GRANT CRITERIA

SMALL GRANTS

 

THE GENERAL FUND

GRANT CRITERIA FOR GENERAL CHARITIES

  • We seek to make donations to general charities, which are small enough in size or are applying for support for a modest project such that the charity will benefit substantially from a donation of between £500 and £2000.
    We also make grants to charities, which focus on the conservation of wildlife and the environment which are typically between £1,000 to £2,000.
  • We will generally only support charities which are registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), or which are exempt or excepted charities (within the meaning of the Charities Act 2011).
  • We will not generally make a grant to an organisation that the Trust has supported within the previous 24 months.
  • We will not support applications from individuals seeking personal support.
  • Grants may be made towards revenue, capital or project expenditure.
  • Grants are made on a periodic basis and there is no deadline for applications. The grants committee makes Grant decisions every other month.
  • It is important that the charity will be small enough in size or be applying for support for a modest project, such that the grant will have a meaningful impact

How to apply for Grants

 

THE MARTIN WILLS WILDLIFE MAINTENANCE TRUST

GRANT CRITERIA FOR THE CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHARITIES

The focus of our support is the conservation and maintenance for the benefit of the public of the natural environment and its indigenous woodland flora and fauna with particular reference to the conservation and maintenance of the character and amenity of rural areas.

  • Grants are typically between in the £1,000 to £2,000 range, though sometimes up to £5,000.
  • Grants are made only to charities, which focus on the conservation of wildlife and the environment.
  • We will generally only support charities which are registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales, Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), or which are exempt or excepted charities (within the meaning of the Charities Act 2011).
  • We will not generally make a grant to an organisation that the Trust has supported within the previous 24 months.
  • We will not support applications from individuals seeking personal support.
  • Grants may be made towards revenue, capital or project expenditure.
  • Grants are made on a periodic basis and there is no deadline for applications. The grants committee makes Grant decisions on an ad hoc basis.

How to apply for Grants

LARGE GRANTS

These are made by the Trust in a fixed seven-year cycle.

In only two years of that cycle are grants made in response to applications from external charities, and then only to charities for wildlife and environmental causes.

When Large Grants are made for wildlife and environmental causes they are typically in the £5,000 to £50,000 range.

The most recent open years for wildlife and environment grants were 2016 and 2017. Applications for 2024 have now been closed and are being considered by the Trustees.

APPLICATIONS FOR 2024 ARE NOW CLOSED

THE LARGE GRANT CYCLE

1ST YEAR
Magdalen College, Oxford

2ND YEAR
Rendcomb College, Gloucestershire

3RD & 4TH YEAR
External applications accepted for wildlife and environmental causes.
Charities or organisations dedicated to the conservation and protection of wildlife.
Charities or organisations dedicated to the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in order to promote the biodiversity of its flora and fauna.
APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED FOR LARGE GRANTS: Please refer to the website from April 2025 when we will provide further information on our large grant making programme.

5TH YEAR

The Ditchley Foundation

6TH & 7TH YEAR
Suitable charitable causes awarded at the discretion of the Trustees. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the Trustees. No external applications accepted.