The S M B Trust

Charity Number: 263814

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £395,700 (most recent financial year)
  • Success Rate: Approximately 48% (252 grants from ~520 applications based on 5-year data)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £4,000 (typical range)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) and international projects

Contact Details

Address: 15 Wilman Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9AJ

Phone: 01892 537301

Email: smbcharitabletrust@googlemail.com

Website: https://smbtrust.org.uk

Charity Number: 263814

Overview

THE S M B TRUST was established in 1962 by Sybil May Betts, a London resident with substantial property holdings inherited from her father, a coal merchant. During World War II, Miss Betts enlisted property management assistance, and her accountant established the charitable trust to ensure her philanthropic legacy would continue beyond her lifetime. The trust later sold most properties and diversified into equities. Over the past five years, the trust has distributed approximately £2 million across more than 520 different charities. In the most recent financial year (ending March 2024), the trust awarded £395,700 to 252 UK registered charities. The trust operates from “Christian principles of love, faith, compassion and service” and aims to “financially empower United Kingdom registered charities” across six priority areas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates a single grant program with typical awards of £1,000 - £4,000. Applications are made via email to smbcharitabletrust@googlemail.com on a rolling basis.

Priority Areas

The trust focuses on six key areas:

  1. Christian Faith - Projects that promote Christian values or ministry and the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ
  2. Social Care - Supporting vulnerable individuals and communities in the UK and across the world
  3. Poverty Relief - Alleviating material hardship and economic disadvantage in all its forms
  4. Education & Medical Research - Advancing access to education or the conducting of ethical medical research
  5. Environmental & Wildlife Protection - Initiatives that promote environmental conservation and sustainability
  6. Emergency & Famine Aid - Responding to humanitarian crises with food, medical or other emergency relief

What They Don't Fund

  • Non-UK registered charities (applicants must be registered with the Charity Commission)
  • Projects that do not align with at least one of their six priority areas
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Governance and Leadership

The trust is governed by three trustees who receive no remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. The trust emphasizes “good stewardship and transparency,” carefully evaluating applications to ensure funds align with their mission. Leadership describes their decision-making as “guided by a deep sense of responsibility.”

The charity's income comes almost entirely from investments (£660,021 in 2024), with total expenditure of £527,995, split between raising funds (£142,368) and charitable activities (£385,627).

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted via email to smbcharitabletrust@googlemail.com. The trust operates on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines. Applicants are advised to:

  • Ensure they are UK registered charities
  • Review the grant criteria on the trust's website before applying
  • Confirm their work aligns with at least one of the six priority areas

Decision Timeline

No specific timeline is publicly stated. Applicants should expect to be notified of decisions via email.

Success Rates

Based on available data, the trust has awarded grants to approximately 520 charities over five years, suggesting they review a substantial number of applications. In the most recent year, 252 grants were awarded. This indicates a relatively accessible funder, though exact success rates are not published.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Unsuccessful applicants may wish to contact the trust directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

The trust advises applicants to "make sure you're eligible and have read our guidelines" before applying, emphasizing the importance of:

  • Alignment with Christian values: The trust operates from “Christian principles of love, faith, compassion and service,” which underpins all their funding decisions
  • Clear charitable purpose: Projects should demonstrate how they will bring “positive change to communities”
  • UK charity registration: Only UK registered charities are eligible
  • Fit with priority areas: Applications must clearly align with at least one of the six priority areas

The trust's emphasis on “good stewardship and transparency” suggests they value:

  • Clear financial management
  • Demonstrable impact
  • Honest reporting of need and intended use of funds

Given the trust's modest grant size (£1,000-£4,000), applications should be proportionate and realistic about what can be achieved with smaller grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Small but accessible: Grants of £1,000-£4,000 are ideal for small charities or specific project components; the trust funded 252 organizations in one year, suggesting good accessibility
  • Christian foundation matters: While not all funded work needs to be explicitly Christian, the trust's Christian values underpin their decision-making and are central to their identity
  • Rolling applications: No fixed deadlines means you can apply when ready, but also means competition may be ongoing
  • Multiple priority areas: Having work that spans several of their six priority areas may strengthen an application
  • Email-based process: The relatively informal email application process suggests they value accessibility over bureaucracy
  • Investment-funded stability: The trust's investment income (£660k) provides stable funding capacity year-on-year
  • Broad geographic reach: They fund across the entire UK and internationally, so location is not a barrier

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