Dorcas Trust

The Dorcas Trust, established in 1978 and registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, is a longstanding independent grant-maker guided by a Christian ethos to advance the Christian religion, relieve poverty, and promote education. Governed by a small board of unremunerated trustees, it embodies core values of charity, compassion, and practical assistance, operating with ethical prudence, robust financial controls, and a traditional, low-profile approach—no formal website or online portal exists, favoring direct communication.

It funds a broad spectrum of aligned causes, including faith-based activities, educational initiatives, and poverty alleviation efforts for individuals, UK charities, voluntary bodies, and community groups. Support encompasses project funding, core costs, and occasional unrestricted grants, with flexibility for recreation and general charitable purposes that foster human flourishing within its thematic scope, demonstrated through diverse annual donations.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community groups based and operating in England and Wales, with a preference for small to medium-sized organizations of modest means; unsolicited applications are welcomed year-round via written letter or direct trustee contact, detailing alignment with trust objectives and including charitable status evidence. Typical grants range from £500 to £5,000 (average £1,500), decided at quarterly trustee meetings—allow up to three months for outcomes, with no fixed deadlines.

Distinctive for its quiet, values-driven stewardship and reliable support for Christian mission-aligned work, the Trust avoids capital projects, emergency relief, or activities outside England and Wales, prioritizing grassroots needs over large national bodies in a landscape of enduring, faith-rooted philanthropy.