Civil Liberties Trust
About This Funder
The Civil Liberties Trust, established in 1993 as a registered UK charity, serves as a dedicated funding vehicle to advance human rights and civil liberties primarily in England and Wales, with occasional UK-wide reach. Created to support the charitable arm of Liberty (the National Council for Civil Liberties), it enables Liberty's political campaigning while confining itself to lawful charitable activities like research, policy work, litigation, education, and legal advice. Its mission is to foster a society where rights are universally respected, emphasizing equality, rule of law, access to justice, and protection for the vulnerable through evidence-based efforts that eliminate infringements and drive systemic reform.
The Trust funds high-impact work addressing privacy and surveillance, freedom of expression, protest rights, equality and anti-discrimination, criminal justice, policing, immigration and detention, data protection, and challenges to unjust laws. It prioritizes beneficiaries at high risk—migrants, detainees, protesters, minority communities, and those facing discrimination or justice barriers—via strategic litigation (e.g., against mass surveillance or indefinite detention), research reports, public legal education, and advice services, all commissioned mainly through Liberty for broad national influence.
Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, though the Trust does not accept unsolicited applications and principally funds Liberty; rare exceptions require prior phone enquiry and Board review for work aligning closely with its mission that Liberty cannot undertake. No income thresholds are specified, but support targets established organizations delivering structural change. Typical grants are around £60,000 annually (e.g., £120,000 over two years recently), awarded via strategic/core commissioning with annual Board reviews in July and no fixed deadlines.
Distinctively, it offers no open rounds, project/capital/unrestricted grants, or funding outside Liberty-aligned strands, focusing exclusively on charitable public-benefit activities for lasting policy and legal impact rather than general sector support.
Eligibility Checklist
Funding Details
Writing your application?
Free guides on what funders look for, common mistakes, and how to stand out
How to apply to Civil Liberties Trust
Skip weeks of research. Write a strong application this afternoon — in your own words, with AI doing the heavy lifting.
Check your match
Describe your charity once and see how well you fit Civil Liberties Trust's priorities — scored on location, cause, size, and 3 other factors.
Draft with your AI co-pilot
Paste the application question and word limit. The co-pilot writes a first draft using your charity's real data and this funder's criteria — not generic filler. You edit every word before it leaves.
Review, refine, submit
Every answer runs through an 8-point quality check — clear ask, funder alignment, measurable outcomes, and more. You stay in control. The AI does the drafting; you make it sound like you.
Is Civil Liberties Trust right for your charity?
See your compatibility score and find similar funders.
Free · No credit card required
Similar Funders
Other funders with a similar profile and grant range.
Browse Related Grants
Apply to Civil Liberties Trust
Match, draft, and review — all in one place.
Free. No credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does Civil Liberties Trust provide?
Grant amounts vary. Contact Civil Liberties Trust directly for current funding levels.
Where does Civil Liberties Trust fund charities?
Civil Liberties Trust funds charities operating in UK.
How do I apply for funding from Civil Liberties Trust?
With Fundermatcher, you describe your charity once and see your compatibility score with Civil Liberties Trust. If you're a good fit, you can start drafting your application immediately using our AI co-pilot — paste each question and word limit, and the co-pilot writes a tailored first draft using your charity's real data and Civil Liberties Trust's priorities. You review and edit every answer before submitting.
Will funders know my application was drafted with AI?
No. The co-pilot uses your charity's real name, numbers, and impact data — not generic filler or templates. Every draft reads like it was written by someone who knows your charity inside-out, because it's built on your actual profile. You edit and refine every word before it goes anywhere, so the final application sounds like you — because it is.
Your next application could be finished today
Civil Liberties Trust is one of 3,500+ UK funders in our database. See how well they match your charity, discover similar funders, and find the ones most likely to fund your work.
Free · No credit card required
You've explored 9 funders — let us find your best matches
Describe your charity once and we'll match you with the most relevant funders from 3,500+ UK grant-makers.