The Rhododendron Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £71,500 (2023-24)
• Success Rate: Approximately 15-20% (62 grants from “hundreds” of applications)
• Decision Time: Applications reviewed for March trustee meeting
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £2,000
• Geographic Focus: UK and developing world (international)
• Charity Number: 267192

Contact Details

Address: 6 Bridge Street, Richmond, North Yorkshire DL10 4RW

Website: www.rhododendron-trust.org.uk

Email: mail@rhododendron-trust.org.uk (applications) / rhodotrust@gmail.com (donation acknowledgements)

Phone: 07495752060

Overview

The Rhododendron Trust is a small family charitable trust registered with the Charity Commission in 1974. With an annual income of approximately £86,000-£112,000, the trust makes strategic grants of between £1,000 and £2,000 to UK-registered charities. In 2023-24, the trust distributed £71,500 across 62 charities, focusing on humanitarian welfare projects in the developing world, UK social welfare initiatives, and selected cultural and wildlife projects. The trust operates with four trustees and no paid staff, conducting all grant-making decisions through a single annual meeting in March. The trust explicitly favours smaller charities where their donations can make a significant contribution to the organisation's work, rather than larger charities with substantial existing income.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Single Annual Grant Round: £1,000 - £2,000

• Applications accepted throughout the year
• Decisions made once annually in March
• 62 grants awarded in 2023-24 from hundreds of applications
• Only for UK-registered charities (Charity Commission registered)

Priority Areas

Overseas Charities:

• Children: Education projects, orphan care, child welfare in developing countries
• Development: Community development, sustainable livelihoods, infrastructure
• Disability: Projects supporting disabled people in low-income countries
• Medical: Healthcare access, hospice care, medical supplies for developing world
• Women & Justice: Women's rights, conflict resolution, human rights
• Nature: Environmental conservation, rainforest protection

UK Charities:

• Carers and Breaks: Support for carers, respite care, family support
• Disability & Mental Health: Services for people with autism, ADHD, epilepsy, mental illness
• Deprivation: Homelessness services, addiction support, disadvantaged children
• Prisoners & Refugees: Prison education, ex-offender rehabilitation, refugee legal support
• Arts: Cultural outreach programmes, music therapy, church heritage

The trust particularly supports charities helping people affected by multiple disadvantages beyond just poverty - including disability, age, gender, ethnic status, or poor infrastructure in their communities.

What They Don't Fund

• Medical Research: No funding for medical research projects
• Cancer and Rare Diseases: Does not support charities focused on cancer or unusual physical illnesses
• Hospice Movement: UK hospice organisations are not funded (though overseas hospice projects may be considered)
• Building Projects: No funding for individual building restoration or construction, though charities that support this work broadly (like National Churches Trust) may receive support
• Individuals: No grants to individuals, including gap-year projects, even if charity-associated
• Non-UK Registered Charities: Can only donate to UK-registered charities with Charity Commission numbers
• Large Charities: Preference given to smaller organisations where the grant will have significant impact

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust operates with four trustees who serve without remuneration:

• Sarah Oliver
• Sarah Ray
• Elizabeth Camilla Baldwin
• Wendy Elizabeth Anderson

All trustees volunteer their time, and the trust has no employees. Decisions are made collectively at the annual trustees meeting held in March.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: Written application by letter or email to mail@rhododendron-trust.org.uk

Key Application Guidance:

The trust provides specific advice that applications “should not go into too much detail about the need which is being met, but give details about how it will be met by a donation from the trust.” This is a distinctive requirement - focus on solutions and implementation rather than extensive problem description.

Supporting Documents Required:

• Details of current projects
• Management structure of projects
• Recent accounts
• Avoid tiny print - readability is essential

Decision Timeline

Rolling Acceptance: Applications accepted year-round

Initial Screening: Applications are divided into two groups:

1. Those judged worthy of further consideration (forming a “long list”)
2. Those assessed as very unlikely to be selected

Rejection Notification: Charities in the second category are informed by email promptly that their application has been unsuccessful

Final Review: Grant Officers and Trustees review the long list ahead of the March meeting

Decision Meeting: March (annually)

Notification: Successful and unsuccessful applicants informed soon after the March meeting by email

Total Timeline: Variable depending on when application is submitted, but all decisions made in March

Success Rates

The trust receives “hundreds” of applications annually and awards approximately 62 grants, suggesting a success rate of approximately 15-20%. Competition is high, and the trust is “very selective” in its decision-making.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is stated. The trust does not appear to restrict unsuccessful applicants from reapplying in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

What the Trust Values

1. Smaller Charity Size

The trust explicitly states it “favours smaller charities over charities which already have a large income.” The key criterion is that "a donation from the trust should make a significant contribution to the charity's work." A grant of £1,000-£2,000 should represent meaningful impact rather than a small proportion of a large budget.

2. Solution-Focused Applications

Unlike many funders, the Rhododendron Trust specifically requests that applications NOT go into excessive detail about the need or problem. Instead, focus on “how it will be met by a donation from the trust.” Be clear, specific, and practical about what the money will achieve.

3. Multiple Disadvantages

The trust prefers “charities which benefit people affected by more than just poverty, for example people disadvantaged by disability, age, gender or ethnic status, or by the poor medical, welfare or educational infrastructure in their country.” Intersectionality matters.

4. Environmental Integration

The trust notes it is “interested in welfare projects which also help sustain the environment,” suggesting applications that combine social and environmental benefits may be particularly appealing.

5. Practical Readability

The trust warns that “tiny print may prevent the letter being read at all.” Ensure your application is physically readable - use clear fonts, appropriate sizing, and good formatting.

6. Prompt Acknowledgement

While not part of the application itself, charities receiving donations are asked to send “a prompt acknowledgement of the safe arrival of the donation” with “Donation Acknowledged” in the subject line. This professionalism likely influences future application success.

Recent Grant Recipients (2023-24)

Study the trust's published grant lists to understand their funding patterns. Notable 2023-24 recipients included:

Overseas: Children on the Edge, Children of the Mekong, Action Village India, Helpage International, Afghan Aid, Peace Direct, Rainforest Concern

UK: Almeida Theatre (outreach), Prisoners Education Trust, Carers Trust, Home-Start Cambridge, Stand Out Programmes, Music of Life Foundation, National Churches Trust

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Think Small: If your charity has income over £200,000-£300,000, you may be considered too large for the trust's preference for making “significant contributions”

• Be Solution-Oriented: Break from standard charity appeal formats - don't dwell on problems; focus concisely on how you'll use their money to deliver impact

• Demonstrate Intersectionality: Show how your beneficiaries face multiple forms of disadvantage, not just poverty

• Keep Applications Brief and Clear: A concise, well-formatted letter with supporting documents is preferred over lengthy proposals in small print

• Apply Early in the Year: While applications are reviewed year-round, applying earlier gives more time for consideration before the March decision meeting

• Only Apply if UK-Registered: International NGOs without UK charity registration are ineligible, regardless of the work they do

• Understand the Success Rate: With hundreds of applications for approximately 62 grants, competition is fierce - ensure your application clearly demonstrates why your charity fits the trust's specific preferences

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Paul Hamlyn Foundation
• The London Community Foundation
• The Big Give Trust
• THE A B CHARITABLE TRUST
• Backstage Trust
• London Legal Support Trust
• THE BLUE THREAD
• The Rayne Foundation
• The Chalk Cliff Trust
• The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
• THE SIMON GIBSON CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Clare Milne Trust
• THE JOHN HORSEMAN TRUST
• THE DAVID FAMILY FOUNDATION
• P H Holt Foundation
• THE NORMAN FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Vernon Ellis Foundation
• The Howard Foundation
• National Lottery
• BRINGING HOPE

References

• The Rhododendron Trust official website: www.rhododendron-trust.org.uk
• UK Charity Commission Register of Charities: Charity Number 267192, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=267192
• The Rhododendron Trust Grants Policy page: https://www.rhododendron-trust.org.uk/grants-policy
• The Rhododendron Trust 2023-24 Grants page: https://www.rhododendron-trust.org.uk/copy-of-2022-23-grants
• Making Music Funding Opportunity listing: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/funding-opportunity/the-rhododendron-trust
• Find That Charity database: https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-267192