David Lister Charitable Trust

The David Lister Charitable Trust is an independent grant-making trust established in 2000 by David Ward Lister and trustees, governed by a small board including the founder, with a core mission to support a broad spectrum of charitable activities across England and Wales at the absolute discretion of its trustees. Embracing a traditional generalist philanthropy model, it prioritizes public benefit without publicly articulated values or issue-specific strategies, operating with minimal overhead and a "quiet giving" ethos focused on pragmatic responses to societal needs through income and occasional capital distributions.

It funds diverse causes including health, education, social welfare, disability support, and more, backing both prominent national organizations (e.g., Action for Children, National Deaf Children’s Society) and regional groups (e.g., SNAPS Yorkshire). Grants typically support core funding, projects, and organizational purposes for UK-registered charities and voluntary bodies of all sizes, from grassroots to established entities, with no demographic or thematic restrictions.

Eligibility is strictly limited to UK-registered charities based in England and Wales, with no income thresholds or special criteria beyond charitable status and public benefit alignment. Typical grants range from £1,000 to £25,000, awarded ad hoc via trustee-led decisions without deadlines, application forms, or unsolicited submissions—opportunities arise solely by trustee initiative.

Distinctive for its high discretion and lack of public guidance, the trust avoids non-charitable entities, organizations outside England and Wales, and proactive applications, differentiating it as a classic private discretionary funder ideal for established charities demonstrating broad impact rather than niche alignment.