The Zochonis Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 274769

Annual Expenditure: £3.5M
Manchester City, Trafford, Cheshire East, Lancashire, Cheshire West & Chester

Contact Info

Phone: 0161 435 1005

Email: enquiries@zochonischaritabletrust.com

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £3.5 million (2023/24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not specified (rolling basis)
  • Grant Range: Approximately £22,000 average per grant
  • Total Grants: ~200 grants annually
  • Geographic Focus: Northwest England (Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Lancashire, Manchester City, Trafford) plus Ghana and Sierra Leone

Contact Details

Address: Miss Marie E. Gallagher, Secretary to the Trustees

Manchester Business Park, 3500 Aviator Way, Manchester, M22 5TG

Email: enquiries@zochonischaritabletrust.com

Phone: 0161 435 1005

Note: The Trust does not maintain a website or formal online application portal.

Overview

Founded in 1977 by Sir John Zochonis, The Zochonis Charitable Trust is a substantial Northwest England-based funder that has distributed over £55 million to charitable causes in its first 40 years of operation. The Trust is funded by dividends from PZ Cussons shares (approximately 13% of annual dividends), with the Zochonis family managing it independently as major shareholders in the company. With annual charitable expenditure of £3.5 million distributed through approximately 200 grants, the Trust's mission focuses on providing financial assistance in health, education, youth, and social equity. The Trust maintains a particularly strong emphasis on education and the welfare of children within its core Northwest England operating area. Notable long-term partnerships include support for Scope's Manchester employment services and funding for autism services through organizations like I AM Celebrating Autism. The Trust has recently experienced a challenging financial period, impacting investment values and funding capacity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • General Grants Programme: Rolling basis applications accepted year-round
  • Average Grant Size: Approximately £22,000 (based on £3.5M distributed across ~200 grants)
  • Application Method: Written applications on charity letterhead (no online portal)

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

  • Education (majority of funding alongside health)
  • Welfare of children and young people
  • Health services
  • Social equity initiatives

Other Funded Areas:

  • Community development
  • Support for elderly
  • Family support services
  • Armed forces/ex-service personnel
  • Homelessness services
  • Emergency/rescue services
  • Culture and heritage
  • International development (Ghana and Sierra Leone specifically)

Geographic Priorities:

  • Cheshire East
  • Cheshire West and Chester
  • Lancashire
  • Manchester City
  • Trafford
  • Ghana and Sierra Leone (reflecting PZ Cussons' historical business connections)

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. However, the Trust's focus is clearly on registered charities operating within their defined geographic areas and thematic priorities.

Governance and Leadership

Structure:

  • 4 trustees (names not publicly disclosed)
  • Managed independently by the Zochonis family
  • 1 employee
  • No trustees receive remuneration

Administrative Contact:

  • Miss Marie E. Gallagher serves as Management Assistant and Secretary to the Trustees

Funding Source:

The Trust is funded through dividends from the Zochonis family's PZ Cussons shareholding. As stated by PZ Cussons: “The Zochonis family remains major shareholders in PZ Cussons and champions of our PZ purpose, For everyone, for life, for good.”

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Submit to: Miss M.E. Gallagher, Secretary to the Trustees at the Manchester address

Decision Timeline

  • Application window: Rolling basis - applications accepted at any time throughout the year
  • Decision timeframe: Not publicly disclosed
  • Notification policy: The Trust will only contact successful applicants
  • Unsuccessful applicants will not receive notification or feedback

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Trust receives applications on a rolling basis and makes approximately 200 grants annually from available funds of approximately £3.5 million.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly available. However, evidence suggests the Trust maintains long-term relationships with some organizations (e.g., Scope is described as "one of the Trust's longest standing Trust supporters").

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Factors

  1. Geographic fit is crucial: Organizations must be based and working within the specified Northwest England boroughs or in Ghana/Sierra Leone
  2. Children and education priority: Projects focusing on education and child welfare appear to receive preferential consideration
  3. Established charities: The requirement for audited accounts and annual reports suggests preference for established organizations
  4. Long-term relationships: Evidence of ongoing multi-year support for some organizations suggests relationship-building is valued

Recent Funding Examples

  • Scope UK: Long-standing support for Manchester-based employment services
  • I AM Celebrating Autism: Ongoing funding for autism services in Greater Manchester
  • AfriKids: Support for children's services in Ghana
  • Greater Manchester High Sheriff's Police Trust: Long-standing support
  • Emergency funding: Ebola crisis response in Sierra Leone

Application Approach

The Trust's low-key approach and policy of only contacting successful applicants suggests:

  • Applications should be concise and professional
  • Focus on demonstrable local impact within priority areas
  • Clear articulation of need and organizational credibility
  • Strong financial governance (evidenced by audited accounts)

What to Avoid

  • The Trust “does not engage in conversation with any applicant” - avoid follow-up calls or pre-application inquiries
  • Do not expect acknowledgment or feedback if unsuccessful
  • Avoid applications outside defined geographic areas

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic eligibility is non-negotiable - Ensure your organization operates within Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Lancashire, Manchester City, Trafford, or in Ghana/Sierra Leone before applying
  1. Prioritize children and education angles - If your work touches on education or child welfare, emphasize this strongly as these are the Trust's primary interests
  1. Keep it simple and professional - With no formal application form, a clear, concise letter on official letterhead with supporting documents is all that's required
  1. Don't expect feedback - Only successful applicants are contacted; unsuccessful applicants receive no notification, so plan accordingly
  1. Financial readiness matters - Have your latest audited accounts and annual report ready to submit with your application
  1. Think long-term relationships - Evidence suggests the Trust values ongoing partnerships with charities demonstrating consistent impact
  1. Be aware of funding fluctuations - The Trust has recently experienced financial challenges affecting grant levels, so funding may vary year to year based on investment performance and dividend income

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

  • The National Garden Scheme
  • Garfield Weston Foundation
  • My Child
  • Bbc Children In Need
  • The Mary Robertson Trust
  • St. James'S Place Charitable Foundation
  • John Horniman'S Children'S Trust
  • The Jessie Spencer Trust
  • The Beaverbrooks Charitable Trust
  • Broome Family Charitable Trust

References