The John Armitage Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1079688

Annual Expenditure: £7.9M
Throughout England And Wales

Contact Info

Website: www.jact.org

Phone: 020 7404 5040

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £7.9 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only funder)
  • Decision Time: Not specified
  • Grant Range: £30,000 - £40,000 (typical), with larger collaborative grants up to £2.7m
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales only
  • Grant Duration: Often 3 years or more

Contact Details

Phone: 020 7404 5040

Website: www.jact.org

Charity Number: 1079688

For Applications: Letters of introduction may be submitted to the Trust's advisers at New Philanthropy Capital (NPC)

Note: The Trust does not accept unsolicited proposals and operates on an invitation-only basis.

Overview

The John Armitage Charitable Trust was established as a registered charity (number 1079688) and is one of the UK's significant education and social welfare funders. Named after its founder John Armitage, a billionaire hedge fund manager and co-founder of Egerton Capital, the Trust awarded grants totalling over £7.9 million in its most recent financial year. The Trust's principal objective is to help people to help themselves, with a particular focus on disadvantaged children and youth support, education, medical care, arts and culture, prisoners and young offenders, and religious organizations. The Trust takes a strategic, long-term approach to funding, with grants often awarded for three years or more, and works through advisers at New Philanthropy Capital to identify suitable charitable partners.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Standard Grants: £30,000 - £40,000 annually

  • Multi-year commitments (typically 3+ years)
  • For registered charities in England and Wales only
  • Applications by invitation or letter of introduction only

Collaborative/Strategic Grants: Up to £2.7 million

  • Large-scale partnerships between multiple organizations
  • Example: £2.7m to IntoUniversity, SHINE, and Tutor Trust for Hartlepool education initiative
  • Long-term strategic investments in specific geographies or issues

Priority Areas

The Trust focuses on seven main areas:

  1. Young People - Supporting skills, confidence, and opportunities for disadvantaged youth
  2. Parenting - Funding parenting programs and family support
  3. Education - Improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged children
  4. Mental Health - Prevention and support for mental health conditions
  5. Medical Care - Hospice support and palliative care services
  6. Arts and Culture - Supporting major arts charities to expand education and public access
  7. Former Offenders - Job and housing support for people leaving prison, plus in-prison support programs

The Trust does not confine itself strictly to these areas and may consider other causes aligned with its objective of helping people help themselves.

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside England and Wales
  • Unsolicited applications from organizations without strong alignment to their objectives
  • Individual applications (charities only)

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • Mr J C Armitage - Founder and Trustee
  • Catherine Mary Armitage - Trustee
  • Celina Francklin - Trustee (appointed November 2012)
  • William Alexander Mavourn Francklin - Trustee (also trustee of The Hall Garth Charitable Settlement and IAH Charity Company Limited)
  • Robert Alasdair MacInnes - Trustee (appointed April 2020)

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Founder Background

John Christopher Armitage is a British-Irish billionaire hedge fund manager who co-founded Egerton Capital in 1994. With a net worth estimated at $1.5 billion (Forbes, October 2024), Armitage has generated over $5.3 billion in profit for investors. He is known for significant philanthropic donations to educational institutions including the University of Oxford, Royal College of Music, and University of Cambridge, where he serves on the investment board.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Trust does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Letter of Introduction Approach:

  • Registered charities in England and Wales whose work strongly aligns with the Trust's charitable objectives may submit a letter of introduction
  • Letters may be sent at any time to either:
  • The Trust directly (contact via phone: 020 7404 5040)
  • The Trust's advisers at New Philanthropy Capital (NPC)

What to Include:

  • Clear demonstration of alignment with the Trust's priority areas
  • Evidence of work with disadvantaged populations
  • How your organization helps people “help themselves”

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified. The Trust operates on a discretionary basis with trustees making decisions according to the trust deed.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. As an invitation-only funder, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified. Given the invitation-only nature, organizations should focus on building relationships through their initial letter of introduction rather than repeated applications.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Approach Required

This is not a traditional open grant-making trust. Success depends on:

  1. Strong Mission Alignment: Your work must clearly align with one or more of the Trust's seven priority areas
  2. Focus on Disadvantaged Groups: Particularly children and young people facing disadvantage
  3. Self-Help Philosophy: Programs should empower beneficiaries to help themselves rather than creating dependency
  4. England and Wales Only: Geographical restriction is absolute
  5. Registered Charity Status: Must be registered with the Charity Commission
  6. Long-term Sustainability: The Trust prefers multi-year commitments suggesting they value sustainable approaches

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

Hartlepool Education Initiative (2025) - £2.7 million

  • Collaborative approach between three charities (IntoUniversity, SHINE, Tutor Trust)
  • Comprehensive three-pronged strategy: learning centre, reading program, and tutoring
  • Focus on raising aspirations, boosting attainment, and breaking down barriers
  • Demonstrates the Trust's interest in strategic, place-based, collaborative funding

IntoUniversity - Multi-year support

  • Learning centres providing after-school academic support, mentoring, and enrichment
  • Working with young people aged 7-18 facing disadvantage
  • Holistic approach to educational opportunity

Churchill Fellowship - Educational fellowship program

  • Supporting education in schools
  • Demonstrates interest in professional development and educational innovation

Language and Terminology

The Trust consistently uses the phrase “helping people help themselves” - this self-help philosophy should be central to any approach. Emphasize:

  • Empowerment rather than dependency
  • Building capacity and confidence
  • Long-term sustainable change
  • Supporting disadvantaged populations to overcome barriers

Working with Advisers

New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) serves as advisers to the Trust. Organizations might benefit from:

  • Understanding NPC's research and recommendations
  • Demonstrating evidence-based approaches
  • Showing measurable impact and outcomes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. This is an invitation-only funder - Do not submit standard grant applications. A well-crafted letter of introduction is your only entry point.
  1. Emphasize the self-help philosophy - Show how your work empowers people to help themselves rather than creating dependency. This is central to the Trust's mission.
  1. Multi-year thinking required - The Trust typically makes grants for 3+ years, so demonstrate sustainability and long-term planning rather than short-term projects.
  1. Geographic restriction is absolute - Only registered charities in England and Wales are eligible. Do not apply if based elsewhere.
  1. Consider collaborative approaches - The Hartlepool example (£2.7m to three organizations working together) suggests the Trust values strategic partnerships and place-based initiatives.
  1. Work through advisers - New Philanthropy Capital serves as advisers. Understanding their research priorities and demonstrating evidence-based practice may strengthen your case.
  1. Focus on disadvantaged children and young people - While the Trust has seven priority areas, youth support has historically received the most grants and appears central to their mission.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

  • The Albert Hunt Trust
  • The Simon Gibson Charitable Trust
  • The Brendish Family Foundation
  • The Hayton Charitable Trust
  • The Jgw Patterson Foundation
  • The Keith Coombs Trust
  • The Mackay And Brewer Charitable Trust
  • The Woo Family Charitable Trust
  • Bleu Blanc Rouge Foundation Limited
  • Fusion21 Foundation

References