The Peter Minet Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £379,160 (2024 expenditure)
• Success Rate: 40-50% (for eligible applicants)
• Decision Time: 5 months total (2 months to Stage 1 response, then 3 months to final decision)
• Grant Range: £30,000 - £90,000 (total over 3 years)
• Geographic Focus: Lambeth and Southwark only
• Grant Type: Unrestricted, multi-year (3 years)

Contact Details

Website: www.peterminet.org.uk

Email: info@peterminet.org.uk

Phone: 0208 037 0300

Office Hours: Tuesday to Thursday

The office has one staff member (the Director) and is open Tuesday to Thursday. If there's anything you don't understand about the application, please email - the Trust is supportive of applicants whose first language isn't English.

Overview

The Peter Minet Trust was established in 1969 by Peter Minet from the proceeds of property sales in Camberwell and Lambeth. The trust has been funding charities in Lambeth and Southwark for over 55 years. In 2020, they made a pivotal strategic shift from awarding around 40 small one-off grants averaging £3,000 each, to funding 6-12 partners with unrestricted, multi-year grants of around £30,000 per year. Currently supporting 15 charities, the Trust has adopted a trust-based funding approach centered on racial equity. Their 2025-2028 strategy advances equitable funding for Black-led organisations, making the deliberate decision to direct all funding to Black-led organisations in Lambeth and Southwark, including CICs for the first time. The Trust operates with an independent Board of Trustees and Director, with no current links to the Minet family. The family's philanthropic legacy includes the donation of land for Myatt's Fields Park in 1890 and the construction of the Minet Library.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Open Grants Fund

£30,000 per year for up to 3 years (total up to £90,000) - Unrestricted, multi-year grants to Black-led charities and CICs embedded in Lambeth and Southwark communities. The Trust opens new grant rounds every 2-3 years. Applications are through a two-stage online process with fixed deadlines.

Strategic Grants Fund

Smaller strategic grants for sector-wide initiatives. For example, the Trust contributed £1,000 annually (2022-2025) to the 'Open and Trusting Campaign' led by IVAR and awarded £25,000 to the Funding Differently collaboration.

Priority Areas

The Trust funds grassroots organisations embedded in their communities that:

• Are Black-led (more than 50% Black trustees/staff)
• Work primarily in Lambeth and/or Southwark
• Have annual turnovers between £25,000 and £350,000
• Have strong leadership, robust governance, and sound financial management systems
• Have lived experience of the challenges experienced by their communities
• Bring communities together and help residents overcome severe and multiple challenges
• Are making a tangible difference in their communities

The Trust is responsive to partners' urgent needs (such as during the Cost of Living crisis) and links grants to inflation.

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Nurseries, schools, colleges, higher education institutions, universities and associated charities (including Parent Teacher Associations)
• Places of worship
• Organisations engaged in party political activity
• One-off events
• Organisations working primarily outside Lambeth and Southwark
• Organisations with income below £25,000 or above £350,000
• Organisations that are not Black-led

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Governance and Leadership

Chair

Tracey Fletcher - Senior executive and non-executive director/trustee for over 30 years in a range of fields with a particular emphasis on young people and social justice.

Trustees

Thomas Gayfer - Investment Consultant at Willis Towers Watson

Anne Young - Former Director of Strategy and Innovation for the National Lottery Heritage Fund, leading on strategy, research, and social investment

Georgina Awoonor-Gordon - Over 20 years of project management experience, with 15+ years in the non-profit sector. Currently Director at the EA Foundation

Damilola Bamidele - Grant and Programmes professional with over 17 years' national and international experience. Currently Head of Programme Delivery at Black Thrive Lambeth

The Trustee Board is independent, with no links to the Minet family. Two new Trustees will be appointed in 2025/2026.

Staff

Rachel Oglethorpe, Director - Previously worked in fundraising at English National Opera, NSPCC and Tate, where she was Head of Membership. Has been a Co-Convenor of the Small Funders Network and a member of the Stronger Foundations Working Group.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The application follows a two-stage online process with fixed deadlines:

Stage 1: “Tell Us About You” Form

New applicants click Register on the application portal (peterminet-applications.org.uk/peterminet/) to begin. Returning applicants use their existing login details. Stage 1 includes eligibility questions followed by five main questions:

1. What does your charity do and who does it support?
2. Why are you well placed to meet the needs of the people you want to help?
3. What difference are you making?
4. What do you want to do at the moment but can't?
5. Is your charity Black-led?

Stage 2: Full Application Form

You can only complete the Stage 2 Application Form if you receive an email invitation after Stage 1, using the same login details. Stage 2 includes additional questions and a site visit.

Current Status: Open Fund Round 3 closed on 25 September 2025. The Trust is currently assessing applicants. Open Fund Round 4 will open in 2027.

Decision Timeline

• 2 months after Stage 1 deadline: Notification about progression to Stage 2 (by end November)
• 3 additional months: Final decisions announced (by end February)
• Total timeline: 5 months from initial deadline to final decision

The Trust provides written feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Success Rates

• In 2022: 4 to 5 out of 10 eligible applicants received grants (40-50% success rate)
• In each round, the Trust funds around 7 new partners
• Overall, the Trust turns down 77% of applications (23% overall success rate)
• Success rates may vary by round - with CICs now eligible, competition has increased

Reapplication Policy

You can reapply in future rounds if unsuccessful. The Trust provides written feedback to improve future applications.

Exceptions:

• Previous grantees from 2020 can reapply for new funding
• Current funded partners cannot reapply until their grant period ends (September 2026 for recent cohorts)

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's documented priorities and practices:

Strong Governance and Financial Systems

The Trust emphasizes “strong leadership, good governance in place” and “robust financial management systems” as essential criteria. They want to ensure organisations can manage large, flexible 3-year grants effectively.

Clear Strategic Vision

Demonstrate “clear, strategic organisational plans” and “a vision for the future.” The Trust wants to fund organisations that know where they're going and how they'll get there.

Deep Community Roots

The Trust prioritizes organisations “embedded in their communities” with “leaders and staff who have lived experience of the challenges experienced by their communities.” Show genuine connection to Lambeth and/or Southwark communities and demonstrate you understand local needs from lived experience.

Track Record of Delivery

Provide evidence of “a track record of delivering work in Lambeth and/or Southwark.” New organisations should demonstrate their foundation and early impact, while established ones should highlight sustained community impact.

Black-Led Leadership

More than 50% of trustees/staff must be Black. This is a firm requirement reflecting the Trust's commitment to advancing equitable funding for Black-led organisations.

Focus on "What You Can't Do Now"

Stage 1 explicitly asks "What do you want to do at the moment but can't?" The Trust wants to enable organisations to expand impact, not just maintain current operations. Focus on aspirations and growth potential that unrestricted funding would unlock.

Honesty About Fit

The Trust states: "We want to be honest about who we can and cannot fund, so you don't waste time applying if it's not the right fit." Don't force an application if you don't meet the criteria - they genuinely mean it.

Example Funded Partners:

• Spring Community Hub - “Food is a human right... work alongside people to help them escape food poverty, build confidence and find community”
• Juvenis - “A grassroots organisation in Lambeth whose vision is a future where all young Londoners have more than one chance to fulfil their potential”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Geographic restriction is absolute - You must work primarily in Lambeth or Southwark. Don't apply if your work extends significantly beyond these boroughs.

1. Black-led requirement is firm - More than 50% of trustees/staff must be Black. This reflects the Trust's strategic commitment to racial equity.

1. Income band matters - Your annual turnover must be between £25,000 and £350,000. This is strictly enforced.

1. Strong governance is essential - Demonstrate robust systems, strategic planning, and financial management before applying. The Trust needs confidence you can handle a large unrestricted grant.

1. Emphasize unrestricted funding impact - Show what you could do with flexible funding that you can't do now. The Trust wants to enable growth and innovation, not just sustain current operations.

1. Success rates vary - With 40-50% success for eligible applicants but only 7 grants awarded per round, competition is significant. Make your application count.

1. Multi-year relationship - This is a 3-year partnership with regular site visits. The Trust is looking for organisations ready for a collaborative, trust-based relationship, not just a grant.

1. Timing is crucial - Grant rounds open every 2-3 years. Plan ahead - if you miss a deadline, you may wait years for the next opportunity.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Newcomen Collett Educational Foundation
• The Charterhouse Charitable Trust
• Sir Walter St. John's Educational Charity
• Walcot Educational Foundation
• Charterhouse-in-Southwark
• FOWLER SMITH AND JONES TRUST
• The Kensington and Chelsea Foundation
• The Englefield Charitable Trust
• JOHN LYON'S CHARITY
• ST OLAVE'S & ST SAVIOUR'S SCHOOLS FOUNDATION CIO

References

• Peter Minet Trust official website: www.peterminet.org.uk
• Peter Minet Trust History page: https://www.peterminet.org.uk/history
• Strategy 2025-2028: https://www.peterminet.org.uk/about/strategy-2025-2028
• Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.peterminet.org.uk/frequently-asked-questions
• Trustees and Staff: https://www.peterminet.org.uk/about/trustees-and-staff
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/259963
• Open Fund Round 3 information: https://www.peterminet.org.uk/grants/open-fund-round-3-closed-25-sep-2025-5pm
• 360Giving GrantNav data on Peter Minet Trust grants
• “Sharing our practice as an unrestricted funder” article: https://www.peterminet.org.uk/news/sharing-our-practice-unrestricted-funder-why-we-had-learning-review-and-what-it-looks
• Community Southwark Meet the Funder resources
• London Funders Member Spotlight: Peter Minet Trust