D G Charitable Settlement

The D G Charitable Settlement, established in 1994 and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, is a discreet, trustee-led foundation dedicated to advancing charitable purposes through flexible support for institutions addressing contemporary social issues. With a lean structure of two trustees—linked to figures like David Gilmour CBE and Polly Samson—and no remuneration, it embodies a responsive, high-discretion approach, empowering trustees to identify and back urgent appeals across diverse fields without rigid thematic constraints. Its mission prioritizes adaptability to evolving societal needs, fostering impact through grants to organizations rather than individuals.

It funds a broad spectrum of causes, including human rights (e.g., Amnesty International, Freedom from Torture), homelessness (Crisis), medical research (Cancer Research UK, Great Ormond Street Hospital), animal welfare (Battersea Dogs and Cats Home), justice and rehabilitation (Howard League for Penal Reform), and aid for vulnerable or marginalized groups. Support encompasses project funding, core costs, and unrestricted grants, targeting both immediate crises and longer-term welfare or reform efforts, with a track record spanning small grassroots charities to large nationals.

Eligible applicants are exclusively UK-registered charities operating in England and Wales, with no income thresholds, size limits, or religious restrictions—though unsolicited applications are not accepted. Trustees proactively invite organizations via networks, with decisions at quarterly meetings and no fixed deadlines. Typical grants range from several thousand pounds to over £50,000, scaled to urgency and need.

Distinctively, it avoids statutory bodies, individuals, or political activities, standing out for its rapid, judgment-driven responsiveness to pressing social challenges, lack of published exclusions beyond these basics, and emphasis on trustee-led flexibility over formal processes.