The Kathleen Smith Foundation

Charity Number: 1060505

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £165,792 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Variable (dependent on trustee meeting schedules)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly specified
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Website: https://funding.ludlowtrust.com

Email: charitabletrusts@ludlowtrust.com

Phone: 0117 313 8200

Address: Tower Wharf, Cheese Lane, Bristol, BS2 0JJ

Overview

The Kathleen Smith Foundation (Charity Number 1060505) was registered in February 1997 with the objective of supporting “General Charitable Purposes” throughout England and Wales. With an annual expenditure of £165,792 (financial year ending June 2024), the Foundation is managed by Ludlow Trust Company, a professional trust management service that oversees over 250 charitable trusts. The Foundation accepts applications through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway, an award-winning online platform launched in September 2023 that has facilitated the distribution of over £2.5 million in grants from Ludlow-managed trusts. The Foundation is governed by a single trustee structure, with NatWest Trust Services formerly managing the trust before transitioning to Ludlow Trust Co Ltd.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway, an online application platform available year-round with no fixed deadlines. Applications are reviewed by experienced Trust Managers who match submissions to relevant charitable trusts based on their giving priorities.

  • Application Method: Rolling basis through online portal at https://funding.ludlowtrust.com
  • Eligibility: UK registered charities, exempt charities, Community Interest Companies limited by guarantee, and community groups with a constitution, elected committee, and bank account controlled by two or more committee members

Priority Areas

According to the Foundation's letter of wishes, there is a historical preference towards supporting charities in the following areas:

  • Health and medical research (cancer research, arthritis support, hospice care)
  • Children and young people's welfare
  • Disability support (visual impairment, general disability services)
  • Emergency services and humanitarian aid
  • Heritage and conservation
  • Education

Historical charitable interests have included: Post Office & Civil Service Sanatorium Society, Eltham College, Field Lane Foundation, Horder Centre for Arthritis, British Red Cross, National Trust, Cancer Relief Macmillan Fund, St Christopher's Hospice, Save the Children Fund, Barnardo's, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, RNIB, RNLI, Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund, and Special Trustees of Moorfields Hospital.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly listed. As with most charitable trusts of this nature, funding typically excludes:

  • Non-charitable organizations
  • Individuals (unless the trust has specific provisions for individual grants)
  • Organizations not meeting the eligibility criteria above
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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation operates with a single trustee structure. Management is provided by Ludlow Trust Company, which oversees the Foundation's grant-making activities alongside over 250 other charitable trusts.

Management Company: Ludlow Trust Co Ltd

Previous Trustee Services: NatWest Trust Services

Ludlow Trust Company provides professional trust management services, with experienced Trust Managers reviewing applications and presenting suitable opportunities to trustees for consideration.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway at https://funding.ludlowtrust.com. The platform is free to use and accepts applications on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines.

Application Process:

  1. Create an account on the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway
  2. Submit either a specific application to The Kathleen Smith Foundation or a general application that can be matched to any Ludlow-managed trust
  3. Provide comprehensive details about your charitable aims, including specific projects, geographic focus, or target beneficiary groups
  4. Trust Managers review and match applications to relevant trusts based on their giving priorities
  5. Suitable applications are presented to trustees for consideration during their regular decision-making process

The more detailed and comprehensive your application, the better Trust Managers can match your request with appropriate funding sources.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are variable and depend on trustee meeting schedules and the complexity of applications. Once applications are matched to the Foundation through the Gateway, the timeframe for decision-making is at the discretion of the trustees.

Applicants should expect variability in response times. The Foundation does not publish specific information about when decisions are communicated or in what format notifications are sent.

Success Rates

Specific success rates for The Kathleen Smith Foundation are not publicly available. Across all Ludlow-managed trusts:

  • Nearly 8,000 applications have been received since the Gateway launched in September 2023
  • Over £2.5 million in grants and donations have been distributed during this period
  • This suggests an overall competitive environment, though success rates vary by trust and application quality

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation does not publish specific reapplication policies. As applications can be submitted on a rolling basis through the Gateway, unsuccessful applicants can likely reapply with revised or new proposals, though it would be advisable to contact the Trust Managers for guidance before resubmitting.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Ludlow Trust Company's guidance and the Foundation's operational approach, the following factors may strengthen applications:

Alignment with Priorities: Applications should demonstrate clear alignment with the Foundation's historical giving patterns or general charitable purposes. Review the Foundation's letter of wishes priorities (health, children's welfare, disability support, etc.) and explicitly connect your work to these areas.

Comprehensive Detail: The Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway emphasizes that “the more information a charity can provide on their charitable aims, the better our Trust Managers can match their enquiry.” Provide thorough information about:

  • Specific projects and their objectives
  • Geographic areas served
  • Target beneficiary groups
  • Budget breakdown and financial need
  • Impact measurement and outcomes

Professional Presentation: Applications are first reviewed by experienced Trust Managers who filter and present opportunities to trustees. Ensure your application is professionally written, well-structured, and clearly demonstrates charitable impact.

Specificity: Rather than broad requests, focus on specific projects, defined geographic areas, or particular community groups. The Gateway is designed to match specific charitable needs with trust priorities.

Strategic Timing: With rolling applications accepted year-round, there is no advantage to applying at a particular time. However, ensure your application is complete and thoroughly reviewed before submission, as this may be more important than speed.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Kathleen Smith Foundation accepts applications exclusively through the Ludlow Funding Enquiry Gateway—no email or postal applications are accepted
  • Comprehensive, detailed applications perform better as Trust Managers use this information to match requests with appropriate funding sources
  • The Foundation has historical preferences for health, children's welfare, disability support, and humanitarian causes—align your application accordingly
  • Decision timelines are variable; do not expect rapid responses, and plan your funding strategy with this uncertainty in mind
  • The online Gateway system means you can apply at any time—use this flexibility to submit when your application is strongest rather than rushing to meet a deadline
  • Consider submitting a general application in addition to a Foundation-specific request to increase visibility across all 250+ Ludlow-managed trusts
  • With nearly 8,000 applications received across Ludlow trusts since September 2023, the competitive environment requires high-quality, well-targeted proposals

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