The Patricia and Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £2,058,713 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Variable (examples: £80,000 for multi-year funding; equipment grants)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales, with emphasis on York and local charities

Contact Details

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

Note: No website, email, or phone contact details are publicly available.

Overview

The Patricia and Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust (registered 272948) was established by trust deed dated 31 May 1977. The trust had total income of £530,488 and expenditure of £2,058,713 in the financial year ending 30 April 2023. This family trust operates with a clear policy of supporting local charities or charities with which the trustees have close personal knowledge, interest, or association, with particular emphasis on organisations involving young people. The trust does not operate through a public application process, instead making grants based on trustee initiative and existing relationships. No trustees receive remuneration from the charity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The trust does not operate formal grant programmes but makes awards across various charitable causes on a discretionary basis.

Known Grant Examples:

• York Theatre Royal: Just under £80,000 for an Outreach Director role over three years
• York City Rowing Club: Equipment grant for a quadruple scull for the junior girls' squad

Priority Areas

• Organisations involving young people
• Local charities (particularly in York and surrounding areas)
• Youth sports initiatives
• Arts and cultural organisations
• Charities with which trustees have personal knowledge or association

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals (unless part of a group or organisation with charitable status)
• Local authorities
• Organisations with which trustees have no connection or knowledge

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees

• Patrick Michael Shepherd (Chair) - Appointed trustee, also trustee of York Against Cancer
• Christine Margaret Shepherd - Appointed trustee
• Annabel Patricia Calvert - Trustee
• Carly Elaine Robertson - Appointed 2017
• Iain Ogilvie Robertson - Trustee
• Jane Lesley Robertson - Trustee
• Peter Lawrence Calvert - Appointed 2024
• Rory Robertson - Trustee
• Joseph Oliver Shepherd - Trustee
• Michael James Shepherd - Trustee

The trust operates with ten trustees listed on the register. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The family nature of the trust is evident from the trustee composition, representing continuity of the founders' philanthropic vision.

How to Apply to The Patricia And Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust

How to Apply

This trust does not have a public application process.

The trust's stated policy is to donate “only to local charities or charities of which the trustees have close personal knowledge, interest or association of particularly those involving young people.” This indicates that grants are made proactively by trustees based on their existing knowledge and relationships rather than through solicited applications.

Grants appear to be awarded through:

• Trustee initiative and discretion
• Pre-existing relationships with charitable organisations
• Personal knowledge of and association with beneficiary organisations

Getting on Their Radar

York City Rowing Club Example: The trustees expressed delight in providing funding for the Junior Girls section, noting they had met the girls and believed them to be a highly motivated and talented group deserving support with the best equipment. This suggests that:

• Direct engagement with trustees (meeting them, demonstrating your work) is valuable
• The trustees appreciate seeing beneficiaries and understanding impact firsthand
• Organisations working with young people in York should consider connecting with trustees through local civic and charitable networks

York Theatre Royal Example: The trust provided substantial multi-year funding for a specific staffing role, suggesting trustees may be receptive to strategic funding requests that align with their interests when approached through appropriate channels.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's approach to grant-making, success appears to depend on:

1. Local Connection: Being based in or serving the York area significantly increases relevance to the trust's mission. The known beneficiaries are York-based organisations.

1. Youth Focus: Projects involving young people are explicitly prioritised. As stated in their policy, they particularly favour “those involving young people.”

1. Trustee Knowledge: The trust only funds charities “of which the trustees have close personal knowledge, interest or association.” Building relationships with trustees through local charitable networks is essential.

1. Demonstrable Impact: The York City Rowing Club example shows trustees value meeting beneficiaries and seeing motivated, talented groups. Face-to-face engagement appears important.

1. Strategic Funding Requests: The York Theatre Royal grant for a specific three-year staffing role suggests trustees appreciate well-defined, strategic funding needs rather than general operating support requests.

1. Quality Organisations: The trust supports established organisations with clear charitable purposes - both York Theatre Royal and York City Rowing Club are well-regarded local institutions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this trust cannot be approached through standard application procedures
• Focus on relationship-building with trustees through York's charitable and civic networks if your organisation serves young people locally
• Geographic proximity matters - the trust has a clear emphasis on local York charities
• Youth engagement is prioritised - organisations working with young people have the strongest alignment
• Multi-year strategic funding is possible - the York Theatre Royal example demonstrates willingness to commit to substantial, sustained support
• Direct engagement works - trustees value meeting beneficiaries and understanding impact firsthand
• Consider the family connection - the Shepherd family continues to guide this trust; understanding their interests and networks in York may provide insight
• Be patient - without a public application process, getting on this trust's radar requires long-term relationship building rather than immediate funding requests

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Bowland Charitable Trust
• Backstage Trust
• The Charles Sykes Trust Also Known As The Charles And Elsie Sykes Trust
• The Batchworth Trust
• J E Posnansky Charitable Trust
• Duke Of Devonshire's Charitable Trust
• Mcgreevy No 5 Settlement
• The Basil Samuel Charitable Trust
• The Celia Blakey Charitable Trust
• The Wands Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: THE PATRICIA AND DONALD SHEPHERD CHARITABLE TRUST - 272948. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=272948&subid=0
• York City Rowing Club (2019). "YCRC Welcomes 'Donald Shepherd' to the Boathouse." Available at: https://www.ycrc.co.uk/2019/04/09/ycrc-welcomes-donald-shepherd-to-the-boathouse/
• York Theatre Royal. "Trusts & Foundations." Available at: https://www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/support-us/corporate-and-foundations/trust-and-foundations/
• Giving is Great: THE PATRICIA AND DONALD SHEPHERD CHARITABLE TRUST Charity Factsheet. Available at: https://givingisgreat.org/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=272948