Welcome to the Forrester Trusts web site, home of both the Donald Forrester Trust and the Gwyneth Forrester Trust.
Both Trusts make annual grants to charities registered in England & Wales; the purpose of this site is to assist those charities who wish to apply for such grants whilst, at the same time, keeping our administration costs to a minimum. Please note we only accept online applications.
Further information regarding the individual Trusts can be found by clicking on the appropriate tab. However, this year both Trusts invite applications from charities supporting those whose vulnerability has been deepened or exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. We are seeking applicants who can use our limited funds to greatest effect around the themes of
- Domestic Violence
- Asylum Seekers
- Mental Health
- Education (Children & Young People)
Grants are usually made twice yearly in March and October. For the year ended 31st March 2020 grants totalled £300,600. Grants are made to a wide range of charities and can vary in amount but are generally in the sum of £5,000. We have recently adopted a policy of making grants equal to 3.75% of our net assets at the latest year end.
For the year ending 31st March 2021 we will only be making one round of grants. Our support will be unrestricted and charities with a turnover of less than £750,000 may apply for a grant of up to £5,000 to continue your work in these key areas. This category of grants will be funded by the Donald Forrester Trust up to a total of £245,000.
Applications, which will only be accepted online through this website, are now open and will close on Friday 12th February 2021. Grants will be distributed during March 2021.
Application form can be found here.
Grants are made annually in March. For the year ended 31st March 2020 grants totalled £984,670. Charities with a turnover of less than £5,000,000 may apply for up to £25,000 toward core costs. For these larger grants we ask that you demonstrate an increased need for your services as a result of the pandemic. This category of grants will be funded by the Gwyneth Forrester Trust up to a total of £725,000.
Grants fall into three categories:
1. Annual funding support for three years
2. Disaster relief
3. A theme for the year
Application form can be found here.
We have recently adopted a policy of making grants equal to 3.75% of our net assets at the latest year end.
The Grant Process
Historically both Trusts have had a policy of not accepting unsolicited grant applications, enabling them to provide continuing support to a relatively select number of organisations. However, the Trustees have now decided to encourage applications from a wider range of charities and will look favourably on smaller organisations where we feel our funding will provide vital support to the work of volunteers. Likewise we will look positively on organisations where both overheads and fund raising costs are kept to a minimum.
Please look at the page for each individual Trust for more details about the process. Please note that given the large number of applications we receive we are unable to either enter into correspondence regarding applications or notify those organisations which have not been successful in their applications. Details of donations made will be published both in the annual accounts and on this site.
Trust Administration
Adrian Hollands and Gabi Richardson deal with the day to day administration of the trusts, all correspondence should be addressed to 11 Whitecroft Way, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3AQ or ah@forrestertrusts.com.