Denman Charitable Trust
Could Denman Charitable Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £1,000 – £5,000
- Where they fund
- Bristol, Bath, North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Postal application
- Decisions
- Quarterly
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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denmancharitabletrust.org.ukAbout Denman Charitable Trust
The Denman Charitable Trust is a family-governed grant-maker that supports small, registered charities working in Bristol, Bath, North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Its mission is to strengthen grassroots organisations by providing pump-priming funding that helps them expand their activities and become more sustainable. The Trust also supports the initial stages of larger appeals for new facilities that will bring lasting benefit to the local community. This focus on small, locally-rooted organisations makes the Trust a distinctive partner for community-led change.
What Denman Charitable Trust funds
The Trust funds a broad range of causes including children and youth, older people, poverty and hardship, homelessness, criminal justice, education and skills, disability, and arts and culture. It supports pump-priming development for small charities to expand their activities into more sustainable organisations, and the initial stages of substantial appeals for new facilities that benefit the local community. All funded activities must take place within Bristol, Bath, North East Somerset or South Gloucestershire.
Who can apply
The Trust can only fund registered charities. It welcomes applications from small charities working in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The Trust does not normally support national charities, but will occasionally consider applications for their local activities or a specific project in its area. It also does not support large charities where their existing income far exceeds any likely contribution the Trust can make.
What Denman Charitable Trust doesn't fund
The Trust does not normally support national charities, though it may occasionally consider applications for their local activities or a specific project in its area. It also excludes large charities whose existing income far exceeds any likely contribution the Trust can make.
How they like to fund
The Trust provides pump-priming funding to help small charities expand their activities and become more sustainable, and also supports the initial stages of larger appeals for new facilities. It welcomes unsolicited applications.
How much does Denman Charitable Trust give?
Denman Charitable Trust runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 13 sourced facts
- Apply by letter
- 4 rounds a year
Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.
What Denman Charitable Trust funds — and what they won't
We welcome applications from small charities working in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Our areas of focus are as follows: Funding to pump prime the development of small charities set up to benefit the local community so they can expand their activities into a more sustainable organisation. Funding in the initial stages of more substantial appeals seeking to provide new facilities for the lasting benefit of the local community. Supporting small local charities who either wish to expand their activities or are having difficulty in raising funds to continue existing activities. Supporting charities working with disadvantaged children and young people. Supporting charities working with those effected by extreme poverty and/or homelessness. Supporting charities working on rehabilitation (eg prisoners, those recovering from addiction) Supporting charities working with the elderly.
The full exclusions list (2)
- We do not normally support national charities, but will occasionally consider applications for their local activities or a specific project in our area.
- We do not support large charities (national or local) where their existing income far exceeds any likely contribution we can make.
Good to know
How to apply to Denman Charitable Trust
Denman Charitable Trust takes applications via postal application.
- Published programme route: apply by letter.
- Decisions are typically quarterly.
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
How it works
- 1Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
- 2See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
- 3Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.
See if Denman Charitable Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Denman Charitable Trust provide?
Denman Charitable Trust typically provides grants of £1,000 - £5,000.
Where does Denman Charitable Trust fund charities?
Denman Charitable Trust funds charities operating in Bristol, Bath, North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire.
Does Denman Charitable Trust accept unsolicited applications?
Denman Charitable Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does Denman Charitable Trust not fund?
Their published exclusions include: We do not normally support national charities, but will occasionally consider applications for their local activities or a specific project in our area.; We do not support large charities (national or local) where their existing income far exceeds any likely contribution we can make.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from Denman Charitable Trust?
Denman Charitable Trust takes applications via postal application. Published programme route: apply by letter.
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Could Denman Charitable Trust be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.