The James Gibson Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £89,413 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Estimated £1,000 - £10,000 (based on limited evidence)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (in practice worldwide)
• Charity Number: 1108775

Contact Details

Address: 10 Chapel Lane, Reach, Cambridge, CB25 0JJ

Email: williambonnerdavies@hotmail.com

Phone: Not available

Website: None

Note: This trust does not have a website or public-facing presence.

Overview

The James Gibson Charitable Trust was established in 2005 through a Declaration of Trust dated 16 March 2005. It is a small private trust based in Cambridgeshire that makes grants to organizations that are registered charities under the laws of England and Wales or that are otherwise recognized as charities by HMRC. The trust operates with three trustees, none of whom receive any remuneration or benefits. With annual expenditure of approximately £89,413 (2024), the trust has demonstrated consistent grant-making activity, though it maintains a low profile with no website or published guidelines. The trust's income has shown significant variation, with £526,433 in 2024 compared to £52,907 in 2023, suggesting it may receive periodic large donations or investment returns.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate specific named grant programs. It makes discretionary grants to registered charities throughout England and Wales.

Priority Areas

The trust's charitable objects are broadly defined: to make grants to organizations that are registered charities under the laws of England and Wales or that are otherwise recognized as charities by the Commissioners of the Inland Revenue. In practice, the trust operates worldwide, though its focus appears to be on UK-registered charities.

Known Grant Example:

• The Seahorse Trust (marine conservation): £5,000

The trust appears to support a diverse range of charitable causes, with no publicly stated restrictions on specific charitable purposes.

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly documented. However, organizations must be:

• Registered as charities in England and Wales, OR
• Recognized as charities by HMRC

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: 3 trustees (names not publicly disclosed)

Contact: William Bonner Davies appears to be associated with the trust based on the email address (williambonnerdavies@hotmail.com).

The trust operates with a small volunteer trustee board. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, indicating this is entirely a philanthropic endeavor. The governing document is a Declaration of Trust dated 16 March 2005.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The James Gibson Charitable Trust operates as a private trust without a website, published guidelines, or open application process. Grants appear to be made at the discretion of the trustees, likely through their own research, networks, and relationships with charities.

Organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications through a formal process. Any approach would need to be made directly via the email address provided, though there is no indication the trust welcomes unsolicited requests.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private trust making discretionary grants, decisions are likely made throughout the year at trustees' meetings.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given the lack of a public application process, traditional “application success factors” do not apply. However, organizations might consider:

Understanding the Trust's Approach:

• The trust operates entirely at trustee discretion
• With only three trustees and no staff, the trust likely has specific causes and organizations it already knows and supports
• The trust's broad charitable objects suggest the trustees may have diverse interests

Making Contact:

• Any initial contact would need to be made via email to williambonnerdavies@hotmail.com
• There is no indication the trust welcomes or accepts unsolicited approaches
• Organizations should only make contact if they have a genuine connection or reason to believe the trust might be interested in their work

Grant Size Expectations:

• With annual expenditure of approximately £89,000, the trust likely makes multiple grants per year
• Based on the known example of £5,000 to The Seahorse Trust, grants may typically range from £1,000 to £10,000
• The trust's limited resources mean it likely focuses on smaller, targeted grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This is a private trust that makes grants at trustee discretion without accepting formal applications
• Very limited public information: The trust has no website, published guidelines, or stated funding priorities
• Small but active: With annual grants around £89,000, this is a modest trust supporting multiple charities
• Broad scope: The trust's charitable objects are wide-ranging, covering any registered charity in England and Wales
• Relationship-based: Success likely depends on existing connections to trustees or being identified through their networks
• Not suitable for speculative applications: Grant writers should not invest time trying to secure funding from this trust unless they have a specific connection or reason to believe the trustees would be interested
• Volunteer-led: All trustees serve without payment, suggesting genuine philanthropic commitment

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Tomlinson Family Charitable Trust
• The Dagny Raymond Charitable Trust
• The Marcia and Andrew Brown Charitable Trust
• Audrey Earle Charitable Trust
• Thorne Lodge Charitable Trust
• E B M Charitable Trust
• The Haley Family Charitable Trust
• The Welland Charitable Trust
• THE MATHER FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Dischma Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1108775
• Charity Commission Governing Document page: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/4014268/governing-document
• Charity Choice Directory: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-james-gibson-charitable-trust-49613
• The Seahorse Trust (grant recipient): https://www.theseahorsetrust.org/donation-james-gibson-charitable-trust/