The Patricia And Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 272948
• Annual Giving: £11,356,087 (year ending April 2024)
• Annual Income: £499,542 (year ending April 2024)
• Established: 1973
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £20,000 (typical)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (primarily York and local area)
• Application Method: No public application process - relationship-based funding only

Contact Details

Address: West Mount, 129 The Mount, York YO24 1DU

Note: This trust does not maintain a public website, email, or telephone contact. They operate through trustee discretion and relationships rather than open applications.

Overview

The Patricia and Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust was established by trust deed on 31 May 1973 and registered as a charity on 5 May 1977. The trust represents a significant philanthropic legacy from Patricia and Donald Shepherd, with their two children - Patrick Shepherd (now serving as Chair of Trustees) and Jane Robertson - continuing the family's charitable work alongside other family members.

In its most recent financial year (ending April 2024), the trust made an exceptional distribution of over £11.3 million in charitable grants, representing a substantial draw-down from its endowment. This marks a dramatic increase from historical giving patterns, where the trust typically operated with annual expenditure around £300,000-£500,000. The trust focuses primarily on supporting local York charities and organizations working with young people, but operates a strictly relationship-based funding model where trustees only support charities of which they have “close personal knowledge, interest or association.”

The trust has supported a range of local organizations including York Theatre Royal and York City Rowing Club, demonstrating particular interest in youth development, arts, culture, and community activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate formal grant programs or funding streams. Instead, it makes discretionary grants based on trustee knowledge and relationships.

Typical Grant Size: £5,000 - £20,000

Recent Activity: The trust's 2024 expenditure of £11.3 million represents an exceptional year of grant-making, likely reflecting a strategic decision to distribute a significant portion of the trust's assets.

Priority Areas

Based on the trust's stated policy and grant history:

Primary Focus:

• Young People: Organizations and projects involving children and youth development (explicitly stated as a particular focus)
• Local Charities: York-based and Yorkshire organizations
• Community Benefit: Projects that benefit disadvantaged people and society
• Arts and Culture: Support for cultural institutions (e.g., York Theatre Royal)
• Sports and Recreation: Youth sports development (e.g., York City Rowing Club junior program)

Target Beneficiaries:

• Children and young people
• Disadvantaged people
• Other charities and voluntary bodies

What They Don't Fund

The trust explicitly states it does NOT fund:

• Individuals (unless they are part of a group or organization with charitable status)
• Local Authorities
• Organizations without charitable status
• Organizations unknown to the trustees (see application process section)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust is managed by 6 trustees with a 50/50 male-female balance, predominantly composed of family members:

Family Trustees:

• Patrick Michael Shepherd (Chair) - Son of Patricia and Donald Shepherd
• Christine Margaret Shepherd
• Jane Lesley Robertson - Daughter of Patricia and Donald Shepherd
• Annabel Patricia Robertson
• Iain Ogilvie Robertson
• Carly Elaine Robertson (appointed 2017)
• Joseph Oliver Shepherd
• Michael James Shepherd
• Rory Robertson

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

Governance Notes

Independent assessments have noted some governance concerns:

• The trust lacks a documented conflicts of interest policy
• Historical late filing with the Charity Commission (AR08: 84 days late; AR07: 144 days late)
• The trust does not file detailed Part B annual returns
• Not registered for Gift Aid with HMRC

These governance issues do not affect the trust's grant-making capacity but may reflect the informal, family-managed nature of the organization.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This trust does not have a public application process.

The trust's official policy states: “The policy of the trustees is to donate only to local charities or charities of which the trustees have close personal knowledge, interest or association.”

This means:

• The trust operates on a relationship-based funding model
• Grants are made at trustee discretion to organizations they already know
• Unsolicited applications are not accepted
• Organizations must have an existing connection to one or more trustees

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made through trustee discretion rather than application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications. Organizations known to trustees may receive support based on the trustees' assessment of charitable impact and alignment with the trust's priorities.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the trust does not operate a formal application system.

Application Success Factors

While this trust does not accept applications, organizations seeking to understand their approach can note:

What Matters to This Trust:

1. Local Connection: The trust prioritizes York-based charities and local organizations
2. Youth Focus: “Particularly those involving young people” is explicitly stated in their policy
3. Personal Knowledge: Trustees must have direct knowledge, interest, or association with the charity
4. Charitable Registration: Organizations must have charitable status (individuals and local authorities are excluded)
5. Community Impact: Evidence from funded projects suggests focus on disadvantaged people and societal benefit

Examples of Funded Work:

• York City Rowing Club: Grant enabled purchase of a quadruple scull for the junior girls' squad (the boat was named “Donald Shepherd” in recognition)
• York Theatre Royal: Ongoing support for arts and cultural programming

Geographic Priority: While the trust's charitable objects allow it to operate throughout England and Wales, its stated policy of funding “local charities” and its York base suggest strong preference for Yorkshire organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Application Process: This trust cannot be approached through standard grant applications - they fund only organizations with existing trustee connections
• Family Legacy: The trust represents a multi-generational family commitment to York philanthropy, with founders' children now leading the organization
• Youth Priority: Organizations working with children and young people are explicitly prioritized in the trust's policy
• Exceptional 2024 Distribution: The recent £11.3 million expenditure (against £500k income) suggests the trust made a significant draw-down from reserves, possibly indicating a strategic shift in the trust's long-term approach
• York-Focused: Despite national charitable registration, the trust's emphasis on “local charities” and known grant recipients suggest strong geographic focus on York and Yorkshire
• Relationship-Based: Success depends entirely on personal connections with trustees rather than application quality
• Related Foundation: The establishment of the Patricia, Donald, Christine & Patrick Shepherd Foundation (charity 1206602) in 2024 may indicate evolving family philanthropy, potentially worth monitoring for future opportunities

Strategic Implication: Organizations without existing trustee relationships should not invest time in approaching this trust. However, York-based organizations working with young people might explore whether board members or senior staff have connections to the Shepherd or Robertson families.

References

1. UK Charity Commission - The Patricia and Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust (Charity 272948), Register Entry. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=272948&subid=0 (Accessed: November 2024)

1. Giving is Great - The Patricia and Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust Charity Factsheet. Available at: https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=272948 (Accessed: November 2024)

1. York City Rowing Club - "YCRC Welcomes 'Donald Shepherd' to the Boathouse". Available at: https://www.ycrc.co.uk/2019/04/09/ycrc-welcomes-donald-shepherd-to-the-boathouse/ (Referenced: November 2024)

1. York Theatre Royal - Trusts & Foundations page listing The Patricia and Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust as a supporter. Available at: https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/support-us/corporate-and-foundations/trust-and-foundations/ (Accessed: November 2024)

1. Charity Choice - The Patricia And Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust profile. Available at: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-patricia-and-donald-shepherd-charitable-trust-146156 (Accessed: November 2024)

Information compiled November 2024 from publicly available sources. Financial data reflects year ending 5 April 2024 as reported to the Charity Commission.