Atherton Family Charitable Trust
Could Atherton Family Charitable Trust be a fit? Check free — then find open funders like them if not.
- Typical grants
- £5,000 – £25,000
- Applications
- Not accepted
- Decisions
- Once per year
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.ukAbout Atherton Family Charitable Trust
The Atherton Family Charitable Trust, established in 2014 by Richard and Jacqueline Atherton, is a family-run grant-making trust governed by six trustees. Its mission is to steward family philanthropy by supporting UK-registered charities that deliver notable impact in education and training, health, disability services, and arts, culture, heritage, or science. The trust takes a prudent, impact-oriented approach, prioritising worthwhile organisations often overlooked by mainstream funders. It operates with a lean, discreet governance structure without paid staff, making it a personalised, family-led generalist funder.
What Atherton Family Charitable Trust funds
The trust funds a broad range of activities across education and training, health, disability services, and arts, culture, heritage, or science. This includes schools, community arts programmes, health and disability charities, and scientific or heritage institutions. It supports both national and local charities with robust governance and track records, operating UK-wide with no regional restrictions. The trust focuses on direct service delivery, project costs, core funding, and occasional capacity building.
Who can apply
Eligibility is strictly limited to UK-registered charities. The trust supports organisations that deliver notable impact in its focus areas, with beneficiaries including children, young people, people with disabilities, and the general public. It favours small to medium-sized organisations without formal income thresholds. Unsolicited applications are not accepted; grants are awarded at trustees' discretion following annual meetings.
What Atherton Family Charitable Trust doesn't fund
The trust does not have rigid exclusions or religious restrictions. It avoids narrow sub-focuses like specific diseases, instead supporting a generalist range of activities across its themes.
How they like to fund
The trust awards grants at trustees' discretion following annual meetings. It provides project costs, core funding, and occasional capacity building. Unsolicited applications are not accepted; the trust operates by invitation only.
How much does Atherton Family Charitable Trust give?
Typical published range. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you would clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is the free fit check.
When to apply, and how long their decisions take.
Income, location, legal structure and exactly who they fund — matched to your charity.
Good to know
How to apply to Atherton Family Charitable Trust
Atherton Family Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation.
- A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
- If you cannot apply directly, shortlist open funders with a similar focus instead of writing into a closed door.
- Decisions are typically once per year.
What you can do here
- 1Check fit. See if your project aligns with Atherton Family Charitable Trust.
- 2Find open funders. Shortlist similar funders you can approach.
- 3Save the notes. Keep the fit check if you are later invited to apply.
See if Atherton Family Charitable Trust could be a fit — then find open funders like them.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Atherton Family Charitable Trust provide?
Atherton Family Charitable Trust typically provides grants of £5,000 - £25,000.
Where does Atherton Family Charitable Trust fund charities?
Atherton Family Charitable Trust funds charities operating in the UK.
Does Atherton Family Charitable Trust accept unsolicited applications?
Atherton Family Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications.
How do I apply for funding from Atherton Family Charitable Trust?
Atherton Family Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation. A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
Similar funders
Other UK funders with overlapping focus — not a claim they fund the same charities.
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