The Scorpion Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £301,500 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not published (approximately 5 grants awarded annually)
• Decision Time: Quarterly review (every 3 months)
• Grant Range: £2,500 - £250,000 (based on 2023 distributions)
• Geographic Focus: UK registered charities only

Contact Details

Address:

The Trustees

The Scorpion Charitable Trust

The Rathbone Trust Company Limited

8 Finsbury Circus

London EC2M 7AZ

Email: rtccharities@rathbones.com

Phone: 0207 399 0444

Note: The Trust does not have a website.

Overview

The Scorpion Charitable Trust was founded in 2002 (Charity Number 1094399) and is managed by Rathbones Trust Company Limited as corporate trustee. In the year ending 31 October 2023, the Trust awarded £301,500 in grants, a significant increase from £77,500 in 2022. The Trust has a particular interest in funding maritime heritage and archaeology, though it also supports charities working in areas including research, children and disability, poverty, and medical care. The trustees have absolute discretion to apply both income and capital for charitable purposes, making this a flexible grant-making trust. With only five grants awarded annually, the Trust is highly selective but capable of making substantial awards.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Scorpion Charitable Trust makes a small number of one-off grants available to UK registered charities. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year with quarterly reviews.

Grant Distribution (2023):

• General charitable purposes: £250,000
• Heritage & Archaeology: £49,000
• Arts: £2,500

Previous year (2022) for comparison:

• Heritage & Archaeology: £75,000
• Poverty: £500
• Other: £2,000

Priority Areas

• Maritime heritage and archaeology (particular interest)
• Research
• Children and disability
• Poverty
• Medical care
• Arts and culture

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not published, though the Trust focuses on UK registered charities within their stated priority areas.

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Governance and Leadership

The Trust is governed by 2 trustees, with Rathbones Trust Company Limited serving as corporate trustee. One or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity for their trustee role.

Rathbone Trust Company Limited provides professional trustee services, with support from a team of qualified practitioners including STEP-qualified practitioners, chartered accountants, chartered tax advisers, and solicitors. They handle the preparation of meeting papers, liaison with applicants, and due diligence processes.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications may be made at any time in writing to the trustees at the address above. There is no application form or online portal. Submit written applications by post or email to rtccharities@rathbones.com.

The Trust does not have a website or published application guidelines. Applications should clearly outline:

• Your organization's charitable status and registration number
• The project or purpose requiring funding
• The amount requested
• How the project aligns with the Trust's funding priorities

Decision Timeline

The Trust reviews all written appeals received on a quarterly basis (every 3 months) and considers each appeal on its individual merits.

Important: Only successful applicants are notified of the Trust's decision. If you do not hear back within 3-4 months of submission, your application has been unsuccessful.

Success Rates

With only 5 grants awarded annually from all written appeals received, the success rate is extremely low. Specific application numbers are not published, making it impossible to calculate an exact success rate, but applicants should be aware that competition is very high.

Reapplication Policy

The Trust notes that any donations are made without any commitment to future funding. While there is no published restriction on reapplication, the Trust's focus on one-off grants suggests that repeat funding is not typical.

Application Success Factors

Given the highly competitive nature of this Trust (only 5 grants per year), the following factors are important:

Alignment with Priority Areas: The Trust has a particular interest in maritime heritage and archaeology. Applications in this area may have stronger prospects, though the 2023 grants show that the largest award (£250,000) went to general charitable purposes.

UK Registered Charities Only: Only UK registered charities are eligible. Ensure your charity registration number is clearly stated.

One-off Projects: The Trust explicitly focuses on one-off grants without commitment to future funding. Frame your application around a specific project or purpose rather than ongoing operational costs.

Written Communication: With no application form or website, your written application is your only opportunity to make an impact. Ensure it is clear, concise, and compelling.

Patience with the Process: Remember that only successful applicants receive notification. The lack of response does not necessarily mean your application was not considered—it simply means it was not selected.

Grant Size Flexibility: The 2023 grants ranged from £2,500 to £250,000, showing significant flexibility in award size. Don't self-reject based on project size—the Trust considers applications on their individual merits.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Highly competitive: Only 5 grants awarded annually; success rate is very low
• Maritime heritage priority: The Trust has a particular interest in this area—strong alignment here may improve prospects
• No feedback for unsuccessful applicants: Only successful applicants are notified; plan accordingly
• Quarterly review cycle: Applications reviewed every 3 months; budget your timing expectations
• Substantial awards possible: Recent grants range from £2,500 to £250,000; don't assume small trust means small grants
• Professional management: Managed by Rathbones Trust Company Limited with professional due diligence processes
• One-off funding only: Frame applications around specific projects, not ongoing operational support

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The E C Sosnow Charitable Trust
• THE TRESANTON TRUST
• The Thompson Family Charitable Trust
• The Dorothy Whitney Elmhirst Trust
• The George Goodsir Charitable Trust
• The Dischma Charitable Trust
• Langdale Trust
• Coral Samuel Charitable Trust
• THE BASIL SAMUEL CHARITABLE TRUST
• Susanna Peake Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities. “THE SCORPION CHARITABLE TRUST - 1094399.” Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1094399&subId=0
• PAVO. “THE SCORPION CHARITABLE TRUST.” Available at: https://www.pavo.org.uk/news/the-scorpion-charitable-trust/
• Giving is Great. “THE SCORPION CHARITABLE TRUST | Charity Factsheet.” Available at: https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1094399
• Maritime Archaeology Trust. “Our Supporters.” Available at: https://maritimearchaeologytrust.org/supporters
• Information compiled from Charity Commission annual returns and publicly available charity databases