of £243,549. The trust is administered by RSM UK Tax and Accounting Limited and is governed by four trustees who receive no remuneration. The trust operates throughout England and Wales but maintains a clear geographic preference for the Hereford and Worcester regions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single grant-making program focused on general charitable purposes. Specific grant amounts and ranges are not publicly disclosed. The trust makes grants to other charitable organizations and voluntary bodies rather than to individuals.

Application Method: Invitation only - the trust does not accept unsolicited applications and focuses on existing relationships with charitable organizations.

Priority Areas

The trust's stated objective is to distribute income to charitable bodies that “will make good use of what they receive,” with a particular emphasis on:

• Charities operating in Hereford and Worcester areas
• General charitable purposes
• Organizations with which the trustees have established relationships

The trust does not publicly specify sector-specific priorities, suggesting a broad approach to charitable giving within their geographic focus.

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals (grants are made only to charitable organizations)
• Organizations without established relationships with the trust (unsolicited applications are not accepted)
• Organizations outside their geographic areas of interest (though they can operate throughout England and Wales, preference is for Hereford and Worcester)

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Governance and Leadership

The Hawthorne Charitable Trust is governed by four trustees. The trustees identified in public records include:

• Alexandra Susan Berington
• Roger Jackson Clark
• Thomas Berington
• Richard White

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust has no employees receiving benefits over £60,000 and operates without any trading subsidiaries.

The trust's administrative functions are handled by RSM UK Tax and Accounting Limited, with Tatia Goldstone serving as the primary contact person. This arrangement provides professional charity management while maintaining the trust's focus on grant distribution.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The trust explicitly states that it is “not currently accepting unsolicited applications for funding” as it concentrates on existing relationships. The trust makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees, who identify and select charitable organizations to support based on their knowledge of the sector and established relationships within the Hereford and Worcester areas.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made by trustees based on their own initiative and established relationships rather than through a formal application review process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the trust does not accept unsolicited applications, so traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - there is no public application process for initial or repeat applications.

Application Success Factors

Since The Hawthorne Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications, there is no formal application process to optimize. The trust operates entirely through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships with charitable organizations.

Organizations that receive funding from this trust are preselected by the trustees based on their knowledge of charitable work in the Hereford and Worcester areas. The trust's stated objective emphasizes supporting organizations that “will make good use of what they receive,” suggesting that trustees prioritize:

• Demonstrated effectiveness and good stewardship of charitable funds
• Operating in or serving the Hereford and Worcester areas
• Alignment with general charitable purposes
• Established reputation and relationships within the charitable sector

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This trust does not accept unsolicited funding applications and operates exclusively through trustee-initiated relationships
• Geographic Focus: Strong preference for charities operating in Hereford and Worcester areas, though legally able to fund throughout England and Wales
• Relationship-Based: Funding decisions are made based on trustees' knowledge of organizations and established relationships in the charitable sector
• Long-Standing Trust: Registered since 1964, indicating stability and a long-term commitment to charitable giving
• Significant Distribution: With annual expenditure of over £309,000, this is a meaningful funder within its geographic focus area
• Professional Administration: Managed by RSM UK, suggesting professional governance and financial management
• Not Currently Seeking New Relationships: The trust is explicitly focusing on existing relationships rather than expanding to new charitable partners

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Garfield Weston Foundation
• The Wolfson Foundation
• THE HEADLEY TRUST
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• Essex Community Foundation
• THE FEBRUARY FOUNDATION
• P F Charitable Trust
• The Charis Trust
• THE ALICE ELLEN COOPER-DEAN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
• The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust
• The Elmley Foundation
• The Rowlands Trust
• The Street Foundation
• The Edward and Dorothy Cadbury Trust
• The Irving Memorial Trust
• Before Trust
• National Lottery Heritage Fund
• The Arts Council of England
• National Lottery
• THE SIR JAMES ROLL CHARITABLE TRUST

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales - Charity Overview: THE HAWTHORNE CHARITABLE TRUST (233921). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=233921
• Charity Commission for England and Wales - Accounts and Annual Returns: THE HAWTHORNE CHARITABLE TRUST (233921). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/233921/accounts-and-annual-returns
• OpenCharities - THE HAWTHORNE CHARITABLE TRUST. http://opencharities.org/charities/233921
• Giving is Great - Charity Factsheet: THE HAWTHORNE CHARITABLE TRUST. https://givingisgreat.org.uk/charity-factsheet/?regNo=233921