The Prince Philip Trust Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £50,000 - £110,000
• Success Rate: Approximately 30-35% (35 awards from ~100+ applications per round)
• Decision Time: 4-5 weeks (within 1 month of biannual trustee meetings)
• Grant Range: £250 - £5,000 (exceptional circumstances may exceed)
• Geographic Focus: Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Contact Details

Address: 2 Eton Riverside, 39-55 King Stable Street, Eton, Windsor, SL4 6SA

Trust Secretary: Chris Aitken

Email: chris_aitken@btconnect.com

Phone: 07803 851148

Website: https://theprincephiliptrustfund.org

Charity Number: 272927

Pre-application support: Applicants are encouraged to contact the Trust Secretary with any questions before applying.

Overview

The Prince Philip Trust Fund was established in 1977 by Sir Christopher Aston, the first Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, to thank HRH The Duke of Edinburgh for his service to the community. Since inception, the trust has supported over 2,000 causes and distributed almost £2.5 million in grants. Operating exclusively within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, the fund focuses on improving quality of life for local residents through grant-making in disability support, health, elderly care, families, children and young people, social need, and the arts. With annual giving of £50,000-£110,000 and 13 trustees led by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, the trust prioritizes one-off project funding that demonstrates sustainability and often provides matched funding. In recent years, the trust has maintained consistent grant-making despite operating at a deficit (2024 income: £136,287; expenditure: £174,524), drawing on reserves to support local communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single grant program with biannual application rounds:

• General Grants: £250 - £5,000 (exceptional circumstances may exceed this range)
• Application method: Online application form via website
• Fixed deadlines: 1st March and 1st October
• Trustees meet in April and October/November to make decisions
• Discretionary awards up to £1,000 can be made between meetings

Priority Areas

The trust particularly focuses support towards:

• Children and Young People: Youth development programs, school projects, mentoring schemes, educational initiatives beyond first degrees
• Disability: Equipment, facilities, and programs for people with disabilities including special educational needs
• Health: Physical and mental health projects, support for hospices, counselling services
• Elderly: Support services, facilities, and programs for older residents
• Social Need: Baby banks, food provision, support for carers, young carers projects
• Arts and Literature: Community cultural events, festivals, library upgrades, creative programs
• Sport: Inclusive sports programs, equipment for community sports clubs

Key funding approach:

• Trustees prioritize one-off project funding showing sustainability or fundraising success
• Often provide matched funding for projects
• Prefer capital expenditure and project costs over core costs
• Look for projects where their support makes a meaningful difference
• Majority of beneficiaries must be from Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (occasionally fund projects outside area if reasonable number of beneficiaries are local residents)

What They Don't Fund

• Normal school education (primary/secondary core education)
• First degrees
• Multi-year funding commitments
• Generally do not support salaries or core running costs
• Projects without clear local benefit to Windsor and Maidenhead residents

Ready to write a winning application for The Prince Philip Trust Fund?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Chairman: HRH The Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh

Trustees (13 total):

• Andrew Try - HM Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire
• Cllr Mandy Brar - Mayor of Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
• Lt Gen Philip Jones
• Joanna Margaret Barker MBE
• Chris Aitken (also serves as Trust Secretary)
• Additional local community leaders

Governance notes:

• No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity
• Established as a charitable trust on 22 February 1977
• Consistently submits annual returns and accounts on time to Charity Commission

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Complete the eligibility questionnaire on the website to confirm your project meets basic criteria. You must answer “YES” to all these questions:

• Are beneficiaries primarily from Windsor and Maidenhead?
• Applying for one-off/single year funding?
• Project will make a demonstrable difference locally?
• Funding is for capital expenditure/project costs?
• Grant will be spent within 6-12 months?

Step 2: Contact for Pre-application Questions (Optional)

Contact the Trust Secretary via email or phone if you have any questions before submitting your application.

Step 3: Complete Application Form

Download and complete the application form available on the website at https://theprincephiliptrustfund.org/how-to-apply-for-funding/

Step 4: Submit by Deadline

• 1st March - for consideration at April trustee meeting
• 1st October - for consideration at October/November trustee meeting

Decision Timeline

• Trustees meet twice annually (April and October/November)
• Notification of decision within one month of the trustees' meeting
• Typical timeline from submission to decision: 4-8 weeks
• Small discretionary grants (up to £1,000) can be awarded between meetings

Post-award requirements:

• Grant recipients must provide project feedback to trustees
• Funds should ideally be spent within 6 months (maximum 12 months with prior arrangement)

Success Rates

Based on available data:

• November 2021: Approximately 35 projects awarded grants totaling £90,000
• 2022 total: 36 charities, projects, and individuals awarded grants totaling £110,000 across both rounds
• Recent round: 30 individuals, charities, and projects awarded grants totaling £54,000

Estimated success rate: Approximately 30-35% of applications receive funding

The trust receives far more applications than they are able to fund. Meeting all eligibility criteria does not guarantee funding success.

Reapplication Policy

• Unsuccessful applicants: Welcome to reapply at any time
• Successful applicants: Should wait until awarded funds have been spent before reapplying
• Feedback: Available upon request for unsuccessful applications - applicants must proactively contact the trust for feedback as they cannot respond to all unsuccessful applications automatically

Application Success Factors

Based on the trust's stated priorities and recent funding patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Local Impact

The trust prioritizes projects that “make a demonstrable difference locally” to residents of Windsor and Maidenhead. Recent successful projects include:

• The Baby Bank for new mattresses for babies through teenagers
• Alexander Devine Children's Hospice for healthy and culturally appropriate food for families
• Family Action for Windsor and Maidenhead Young Carers project
• Oakfield First School outdoor swimming pool refurbishment
• No 22 for free after-school counselling services
• Wraysbury and Horton Voluntary Care for building permanent kitchen for house-bound residents

2. Evidence of Sustainability or Fundraising Success

The trust explicitly states: “Trustees prioritise applications requesting support for one-off project funding, and which show some sustainability or fundraising success.” Demonstrate:

• Other funding sources secured or in progress
• How the project will continue beyond the initial grant period
• Community support and engagement
• Organizational capacity to deliver

3. Matched Funding Opportunities

“The Trustees often provide matched funding for projects” - applications that show other funders contributing or community fundraising efforts are particularly attractive.

4. Capital/Project Costs vs. Core Costs

The trust generally does not support salaries or core running costs. Focus applications on:

• Equipment purchases
• Facility improvements or construction
• Specific project delivery costs
• One-off program costs

5. Time-bound Projects

Grants must be spent within 6-12 months. Projects with clear timelines and deliverables are preferred over open-ended initiatives.

6. Minimalist Administration

The trust values keeping “administration minimal” - keep applications concise and focused on the project's impact rather than lengthy background.

7. Specific Geographic Alignment

Majority of beneficiaries must live in Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Be explicit about how many local residents will benefit and provide evidence of local need.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Timing is everything: Only two application windows per year (1st March and 1st October deadlines) - plan ahead and don't miss deadlines
• Matched funding advantage: Trustees “often provide matched funding” - highlight any other secured funding or fundraising success to strengthen your application
• Sustainability matters: Show that your project has thought beyond the initial grant - demonstrate sustainability or fundraising success even for one-off projects
• Keep it local and specific: Be explicit about how many Windsor and Maidenhead residents benefit and the demonstrable local impact
• Capital over core: Focus on project costs and capital expenditure rather than salaries or running costs
• Don't assume rejection is final: Unsuccessful applicants can reapply immediately and should request feedback to improve future applications
• Diverse funding portfolio: Recent awards span schools, hospices, sports clubs, arts festivals, and care services - don't be deterred if you're in a less traditional category

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• THE SCREWFIX FOUNDATION
• The Edward Gostling Foundation
• THE CALLEVA FOUNDATION
• THE FEBRUARY FOUNDATION
• THE CHILDWICK TRUST
• John James Bristol Foundation
• P F Charitable Trust
• The Shanly Foundation
• Berkshire Community Foundation
• THE SIMON GIBSON CHARITABLE TRUST
• Broome Family Charitable Trust
• The Pargiter Trust
• DORIS FIELD CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Invesco Cares Foundation
• The Oakdale Trust
• Scouloudi Foundation
• The Thomas Sivewright Catto Charitable Settlement
• Anson Charitable Trust
• The Adint Charitable Trust
• The Lord Faringdon Charitable Trust

References

1. The Prince Philip Trust Fund Official Website - About Us. https://theprincephiliptrustfund.org/about-us/

1. The Prince Philip Trust Fund Official Website - How to Apply for Funding. https://theprincephiliptrustfund.org/how-to-apply-for-funding/

1. The Prince Philip Trust Fund Official Website - Funding Criteria. https://theprincephiliptrustfund.org/how-to-apply-for-funding/funding-criteria/

1. The Prince Philip Trust Fund Official Website - The Application Process. https://theprincephiliptrustfund.org/how-to-apply-for-funding/the-application-process/

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales - The Prince Philip Trust Fund (Charity No. 272927). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/272927/full-print

1. The Prince Philip Trust Fund Official Website - Grant Funding Announcements. https://theprincephiliptrustfund.org/grant-funding/

1. Wilson Partners - The Prince Philip Trust Fund. https://www.wilson-partners.co.uk/about/giving-back/the-prince-philip-trust-fund/