David and Ruth Behrend Fund

The David and Ruth Behrend Fund is a charitable trust established in 1970 and registered in England and Wales, administered by Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services as corporate trustee. Its core mission is to provide flexible grant funding for general charitable purposes, emphasizing public benefit, prudent financial stewardship, and sustained giving through capital preservation and responsible investment. Distinctively relationship-driven, it supports only charities personally known to the settlor or trustees, operating via invitation rather than open calls, which ensures alignment with founders' intent and enables responsive aid to trusted, operationally sound organizations addressing acute social needs.

The fund is generalist, backing a broad spectrum of causes including social welfare, health, food poverty, homelessness, youth support, community wellbeing, and crisis relief. Recent grantees span local initiatives like South Liverpool Foodbank, Wirral Foodbank, and St John the Evangelist Knotty Ash, alongside national entities such as Save the Children, Shelter, and Salvation Army. Grants may cover project costs, core funding, unrestricted support, emergency aid, or occasional capital needs, benefiting both small grassroots groups and larger charities.

Eligible applicants are exclusively UK-registered charities based in England and Wales, with a strong preference for those in Liverpool and Merseyside, though nationwide support occurs. No income thresholds apply, but pre-existing trustee connections are mandatory—no unsolicited applications. Typical grants range from £1,000 to £2,500, awarded at adhoc trustee meetings throughout the year without published deadlines or forms. This invitation-only model sets it apart, prioritizing vetted relationships over competitive processes and excluding unconnected entities to maintain focused, legacy-aligned impact.