The Pilmuir Estate

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £110,000 - £140,000
• Success Rate: Not available (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Not published
• Grant Range: Not disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Devon only

Contact Details

• Email: Tim.Lannin@pkf-francisclark.co.uk
• Phone: 01803 293773
• Website: None
• Administrative Support: PKF Francis Clark, Sigma House, Oak View Close, Torquay TQ2 7FF

Overview

The Pilmuir Estate is a private grant-making charity established in 2016 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), focused exclusively on supporting charitable bodies in Devon. With annual grant distributions between £110,000 and £140,000, the charity operates through trustee discretion to relieve sickness, poor health, and old age amongst Devon residents. The charity has grown steadily since its formation, with consistent annual income of approximately £164,000 in recent years. Operating without any paid staff, The Pilmuir Estate is administered through PKF Francis Clark, a regional accountancy firm with expertise in charity management. The charity maintains a low public profile with no website or published grant guidelines.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity operates a single discretionary grant program distributing £110,000-£140,000 annually to charitable organizations. No specific grant streams or amounts are publicly disclosed.

Priority Areas

• Relief of sickness and poor health
• Support for elderly and aging populations
• Prevention or relief of poverty
• Health advancement initiatives in Devon

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside Devon
• Individual beneficiaries (grants go to charitable bodies only)
• Non-charitable organizations

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by six volunteer trustees with strong local Devon connections:

• Dr. John Richard Edmund Whitehead (Chair)
• Ashley Bevans - Partner at Wollens Solicitors, specializing in commercial property and serving multiple local charities
• Dr. Rachel Claire Varnam
• Philip Hugh Meek
• Peter Harold Rumbelow
• Alan David King

Administrative support is provided by Tim Lannin, Director of Audit at PKF Francis Clark, who serves as the primary contact for the charity. PKF Francis Clark manages over 200 charity and not-for-profit clients.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, likely based on existing relationships and knowledge of Devon's charitable sector. Organizations seeking funding must make contact through the administrative email (Tim.Lannin@pkf-francisclark.co.uk) or through trustee connections.

Getting on Their Radar

• Ashley Bevans, a trustee, works extensively with hotels, leisure businesses, and charities in the Torbay area and serves on multiple charity boards including youth sailing organizations
• PKF Francis Clark, the administrative firm, works with over 200 charities and could potentially facilitate introductions for suitable Devon-based organizations
• The trustees' medical backgrounds (Dr. Whitehead and Dr. Varnam) suggest connections to health-related charities might be valuable
• Organizations operating in Torquay and South Devon may have better access given the administrative base and trustee locations

Decision Timeline

Not published - decisions appear to be made at trustee discretion throughout the year.

Success Rates

No data available as there is no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the discretionary nature of grant-making.

Application Success Factors

Given the private nature of this trust, success factors are inferred from trustee backgrounds and charity focus:

• Strong Devon credentials and local impact are essential
• Clear alignment with health, aging, or poverty relief objectives
• Existing relationships with trustees or PKF Francis Clark may be advantageous
• Projects in South Devon/Torbay area may have stronger connections through trustee networks
• Health-related initiatives may resonate given medical professionals on the board

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Pilmuir Estate is a relationship-based funder requiring strategic networking rather than traditional applications
• Focus exclusively on Devon-based charitable organizations - geographic restriction is strict
• Annual grant pot of £110,000-£140,000 suggests capacity for substantial grants
• Building relationships with PKF Francis Clark or trustee Ashley Bevans (through Wollens Solicitors) may provide access routes
• The charity's low profile means many Devon organizations may be unaware of this funding source
• Health, aging, and poverty relief projects have the strongest alignment with charitable objects
• Consider approaching through sector networks where trustees are already engaged

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• VISCOUNT AMORY'S CHARITABLE TRUST
• The David Gibbons Foundation
• THE JAMES FREDERICK AND ETHEL ANNE MEASURES CHARITY
• LARA ATKIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
• Mabel Cooper Charity
• Triple T Charitable Trust
• The Albert Van Den Bergh Charitable Trust
• THE NORMAN FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Hotspur Trust
• The Gibbons Family Trust

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales - Charity Details for The Pilmuir Estate (1167275)
• Charity Commission Annual Return and Financial Data 2020-2024
• PKF Francis Clark website - charity sector expertise information
• Wollens Solicitors website - Ashley Bevans trustee profile
• Charity Commission Trustee Register for charity 1167275