The Michael And Betty Little Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,000,000+ (distributed over 200 grants across multiple years)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Quarterly meetings (approximately 3 months)
• Grant Range: £250 - £1,000,000 (most grants up to £10,000)
• Geographic Focus: National (UK) and international, with particular interest in Hampshire, West Sussex, and Surrey

Contact Details

Registered Address:

12 Stanton Drive, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 5QN

Charity Number: 1107412

Website: https://www.mbltrust.org/

Phone: 01428 (area code only available)

Email: Not publicly advertised

Application Method: Online application form via website or written application to correspondence address

Note: The Trust requests that applicants do not contact them regarding pending applications awaiting decision.

Overview

The Michael & Betty Little Trust was founded in 2004, just before Michael Little died, and was established by his children in line with their father's wishes to make charitable grants from his estate. The descendants have continued to top up the fund from their own careers in engineering and technology. Since May 2018, the Trust has made over 214 grants totaling more than £7.3 million GBP and €122,000 EUR to 78 different charitable organizations.

This independent family trust operates as a small organization with no paid staff, and all trustees serve without remuneration. The Trust supports a broad range of charitable organizations in the UK and overseas, with charitable purposes including advancing education, promoting human rights, advancing recognized religions, relieving those in financial need or distress, and providing relief for the sick and protection of public health. The Trust publishes its grant data using the 360Giving Data Standard, demonstrating a commitment to transparency in philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates two distinct grant programs:

• Small Grants: Typically one-off grants to trusted third parties, usually up to £10,000. These grants are awarded on a rolling basis and considered at quarterly trustee meetings.

• Major Grants: Larger grants (exceeding £10,000, with some reaching £1,000,000) are considered but are usually limited to charities in which the current trustees or the Little family have a special interest. These involve working with trusted third parties to deliver projects.

Application Process: Rolling basis with quarterly decision meetings. Applications can be submitted at any time via online form or written submission. The Trust occasionally approves grant applications between quarterly meetings via email.

Priority Areas

The Trust actively funds organizations working in:

• Education and Training: Supporting educational initiatives and capacity building
• Human Rights: Promoting and protecting fundamental human rights
• Religion: Advancing religions recognized as charitable under English charity law
• Health: Relief of sickness and protection and preservation of public health
• Poverty Relief: Relieving those in financial need, hardship or distress
• Humanitarian and Disaster Relief: Supporting emergency response and recovery efforts
• Culture and Arts: Cultural initiatives and artistic programs

Geographic Priorities: While the Trust mainly supports national charities and considers international applications, it has a particular interest in supporting community organizations within Hampshire, West Sussex, and Surrey.

Funding Flexibility: The Trust is happy to consider requests for core/unrestricted funding as well as project-based grants. The majority of their grants are awarded as unrestricted funds. They also support repeat funding and actively encourage applications from relatively new organizations to help them become established.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not comprehensively detailed in publicly available information. However, the Trust:

• Operates primarily with organizations they have discovered and researched themselves
• Prefers to form relationships with organizations before funding, typically through visits or telephone conversations
• Does not entertain inquiries about pending applications

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by family members - the descendants of Michael and Betty Little - who serve as trustees. All trustees are responsible for approving grant applications collectively. The organization operates as a small family trust with:

• No paid staff members
• No remuneration, payments, or benefits provided to trustees
• Quarterly trustee meetings to review applications
• Occasional email approvals between meetings for time-sensitive matters

The Trust emphasizes a relationship-based approach to grantmaking, with the majority of grants made to charitable organizations that one or more trustee has personally discovered, researched, and managed.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Submission Methods:

• Online application form available at https://www.mbltrust.org/
• Written applications to the correspondence address at 12 Stanton Drive, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 5QN

Required Documentation:

• Completed application form or written proposal
• Annual accounts (where available)

Important Note: The Trust prefers to discover their own funding opportunities, often through or alongside other registered charities. They typically like to form relationships with organizations through visits or telephone conversations prior to a grant application being made.

Decision Timeline

• Meeting Schedule: Trustees meet once per quarter to consider new applications
• Processing Time: Approximately 3 months between quarterly meetings
• Expedited Decisions: Occasionally, the Trust approves applications between meetings via email
• Notification: Decision timeline not specifically disclosed
• Important Policy: The Trust kindly requests that applicants do not contact them regarding pending applications awaiting decision

Success Rates

Success rate statistics are not publicly disclosed. However, the Trust's approach suggests:

• They have made 214 grants to 78 organizations over approximately 6-7 years (average of 30-35 grants per year)
• The Trust operates a proactive grantmaking model, with trustees actively discovering and researching potential grantees
• Many grants result from relationships formed before formal applications

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly disclosed. However, the Trust does support repeat funding for organizations they have previously funded, indicating openness to ongoing relationships with successful grantees.

Application Success Factors

Relationship Building is Key

The Trust explicitly states that “the majority of grants are made to charitable organisations and other worthy causes that one or more trustee has discovered, researched and managed.” This suggests that:

• Building a relationship with the Trust before applying significantly improves chances
• Organizations should seek opportunities to connect with trustees through sector networks or mutual connections
• Being discovered by the Trust through their own research may lead to stronger applications

What the Trust Values

Based on their grantmaking approach, successful applications likely demonstrate:

1. Clear Charitable Impact: Organizations working in the Trust's priority areas (education, human rights, health, poverty relief, religion)

1. Geographic Alignment: While national and international applications are welcome, community organizations in Hampshire, West Sussex, and Surrey receive particular consideration

1. Organizational Stage: The Trust “encourages applications from relatively new organisations to help them become established,” suggesting they value supporting emerging charities

1. Funding Flexibility: Organizations requesting core/unrestricted funding are welcomed, as “the majority of grants awarded are to give unrestricted funds”

1. Transparency: The Trust publishes grant data through 360Giving, suggesting they value accountability and transparency in their grantees

Grant Size Considerations

• Most grants are up to £10,000 - applications at this level have the broadest eligibility
• Major grants (above £10,000) are “usually limited to charities in which the current trustees, or the Little family, have a special interest”
• First-time applicants should consider applying within the Small Grants program initially

Application Quality

• Submit annual accounts where available to demonstrate financial accountability
• Provide clear evidence of need and impact
• Respect the Trust's policy of not being contacted about pending applications
• Be prepared for potential pre-application conversations or visits if the trustees are interested

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Relationship-focused grantmaking: The Trust prefers to form relationships with organizations before funding. Network within the sector and seek connections to trustees where possible.

• Small grants as entry point: Most grants are up to £10,000. New applicants should focus on this range unless they have existing connections to the trustees or Little family.

• Unrestricted funding opportunity: The Trust actively provides core/unrestricted funding, making them valuable for organizations seeking flexible support.

• Support for emerging organizations: New and relatively young charities are explicitly encouraged to apply, offering opportunities for organizations still building track records.

• Geographic advantage: Organizations based in or serving Hampshire, West Sussex, and Surrey should emphasize their local connection and community impact.

• Quarterly decision cycle: Plan applications around the quarterly trustee meetings, understanding decisions may take approximately 3 months.

• No follow-ups: Respect the Trust's clear policy that applicants should not contact them about pending applications - demonstrate patience and professionalism.

References

• The Michael and Betty Little Trust official website: https://www.mbltrust.org/
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 1107412: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1107412
• 360Giving GrantNav database: https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/funder/GB-CHC-1107412
• PAVO (Portsmouth Area Voluntary Organisations) funding information: https://www.pavo.org.uk/help-for-organisations/funding/funding-news/
• Find that Charity database: https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1107412