The Linda And Gordon Bonnyman Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £278,611 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation only/trustee discretion)
• Decision Time: Varies by program
• Grant Range: £22,000 - £70,000 (for known scholarship programs)
• Geographic Focus: UK with focus on Scottish educational institutions and elite US universities

Contact Details

Email: da@csw-uk.com

Phone: 01732 450744

Charity Number: 1123441

Registered Office: Tunbridge Wells, Kent

For scholarship-specific inquiries:

• St Andrews PhD Scholarships: pgscholarships@st-andrews.ac.uk
• Jordanhill School Scholarships: info@jordanhill.glasgow.sch.uk

Overview

The Linda and Gordon Bonnyman Charitable Trust was registered in March 2008 as a private charitable trust with broad discretionary powers. In the year ending March 2024, the trust distributed £278,611 in grants despite an income of only £13,863, drawing on its capital to support charitable purposes. The trust is managed by three trustees, including Mr James Gordon Bonnyman (a former pupil of Jordanhill School in Glasgow), Linda Bonnyman, and Mr James Wallace Taylor Bonnyman. The trust's mission is deliberately broad: “to pay or apply the income and capital to or for the benefit of any charity or charitable purpose or purposes as the trustees shall in their discretion think fit.” The trust has established itself as a significant supporter of postgraduate education, with named scholarship programs at elite institutions including the University of St Andrews, Columbia Business School, and elite US universities for Jordanhill School alumni.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Douglas and Gordon Bonnyman Scholarship (University of St Andrews)

• Amount: £22,000 per annum for three years (total £66,000)
• Purpose: PhD studies in arts or humanities
• Eligibility: International students from any country
• Application Method: Through St Andrews postgraduate scholarship portal (opens October, closes January)
• Selection Criteria: Based partly on financial need

Linda and Gordon Bonnyman Scholarships (Jordanhill School)

• Amount: Up to 80% of total costs, maximum £70,000
• Purpose: Postgraduate study at elite US universities
• Eligibility: Former Jordanhill School pupils (minimum 4 years secondary education including S5)
• Application Method: Expression of interest by December, full application upon US university application
• Selection Criteria: Academic merit and acceptance at trustee-recognized elite institutions
• Recent recipients: Harvard, Columbia, Michigan

Linda and Gordon Bonnyman Fellowship (Columbia Business School)

• Named fellowship listed among Columbia Business School awards
• Specific details not publicly available

Priority Areas

The trust focuses exclusively on educational advancement through:

• Postgraduate scholarships for PhD research in arts and humanities
• Support for postgraduate study at elite international universities
• Educational opportunities for specific alumni communities (Jordanhill School)
• Funding that covers both tuition fees and maintenance costs

What They Don't Fund

Based on available evidence, the trust does not fund:

• Undergraduate education
• STEM subjects (focus is arts and humanities at St Andrews)
• Organizations outside the education sector
• General charitable appeals
• Capital projects
• Operating costs for organizations
• Non-educational charitable purposes

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• Mr James Gordon Bonnyman - Co-founder and trustee (former pupil of Jordanhill School, Glasgow)
• Linda Bonnyman - Co-founder and trustee
• Mr James Wallace Taylor Bonnyman - Trustee

The trust operates with three trustees who receive no remuneration or benefits. All grant-making decisions are made at the trustees' discretion. Since 2017, the Jordanhill School scholarships have been managed and awarded by the Jordanhill School Educational Amenities Trust Fund on behalf of the Bonnyman Trust.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This trust does not have a public application process for general grant-making. The trust operates on a trustee discretion model, with grants awarded to pre-determined programs and institutions.

For Specific Scholarship Programs:

St Andrews PhD Scholarship:

1. Apply for doctoral program at University of St Andrews
2. Log into My Application portal
3. Complete Postgraduate Research Scholarships application
4. Submit transcripts, research proposal, CV, and household income disclosure
5. Application opens: October 3
6. Application closes: January 21
7. Notification: Late March

Jordanhill School Scholarship:

1. Submit expression of interest by December (for Fall entry the following year)
2. Submit full application as soon as you apply to US institutions
3. Must apply to universities recognized by trustees as “elite institutions”
4. Applications reviewed by Jordanhill School Educational Amenities Trust Fund

Decision Timeline

• St Andrews: Approximately 10 weeks from deadline to notification (late March for January deadline)
• Jordanhill: Variable, dependent on US university application timelines

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The St Andrews scholarship awards one scholarship per year. The Jordanhill scholarship operates on the basis of “one scholarship per year” as stated in their guidance.

Reapplication Policy

No public information available regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Since this trust does not accept unsolicited applications, success factors relate to the specific scholarship programs:

For St Andrews Scholarship:

• Financial need is a factor: The scholarship description explicitly states it is “based partly on financial need,” so be transparent about your financial circumstances
• Arts and humanities focus: Only these disciplines are eligible; STEM applicants need not apply
• Research proposal quality: Your research proposal is a key component of the application
• Complete documentation: Submit full transcripts, comprehensive CV, and thorough household income disclosure

For Jordanhill School Scholarship:

• Alumni connection is essential: Minimum 4 years at Jordanhill School including S5
• Elite institution acceptance: Only universities “recognized by the Trustees as an elite institution” qualify
• Early expression of interest: Contact by December is mandatory for the following year's scholarship
• US focus: The program specifically supports study at elite US universities
• Recent successful recipients have attended Harvard, Columbia, and Michigan, suggesting these are within the trustees' definition of “elite”

General Observations:

• The trust strongly favors educational purposes
• Postgraduate level study is the clear priority
• International opportunities (particularly US institutions) are valued
• The trust appears to prefer supporting individuals through scholarships rather than organizational grants
• Longevity of commitment: Multi-year support (3 years for St Andrews) suggests trustees value sustained impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not accessible for general grant applications: This trust operates through trustee discretion without public application processes for organizational grants
• Education-focused: All identified grants support postgraduate education scholarships
• Significant per-grant investment: Awards range from £22,000 to £70,000, indicating trustees prefer fewer, larger grants over many small ones
• Pre-existing institutional relationships: Partnerships with St Andrews, Jordanhill School, and Columbia suggest trustees work through established channels
• Scottish connections: Strong links to Scottish education (Jordanhill School, St Andrews) suggest geographical affinity
• Elite institution focus: Both US and UK scholarship programs emphasize prestigious universities
• Multi-year commitments: The trust makes 3-year awards, indicating preference for sustained support over one-time grants

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Eranda Rothschild Foundation
• THE T. S. ELIOT FOUNDATION
• Viquaran Nisa Noon and Firoz Khan Noon Educational Foundation
• THE VARDY FOUNDATION
• HUO FAMILY FOUNDATION (UK) LIMITED
• The David and Claudia Harding Foundation
• David and Elaine Potter Foundation
• The Gaudio Family Foundation (UK) Limited
• UGGLA FAMILY FOUNDATION
• Dorothy, Emma & Spiro Latsis Benevolent Trust

References

1. Charity Commission Register of Charities - The Linda and Gordon Bonnyman Charitable Trust (1123441).. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1123441&subid=0

1. University of St Andrews - Douglas and Gordon Bonnyman Scholarship.. https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/scholarships/scholarships-catalogue/postgraduate-scholarships/douglas-and-gordon-bonnyman-scholarship/

1. Jordanhill School - Bonnyman Scholarships.. https://www.jordanhill.glasgow.sch.uk/bonnyman-scholarships/

1. Columbia Business School - Full List of Named Awards (includes Linda and Gordon Bonnyman Fellowship).. https://business.columbia.edu/sites/default/files-efs/imce-uploads/Full List of Named Awards.pdf

1. OpenCharities - The Linda and Gordon Bonnyman Charitable Trust.. http://opencharities.org/charities/1123441