Caledon Trust
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- Applications
- Not accepted
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.ukAbout Caledon Trust
The Caledon Trust is an unincorporated charitable trust established in 1965, with professional corporate trustees. It operates discreetly, without a public website, and describes its ethos as responsible stewardship focused on enduring public benefit. The trust's core mission spans education and training, poverty relief, disability support and religious activities, with an emphasis on continuity rather than innovation. It funds both projects and core costs for established charities and voluntary bodies, alongside welfare grants for individuals facing hardship. Priorities include faith-based initiatives, disability services, elderly support, poverty alleviation and educational opportunities. After more than five decades, the trust remains a quiet, reliable source of support for traditional charitable causes across England and Wales.
What Caledon Trust funds
The trust's grants are spread across England and Wales, with a consistent focus on traditional charitable causes at the intersection of need and faith communities. Cause areas include education and training, poverty relief, disability support and religious activities, with particular attention to church-operated programmes, disability services, elderly support and poverty alleviation. Funding can cover project costs or core running costs for established charities and voluntary bodies, and the trust also makes welfare grants directly to individuals in hardship. The overall picture is one of steady, dependable support for proven and conventional interventions, benefiting disadvantaged people, the elderly and disabled individuals, rather than new or experimental approaches.
Who can apply
Applicants must be UK-registered charities, with the trust also open to established voluntary bodies and community groups. In practice, it favours well-established entities that are already known to the trustees, rather than those approaching cold. There are no income thresholds and no religious restrictions, so both secular and faith-based organisations are eligible. The people ultimately supported include disadvantaged individuals, older people and disabled people, across England and Wales.
What Caledon Trust doesn't fund
Outside its chosen themes, the trust does not fund grassroots startups, innovation or capacity-building. It also does not accept unsolicited applications, meaning organisations cannot simply apply cold; trustees only consider entities that are already known to them. Support is reserved for proven, traditional interventions rather than experimental or developmental work.
How they like to fund
The trust operates as a highly private funder, with no public website and no open application route. It does not accept unsolicited applications and instead supports organisations already known to the trustees. Grants may fund both projects and core costs, and the trust also provides welfare grants to individuals in hardship, reflecting its relationship-based approach to stewardship.
How much does Caledon Trust give?
Published grant sizes vary. A free fit check matches Caledon Trust’s current criteria to your charity — so you know if it’s worth applying.
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 Caledon Trust
Caledon 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.
What you can do here
- 1Check fit. See if your project aligns with Caledon Trust.
- 2Find open funders. Shortlist similar funders you can approach.
- 3Save the notes. Keep the fit check if you are later invited to apply.
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Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Caledon Trust provide?
Grant amounts vary. Contact Caledon Trust directly for current funding levels.
Where does Caledon Trust fund charities?
Caledon Trust funds charities operating in the UK.
Does Caledon Trust accept unsolicited applications?
Caledon Trust does not accept unsolicited applications.
How do I apply for funding from Caledon Trust?
Caledon 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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