The Musk-burton Family Trust
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £329,252 (2024 financial year)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
- Geographic Focus: England and Wales
Contact Details
Address: Cowgills, 4th Floor, Unit 5b, Parklands, Bolton, Lancashire
Phone: 01204414263
Email: ANDY.BALL@COWGILLS.CO.UK
Charity Number: 1127725
Overview
The Musk-Burton Family Trust (formerly The Burton Family Charitable Trust) was registered as a charity on 27 January 2009. Based in Bolton, Lancashire, the trust operates as a private grant-making foundation with total expenditure of £329,252 in the 2024 financial year and total income of £279,886. The trust makes grants to charitable organizations and individuals across England and Wales, focusing on five broad charitable areas: relief of poverty and need, advancement of education, environmental conservation and protection, relief of sickness and health preservation, and advancement of religion. The trust is recognized as a major supporter of the NSPCC and has established itself as a significant private family foundation in the North West region.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The trust operates a single grant-making program without specific named streams. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations and individuals whose work falls within the trust's charitable objectives.
Application Method: Invitation only / trustee discretion
Priority Areas
The trust's charitable objectives cover five main areas:
- Relief of poverty and need - Supporting individuals and families experiencing financial hardship
- Advancement of education - Supporting educational initiatives and opportunities
- Conservation and protection of the physical and natural environment - Environmental protection and sustainability projects
- Relief of sickness and preservation of health - Healthcare and wellbeing initiatives, including child protection (evidenced by support to NSPCC)
- Advancement of religion - Religious organizations and activities
Beneficiary Groups: Children and young people, other charities and voluntary bodies, and the general public.
What They Don't Fund
No specific exclusions are publicly documented. However, as a private family trust, they appear to make grants based on trustee discretion rather than open calls for applications.
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Governance and Leadership
Trustees
The trust is governed by three trustees:
- Andy Ball (Chair) - Partner at Cowgills LLP, an accounting firm in Bolton. Ball has demonstrated commitment to charitable causes, having attended the Royal Garden Party in 2018 in honor of HRH Prince Charles' 70th birthday to celebrate the work of the Prince's charities.
- Benjamin Luke Burton - Member of the Burton family
- Sarah Alice Falvey - Member of the Burton family
The trust has established governance policies covering complaints, financial controls, risk management, safeguarding, and trustee conflicts of interest.
Trust Deed Amendments
The original trust deed dated 08 January 2009 has been amended twice (05 August 2013 and 19 August 2019), indicating the trust has evolved its structure and approach over time.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. The Musk-Burton Family Trust operates as a private family foundation where grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees. Grants appear to be made to organizations and causes known to the trustees or their professional networks rather than through an open application process.
The trust is listed as a major donor to organizations such as the NSPCC, suggesting that established relationships and strategic partnerships form the basis of their grant-making approach.
Decision Timeline
Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion rather than through a formal application cycle.
Success Rates
Not applicable for public applications.
Reapplication Policy
Not applicable - no public application process exists.
Application Success Factors
Since this trust does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors appear relevant to their grant-making approach:
Trustee Discretion: All grants are made at the discretion of the three trustees, who include members of the Burton family and a professional accountant with strong charitable connections.
Established Organizations: The trust's recognition as a major donor to organizations like the NSPCC suggests a preference for supporting established, reputable charities with proven track records in their focus areas.
Alignment with Five Charitable Objectives: Organizations working in poverty relief, education, environmental protection, health, or religious advancement are within scope.
Children and Young People: The trust specifically identifies children and young people as beneficiary groups, as evidenced by support to NSPCC.
Geographic Connection: Based in Bolton, Lancashire, though operating across England and Wales, there may be preference for North West connections or organizations known to the trustees' professional network.
Professional Oversight: With the chair being a partner at Cowgills (an accounting firm), financial transparency and good governance in potential grantees would likely be important factors.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- No public application process exists - This trust makes grants by invitation or trustee initiative only
- Focus on building relationships - As a private family trust, grants flow from established connections rather than open calls
- Strong child protection focus - Recognition as NSPCC major donor indicates commitment to children's causes
- Professional governance - Chair is an accountant, suggesting value placed on financial integrity and transparency
- Five broad charitable areas - While scope is broad (poverty, education, environment, health, religion), actual grants appear selective
- Regional base in North West - Bolton headquarters may indicate preference for or awareness of North West organizations
- Private family philanthropy model - Decisions rest with three trustees including family members
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References
- Charity Commission for England and Wales, “The Musk-Burton Family Trust - Charity 1127725,” Register of Charities. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5001363/full-print
- Find that Charity, “GB-CHC-1127725 | The Musk-Burton Family Trust,”. https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1127725
- NSPCC, “Our donors and major supporters,”. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/support-us/ways-to-give/become-major-donor/our-major-donors/
- LinkedIn, “Andy Ball - Partner - Cowgills,”. https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-ball-b1843712/
- Cowgills on Twitter, Royal Garden Party attendance, May 2018. https://twitter.com/cowgills/status/998950757817778178