The Hillier Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £225,972 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not available (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Not applicable
• Grant Range: Individual amounts not disclosed
• Geographic Focus: England (national)
• Application Status: Not accepting new applications

Contact Details

Principal Office:

Loose Court Farmhouse

Old Drive

Maidstone, Kent

ME15 9SE

Email: tonyhillier@zen.co.uk

Phone: 07767775792

Website: www.thehilliertrust.com

Charity Number: 1147629

Overview

The Hillier Trust was registered as a charity on 8 June 2012. This Christian grant-making trust focuses its support on organizations and activities with a specifically Christian ethos or Christian values at their core. The trust's strategic approach centers on sustained, ongoing relationships with existing beneficiaries rather than seeking new organizations to support. With annual giving of approximately £226,000 distributed across 16 organizations in 2024 (and £238,346 to 17 organizations in 2023), the trust prioritizes two main areas: organizations working with young people, and those carrying out development work at home or overseas with disadvantaged groups. The trust operates through trustee discretion, concentrating resources on building long-term partnerships with their current network of grantees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Hillier Trust does not operate formal grant programs with specified amounts. Grants are made through trustee discretion to selected organizations on an ongoing basis. In 2024, 16 organizations received grants totaling £225,972, with most causes described as “regular and ongoing.”

Priority Areas

• Christian organizations and faith-based activities: Organizations with a Christian ethos or those engaged in religious activities
• Youth work: Organizations working specifically with children and young people
• Development work with disadvantaged groups: Both domestic and international programs supporting disadvantaged communities
• Poverty relief: Programs addressing poverty prevention
• Overseas aid and development: International development and famine relief initiatives
• Education and training: Educational programs and training initiatives
• Arts, culture, heritage, and science: Supporting cultural and scientific endeavors
• Elderly and disabled people: Services for older people and people with disabilities
• Ethnic and racial minority groups: Support for people of specific ethnic or racial origins

What They Don't Fund

The trust does not provide specific exclusions in their public materials. However, given their clear focus on Christian organizations and activities, organizations without a Christian ethos or connection are unlikely to be supported. They also explicitly state they are not seeking new beneficiaries.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Anthony John Hillier (Chair) - Company Director
• Susan Jean Hillier
• Elizabeth Jordan
• David Hillier

Accountants: UHY Hacker Young, Sittingbourne, Kent

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust appears to be a family trust, with the Hillier family members serving as trustees and maintaining a hands-on approach to their grant-making decisions.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Hillier Trust does not have a public application process.

The trust's website clearly states: “We are not considering any new grants until further notice as we are concentrating on supporting those organisations with whom we currently have a relationship. Most of the causes we support are of a regular and ongoing nature, and the Trust is therefore not actively seeking other beneficiaries at this time. Any unsolicited requests may not be responded to.”

Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations with whom they have established relationships. The trust operates on a closed, invitation-only basis.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made through trustee discretion to existing beneficiaries on an ongoing basis.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the trust does not accept applications from new organizations.

Application Success Factors

Since The Hillier Trust does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional “success factors” do not apply. However, examining their current grantees provides insight into the types of organizations they value:

Organizations Currently Supported (2024):

• Age UK
• Amos Trust
• Beachy Head Chaplaincy
• Celebration Church Camp
• Christian Concern
• Congo Action
• Crossline
• DFN UK
• Evangelical Alliance
• Family Trust
• Freedom Kit Bags
• International Needs
• Safe Anaesthesia Worldwide
• Kent Community Cricket
• Maidstone Winter Shelter
• Salvation Army

Patterns in Their Giving:

• Mix of national and local organizations (including Kent-based charities)
• Combination of direct service delivery and advocacy organizations
• Both purely Christian organizations (e.g., Evangelical Alliance, Christian Concern) and secular charities with Christian values
• International development organizations (Congo Action, International Needs, Safe Anaesthesia Worldwide)
• Local community support (Maidstone Winter Shelter, Kent Community Cricket)
• Organizations addressing specific needs (Beachy Head Chaplaincy for suicide prevention, Freedom Kit Bags)

Key Success Factors for Organizations Already Supported:

• Sustained relationship building: The trust emphasizes “regular and ongoing” support, indicating they value long-term partnerships
• Christian ethos alignment: Most organizations have explicit Christian values or operate within a Christian framework
• Focus on young people or disadvantaged groups: Aligns with their stated priority areas
• Proven track record: The trust supports established organizations rather than new ventures

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: The Hillier Trust is closed to new applicants and does not respond to unsolicited requests
• Relationship-driven giving: They prioritize sustained support for existing partners over exploring new beneficiaries
• Christian focus essential: Organizations must have a specifically Christian ethos or demonstrate Christian values
• Long-term commitment: The trust describes most supported causes as “regular and ongoing,” suggesting they make multi-year commitments
• Dual focus areas: Priority given to youth work and development work with disadvantaged groups (domestic and international)
• Family trust structure: The small trustee board consists of family members, suggesting personal connections and direct knowledge of beneficiaries guide decisions
• Modest but meaningful grants: With approximately £225,000 distributed among 16 organizations annually, individual grants likely range from modest to moderate amounts

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Bassil Shippam and Alsford Trust
• CECIL AND HILDA LEWIS CHARITABLE TRUST
• Philip Barker Charity
• D L M Charitable Trust
• The Balney Charitable Trust
• THE PG & NJ BOULTON TRUST LIMITED
• J A Gillett Charitable Trust
• Sydney and Phyllis Goldberg Memorial Charitable Trust
• THE MICHAEL MARSH CHARITABLE TRUST
• Smith Bradbeer Charitable Trust

References

• The Hillier Trust official website: https://www.thehilliertrust.com
• The Hillier Trust About Us page: https://www.thehilliertrust.com/about-us
• The Hillier Trust Previous Grants page: https://www.thehilliertrust.com/previous-grants
• Charity Commission Register: THE HILLIER TRUST - Charity number 1147629: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5028819
• Charity Commission “What, who, how, where” page for charity 1147629