The Humanitarian Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £315,272 (2023/24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by program; student grants reviewed March-April
• Grant Range: Not specified for organizational grants; £1,000 maximum for student grants
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (student grants); broader for organizational grants

Contact Details

Email: humanitariantrust@prismthegiftfund.co.uk

Phone: 020 7486 7760

Website: https://www.humanitariantrust.co.uk/

Overview

Founded in 1946, The Humanitarian Trust is a UK-registered charity (number 208575) that operates at the discretion of its trustees to benefit communities in the fields of charitable, educational, and social work. With an annual expenditure of approximately £315,272 (2023/24), the Trust builds relationships with charities, particularly smaller organizations where grants can make a meaningful impact. The charity supports education, relief of hardship and disability, and social and medical projects. The Trust operates through Prism the Gift Fund's administrative infrastructure and does not directly engage with vulnerable groups, instead fulfilling its charitable objectives through grant-making to other organizations and individual students.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Organizational Grants

• Grant amounts not publicly specified
• Focuses on smaller charities where funding can have significant impact
• Does not generally fund administration costs alone; prefers specific projects
• All grants awarded at the sole discretion of trustees

Student Grants

• Amount: Maximum £1,000 per student
• Type: One-off awards
• Application Window: November 1st - January 15th annually
• Review Period: March and April
• Purpose: To address shortfalls in income needed to complete courses of study

Priority Areas

The Trust supports:

• Education: Educational initiatives and student support
• Disability: Relief and support for people with disabilities
• Hardship Relief: Assistance for those experiencing financial or social hardship
• Social Projects: Community-focused social welfare initiatives
• Medical Projects: Health-related charitable work

What They Don't Fund

For student grants specifically:

• Non-academic courses
• Overseas courses
• Distance learning programs
• Part-time or short-term courses
• Students over 30 years of age at course completion
• Applications outside the November-January window

For organizational grants:

• Administration costs alone (without a specific project component)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Jacques Gunsbourg - Chair/President
• Pierre Halban - Trustee
• Alexander Halban - Trustee (appointed November 6, 2015)
• Emmanuelle Gunsbourg-Kasavi - Trustee

The charity operates with four trustees who receive no remuneration or payments from the organization. The Trust has no employees receiving benefits over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries.

All grant decisions are made “at the sole discretion of the Trustees,” reflecting a trustee-led approach to funding decisions.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Organizational Grants:

This funder does not have a publicly documented application process for organizational grants. The Trust operates at the discretion of its trustees and builds relationships with charities, particularly smaller organizations. Grant decisions are made by trustees rather than through an open application system.

For Student Grants:

Applications must be submitted via email to humanitariantrust@prismthegiftfund.co.uk and include:

• Completed application form
• Cover letter
• CV/Resume
• Copy of passport
• Academic references
• Bank statements
• Proof of university acceptance

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be studying for a higher degree (Masters, PhD, Medicine, Dentistry or similar) or graduate degree at a university in England or Wales
• Must plan to remain resident in England or Wales throughout the course
• Must not be over 30 years of age when completing the course
• Must have secured the majority of required income (maximum shortfall: £2,000)
• Grants only for tuition fees or living expenses

Decision Timeline

Student Grants:

• Application window: November 1st to January 15th
• Applications outside this timeline will not be considered
• Annual review conducted in March and April
• Notification method not specified

Organizational Grants:

Timeline not publicly available; decisions made at trustee discretion.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available for either organizational or student grants.

Reapplication Policy

For student grants: Students can reapply if initially unsuccessful. However, grants are one-time awards only - students who have already received a grant cannot apply again.

For organizational grants: Policy not publicly specified.

Application Success Factors

For Student Applications:

The Trust has clearly stated that “all grants are awarded at the sole discretion of the Trustees,” emphasizing that meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding.

Key requirements include:

• Demonstrating a genuine financial shortfall (maximum £2,000)
• Providing comprehensive documentation including academic references and financial statements
• Applying within the strict timeframe (early or late submissions will not be considered)
• Ensuring all required documents are included with the application

For Organizational Applications:

While no public application process exists, the Trust's stated preference provides insight into what may attract trustee attention:

• Being a smaller organization where grants can make a visible impact
• Proposing specific projects rather than general operating support
• Alignment with priority areas: education, disability, hardship relief, social and medical projects
• The Trust “builds relationships with charities,” suggesting relationship-building may be important

The Trust explicitly does not fund administration costs alone, preferring to support specific projects with measurable outcomes.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application for Organizational Grants: The Trust operates through trustee discretion and relationship-building rather than open applications - there is no publicly documented process for charities to apply
• Small Organization Advantage: The Trust explicitly seeks to support smaller charities where grants can make meaningful impact
• Project-Specific Funding: Avoid requesting general operating or administrative costs; frame requests around specific projects aligned with education, disability, hardship relief, or medical/social initiatives
• Student Grant Strict Timeline: For student grants, the November 1-January 15 window is non-negotiable; applications outside this period are automatically rejected
• Trustee Discretion is Absolute: All decisions rest with trustees - meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding, and relationship-building appears important
• Connected to Prism the Gift Fund: Administrative operations run through Prism the Gift Fund infrastructure, which facilitates millions in charitable giving annually

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Old Possum's Practical Trust
• THE J P JACOBS CHARITABLE TRUST
• FINEGRANT LIMITED
• The Grove Trust
• William Kendall's Charity (Wax Chandlers Company)
• The Portal Trust
• London Quaker Service Trust
• The Marketors Trust
• A Z H R CHARITABLE TRUST
• Merchant Taylors' Educational Trust

References

• The Humanitarian Trust Official Website: https://www.humanitariantrust.co.uk/
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 208575: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/208575
• UK Charity Commission Trustees Page: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/208575/trustees
• Fundraiso Charity Profile: https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/the-humanitarian-trust
• 360Giving GrantNav - Prism The Gift Fund connection: https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1099682