The Ingram Trust

Charity Number: 1040194

Annual Expenditure: £0.8M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £840,000 (2024-25)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Not publicly available
  • Geographic Focus: National (UK) and Surrey area

Contact Details

  • Email: theingramtrust@rawlinson-hunter.com
  • Phone: 020 7842 2000
  • Address: Eighth Floor, 6 New Street Square, London EC4A 3AQ

Overview

The Ingram Trust was established on 16 August 1994 as a family trust founded by entrepreneur Chris Ingram. With annual giving of approximately £840,000 (2024-25), the trust supports around two dozen charities both nationally and locally in Surrey. The trust operates under a trust deed dated 3 August 1994, as amended by resolution dated 26th July 1995. Its mission encompasses “any purpose, body, organisation or object in any part of the world which under the law of England and Wales shall be recognised as exclusively charitable.” The trust is administered by Rawlinson & Hunter, an international accountancy firm. With recent income of £221,000 and spending of £840,000 (2024-25), the trust demonstrates a strong commitment to charitable giving, drawing on established reserves to support its grant-making activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Ingram Trust operates a single grant-making program supporting registered charities. Application methods and deadlines are not publicly specified; prospective applicants should contact the trust directly via email.

Priority Areas

  • Geographic Focus: Registered national charities throughout the UK, or charities local to the Surrey area
  • Beneficiary Type: Other charitable organizations and voluntary bodies (not individuals)
  • Known Supported Causes: Past support has been documented for diverse causes including Shelter (housing charity) and World Wide Fund for Nature (environmental conservation)

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Non-registered charities
  • Organizations outside the UK (though international work by UK-registered charities may be considered given the trust's broad charitable purposes)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust is governed by a board of 6 trustees with a gender composition of 67% female and 33% male:

  • Christopher John Ingram (appointed 1994) - Founder and entrepreneur, regarded as the inventor of the modern media agency. Voted UK Business to Business Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000. Active philanthropist with strong links to Woking and Surrey.
  • Janet Elizabeth Ingram (appointed 1994)
  • Jonathan Devereux Ingram (appointed 2014)
  • Sally Jane Ingram (appointed 2014)
  • Additional trustees (names not publicly available)

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, demonstrating a commitment to maximizing charitable impact.

Chris Ingram's Philanthropic Vision

Chris Ingram has demonstrated a long-term commitment to making resources “widely available for public benefit,” as evidenced by his establishment of the Ingram Art Foundation in 2016 and his support for The Lightbox Gallery in Woking, which won the Art Fund prize in 2008. His approach to philanthropy combines support for both national causes and local Surrey communities, particularly Woking where he has strong personal connections.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application procedures are not publicly detailed. Prospective applicants should:

  1. Contact the trust via email at theingramtrust@rawlinson-hunter.com
  2. Telephone enquiries can be made to 020 7842 2000
  3. Ensure your organization is either a registered national charity or local to the Surrey area

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly available. Applicants should enquire directly when submitting applications.

Success Rates

Success rates and application volumes are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies have not been publicly stated.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment

  • Geographic Connection: Strong preference for charities with Surrey connections, particularly Woking area where the founder has personal ties
  • Registration Status: Must be a registered charity with the Charity Commission
  • Diverse Causes: Historical giving suggests openness to diverse charitable purposes, from housing (Shelter) to environmental conservation (WWF)

Relationship Building

Given Chris Ingram's personal involvement as founder and trustee since 1994, and his demonstrated commitment to both national and local causes, applicants may benefit from:

  • Demonstrating understanding of local Surrey needs if applying as a local charity
  • Articulating clear charitable impact aligned with the trust's broad mission
  • Being prepared to build a relationship given the trust's support for “approximately two dozen charities” suggests selective, potentially ongoing relationships

Standing Out

  • Public Benefit: The founder's emphasis on making resources “widely available for public benefit” suggests projects with broad community impact may resonate
  • Diverse Charitable Purposes: The trust's wide-ranging charitable objects suggest openness to innovative approaches across different sectors
  • Long-term Impact: With 30 years of operation, the trust appears to take a sustained approach to philanthropy

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Contact First: With no public application guidelines, direct contact via email or phone is essential before submitting any proposal
  • Geographic Fit Matters: Ensure your organization clearly fits either the “national charity” or “local to Surrey” criteria
  • Family Trust Dynamic: As a family trust with family members as trustees, expect a potentially more personal review process than institutional funders
  • Significant Resources: With £840,000 in annual giving supporting approximately two dozen charities, individual grants may be substantial
  • Broad Mission: The trust's expansive charitable purposes allow flexibility—don't self-select out based on narrow assumptions about their interests
  • Administrative Support: Rawlinson & Hunter's involvement suggests professional administration; ensure proposals are well-prepared and formally presented
  • Limited Public Information: The lack of detailed public information may indicate selective, relationship-based grant-making; networking and introductions may be valuable

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