The Privy Purse Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,405,960 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: UK-based with international disaster relief capability
• Application Process: No public application process - trustee discretion only

Contact Details

Registered Address:

Buckingham Palace

London SW1A 1AA

Phone: 020 7930 4832

Email: mike.stevens@royal.uk

Note: Contact details are for general enquiries only. The trust does not operate a public application process.

Overview

The Privy Purse Charitable Trust was registered on 3 February 1987 (originally as The January 1987 Charitable Trust) and operates from Buckingham Palace. With charitable expenditure of £1,405,960 in the financial year ending 31 March 2024, the trust serves as the King's private grant-making vehicle. The trust is governed by a settlement dated 16 January 1987, as amended on 16 December 1993, and is administered by three trustees who serve without remuneration. The trust's income derives from donations and legacies (£886,246 in 2023-24) and investment returns (£242,550 in 2023-24). The trust operates with considerable financial flexibility, drawing on capital when needed to support its charitable objectives, as evidenced by years where expenditure significantly exceeds income.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not operate distinct grant programs but awards grants at trustee discretion across three core funding streams:

• Royal Patronage Charities: Grants to charities of which The King is Patron (King Charles currently holds over 400 patronages across diverse sectors)
• Ecclesiastical Support: Support for ecclesiastical establishments associated with The King
• Disaster Relief: Contributions for national and international disaster relief efforts

Priority Areas

The trust's funding priorities are determined by:

• Royal patronage status: Organizations must be formally patronized by The King
• Royal connections: Ecclesiastical establishments with direct association to The King
• Emergency response: National and international disasters requiring urgent humanitarian support

Given King Charles's charitable interests, patronages span: youth development, environmental conservation, the built environment, rural communities, arts and culture, healthcare, education, interfaith dialogue, and maritime charities.

What They Don't Fund

The trust does not provide grants to:

• Organizations without royal patronage (except disaster relief)
• Individual applicants (except where aligned with ecclesiastical support)
• Organizations without direct royal connections
• General charitable applications from the public

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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by three trustees who receive no remuneration for their service. Specific trustee names are not publicly disclosed in the Charity Commission records. The trust operates without employees or trading subsidiaries, indicating a lean administrative structure with grant decisions made directly by the trustee board.

The trust's governance reflects its close connection to royal finances and the King's personal charitable giving, operating as part of the broader framework of royal philanthropy while maintaining separation from state funding sources like the Sovereign Grant.

How to Apply to The Privy Purse Charitable Trust

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Privy Purse Charitable Trust operates entirely at the discretion of its trustees. Grants are awarded to:

1. Charities already holding the King's patronage
2. Ecclesiastical establishments with existing royal connections
3. Disaster relief efforts identified by the trustees

There is no application form, no published guidelines, and no open call for proposals. Organizations cannot apply to this trust in the conventional sense.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the trust's structure, grant decisions are likely made at trustee meetings scheduled at the board's discretion rather than following a published annual cycle.

Success Rates

Success rates are not applicable as the trust does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the trust does not operate an application process.

Application Success Factors

For organizations with royal patronage:

Since direct applications are not accepted, gaining support from The Privy Purse Charitable Trust depends entirely on:

1. Securing royal patronage first: Organizations must go through the formal process of seeking the King's patronage for their charity. Following King Charles's accession, royal patronages underwent significant review, with the King retaining or assuming patronage of selected organizations aligned with his charitable priorities.

1. Alignment with the King's interests: King Charles has demonstrated longstanding commitment to environmental conservation, organic farming, architecture and the built environment, interfaith dialogue, youth opportunity (particularly through The Prince's Trust model), traditional crafts, and holistic healthcare. Organizations working in these areas may be more likely to gain royal patronage.

1. Demonstrating impact: As patron of over 400 organizations, the King's team evaluates charities based on their effectiveness, governance, and contribution to their sector. Organizations receiving grants from the trust are likely those demonstrating exceptional impact within their field.

1. Ecclesiastical connections: For ecclesiastical establishments, formal association with royal estates, royal chapels, or historic connections to the Crown may position organizations within the trust's remit.

1. Emergency response capacity: For disaster relief, the trust appears to identify and respond to major national and international crises proactively, likely working through established disaster relief channels and reputable humanitarian organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not accessible through traditional applications: This is not a grant-maker that accepts proposals from the general charitable sector
• Royal patronage is prerequisite: Focus efforts on securing the King's patronage for your organization first, rather than seeking grants from this trust
• Understand the patronage process: Research how organizations gain royal patronage through the Royal Household's official channels
• Align with royal priorities: Organizations working on environmental sustainability, youth opportunity, heritage conservation, interfaith understanding, and traditional crafts align with the King's demonstrated interests
• Consider alternative royal funding: The King's patronage of your organization may bring visibility and credibility benefits beyond direct funding from this trust
• Disaster relief exception: For humanitarian organizations, being established and recognized in disaster response may position you to receive support during major emergencies without formal application
• Financial scale: With annual charitable expenditure exceeding £1.4 million, the trust has significant grant-making capacity for organizations within its remit

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Northwick Trust
• The Hamilton Wallace Trust
• Mcgreevy No 5 Settlement
• Nineteen Eighty Nine Charitable Trust
• John Jacob Astor Charitable Trust
• The Richard Harris Charitable Trust
• The George Cadbury Trust (george Henry T And Laurence J Cadbury Sections)
• The Hotspur Trust
• The Searle Charitable Trust
• Peter Dixon Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register, The Privy Purse Charitable Trust (296079), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=296079
• The Royal Family, “Charities and Patronages”, https://www.royal.uk/charities-and-patronages-0
• The Conversation, "King Charles will redistribute hundreds of charity patronages – here's why they are such an important part of royal life"
• Civil Society, “Royal family to relinquish patronages at hundreds of charities and organisations”
• Financial data from Charity Commission Annual Returns for financial year ending 31 March 2024