Colefax Charitable Trust

Could Colefax Charitable Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants
£1,000 – £2,000
Where they fund
Swindon, Wiltshire, South West
Applications
Accepted
How to apply
Email application
Decisions
Bi annually

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk

About Colefax Charitable Trust

The Colefax Charitable Trust, established in 1993, is a trustee-led discretionary funder supporting registered UK charities, hospitals, and schools. Guided by public benefit principles and prudent stewardship of an enduring endowment, the Trust values sustainability, long-term impact, and flexible support. It favours unrestricted core funding, capacity building, and project support to strengthen direct service delivery and institutional resilience, without rigid strategies. As a generalist funder, it supports a wide range of charitable purposes, with a distinct preference for communities in Wiltshire and the South West.

What Colefax Charitable Trust funds

The Trust funds healthcare services in hospitals for complex health needs and physical disabilities; education in schools for children and young people, including SEND provision, after-school clubs, and skills training; arts, culture, and heritage initiatives, including creative and therapeutic activities that combat social isolation; science and research projects; and community development for local groups tackling poverty, family support, carer respite, youth employment, elderly wellbeing, and social cohesion. Interventions emphasise direct service delivery, preventative community-led approaches, and capacity strengthening. The Trust favours Wiltshire and South West communities, including rural families and Swindon-area residents facing hardship, with occasional UK-wide reach for high-public-benefit causes.

Who can apply

Registered UK charities, hospitals, and schools may apply. The Trust prefers established charities with measurable impact and a focus on direct service delivery. Priority is given to organisations serving communities in Wiltshire and the South West, including rural families and those facing hardship in the Swindon area. There is no religious restriction on applicants.

What Colefax Charitable Trust doesn't fund

The Trust does not fund individuals, statutory bodies, or capital-heavy projects without operational impact. It also does not support duplicative services or national entities lacking local ties.

How they like to fund

The Trust provides unrestricted core funding, capacity building, and project support. It favours flexible support to strengthen direct service delivery and institutional resilience. Unsolicited applications are accepted.

How much does Colefax Charitable Trust give?

£1,000 – £2,000

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.

Deadlines & timelines

When to apply, and how long their decisions take.

Your specific fit

Income, location, legal structure and exactly who they fund — matched to your charity.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction
Focus areas
HealthEducationArts & cultureCommunityDisability

How to apply to Colefax Charitable Trust

Colefax Charitable Trust takes applications via email application.

  • Decisions are typically bi annually.
  • Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

How it works

  1. 1
    Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
  2. 2
    See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
  3. 3
    Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Colefax Charitable Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Colefax Charitable Trust on the charity register

Registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales as COLEFAX CHARITABLE TRUST, charity number 1017285.

Latest annual income
£464,338
Latest annual spending
£329,790
Financial year end
April 2025

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Colefax Charitable Trust provide?

Colefax Charitable Trust typically provides grants of £1,000 - £2,000.

Where does Colefax Charitable Trust fund charities?

Colefax Charitable Trust funds charities operating in Swindon, Wiltshire, South West.

Does Colefax Charitable Trust accept unsolicited applications?

Colefax Charitable Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

How do I apply for funding from Colefax Charitable Trust?

Colefax Charitable Trust takes applications via email application. Decisions are typically bi annually.

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Could Colefax Charitable Trust be a fit?

Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.