The Thomas Sivewright Catto Charitable Settlement

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £370,230 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 47408, London N21 1YW

Phone: 07836 247913

Email: office@tscatto.org.uk

Website: Not available

Charity Number: 279549

Overview

The Thomas Sivewright Catto Charitable Settlement was established in 1980 to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of The Right Honourable Thomas Sivewright Catto, First Baron Catto of Cairncatto (15 March 1879 – 23 August 1959), who was a distinguished Scottish businessman and Governor of the Bank of England from 1944 to 1949. The Settlement operates as a grant-making trust with broad discretion to support UK registered charities across diverse causes.

For the financial year ending 5 April 2024, the Settlement distributed £370,230 in grants (2023: £373,312), with total income of £103,045 and total expenditure of £393,176. The charity is governed by three trustees, operates with no paid employees, and maintains a consistent grant-giving programme throughout the year. Grants are considered and awarded on a quarterly basis, providing regular funding opportunities for charitable organisations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Thomas Sivewright Catto Charitable Settlement operates a discretionary grant-making programme without specified grant amounts or formal funding streams. Trustees have absolute discretion to support “such charities and for such charitable purposes and in such proportions and in such manner and subject to such terms and conditions as the trustees may at their absolute discretion determine.”

Application Cycle: Quarterly basis

Priority Areas

The Settlement supports a broad range of charitable causes across the UK. Known grant recipients include:

• Health and disability charities: Huntington's Disease Association, Vision Action (eye care work in Africa)
• Social welfare: Prisoners' Advice Service
• Learning disability support: ENABLE Scotland
• General charitable purposes: The trust has wide discretion to support any UK registered charity

The Settlement does not appear to have narrowly defined thematic priorities, instead taking a flexible approach that allows trustees to respond to a variety of charitable needs.

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. As the charitable objectives specify “donations to UK registered charities,” it can be inferred that organisations must be registered charities in the UK to be eligible.

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Governance and Leadership

The Settlement is governed by three trustees who manage the charity on a voluntary basis with no remuneration:

• The Lord Catto (Trustee) - Also serves as trustee of the Stephen Gordon Catto Charitable Trust
• Olivia Gay Marchant (Trustee) - Also serves as trustee of Berwick St James Reading Room 1998
• Zoe Isabel Richmond-Watson (Trustee)

The connection to Baron Catto reflects the charity's origins: Thomas Sivewright Catto, 1st Baron Catto, was created Baron Catto of Cairncatto in the County of Aberdeen in 1936 – the only hereditary peerage newly conferred during the reign of King Edward VIII. The current Lord Catto continues the family's philanthropic legacy through his trusteeship.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Thomas Sivewright Catto Charitable Settlement does not have a public application process or online portal. There is no publicly available information about application forms, guidelines, or formal procedures for requesting funding.

Organisations wishing to seek support should contact the Settlement directly:

• Email: office@tscatto.org.uk
• Phone: 07836 247913
• Post: PO Box 47408, London N21 1YW

Given the lack of public application information, it is recommended that organisations send a concise written enquiry outlining their charitable work, funding needs, and how their activities align with the Settlement's general charitable purposes.

Decision Timeline

Donations are considered and made on a quarterly basis. Specific timelines for when trustees meet or when decisions are communicated are not publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No public information is available regarding reapplication policies or waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Due to limited public information about the Settlement's funding preferences and decision-making criteria, the following general observations may be helpful:

Charitable registration: Ensure your organisation is a registered charity in the UK, as this is specified in the Settlement's charitable objectives.

Diverse causes supported: The Settlement has supported organisations across varied sectors including health, disability, social welfare, international development, and learning disability support. This suggests the trustees are open to considering applications from different charitable areas rather than having a narrow focus.

Established organisations: Known recipients such as Huntington's Disease Association, Vision Action, Prisoners' Advice Service, and ENABLE Scotland are all established charitable organisations with clear track records, suggesting the Settlement may favour proven organisations.

Direct contact: Given the absence of a formal application process, the quality and clarity of your initial contact with the Settlement is likely important. Be concise, professional, and specific about your funding request.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Settlement operates with significant trustee discretion and no published funding guidelines, requiring direct contact to explore funding opportunities
• Grants are awarded quarterly, providing multiple opportunities throughout the year to seek support
• With annual giving of approximately £370,000, this is a medium-sized trust capable of meaningful grants
• The Settlement has demonstrated willingness to support diverse causes from health and disability to social welfare and international development
• No public application process exists – initial contact should be professional, concise, and clearly articulate your charitable purpose and funding needs
• The charity maintains excellent reporting compliance with the Charity Commission, submitting all accounts and returns on time
• Connection to the historical legacy of Baron Catto (former Governor of the Bank of England) suggests a tradition of financial prudence and responsible stewardship

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Walter Guinness Charitable Trust
• The Rothley Trust
• THE CALLEVA FOUNDATION
• THE SIR JAMES KNOTT TRUST
• John James Bristol Foundation
• P F Charitable Trust
• THE SCREWFIX FOUNDATION
• THE SIMON GIBSON CHARITABLE TRUST
• Broome Family Charitable Trust
• THE PAUL BASSHAM CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE IAN ASKEW CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Oakdale Trust
• Scouloudi Foundation
• HOMELANDS CHARITABLE TRUST
• Anson Charitable Trust
• The Adint Charitable Trust
• The Lord Faringdon Charitable Trust
• C A Redfern Charitable Foundation
• THE FLORENCE TURNER TRUST
• THE SIR JAMES ROLL CHARITABLE TRUST

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities. (2025). THE THOMAS SIVEWRIGHT CATTO CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT - Charity 279549. Retrieved January 2, 2025, from https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=279549
• Charity Choice. (2024). The Thomas Sivewright Catto Charitable Settlement. Retrieved from https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-thomas-sivewright-catto-charitable-settlement-144619
• Vision Action. (n.d.). Thank You - Our Funders. Retrieved from https://www.visionaction.org.uk/about-us/thank-you/
• Huntington's Disease Association. (n.d.). Trusts and foundations. Retrieved from https://www.hda.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-donate/trusts-and-foundations/
• Prisoners' Advice Service. (n.d.). Trusts and Foundations. Retrieved from https://www.prisonersadvice.org.uk/get-involved/support-us/trusts-and-foundations/
• Wikipedia. (2024). Thomas Catto, 1st Baron Catto. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Catto,_1st_Baron_Catto
• Fundraiso. (2024). THE THOMAS SIVEWRIGHT CATTO CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT. Retrieved from https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/the-thomas-sivewright-catto-charitable-settlement