Elizabeth Cayzer Charitable Trust

The Elizabeth Cayzer Charitable Trust, established in 1996 by members of the Cayzer family, is a discreet grant-making charity dedicated to advancing the arts, heritage, and culture across the United Kingdom. Its core mission focuses on preserving and promoting the UK's artistic and architectural heritage through scholarly engagement, public access, and conservation efforts. Guided by family trustees with deep philanthropic commitment, the trust adopts a proactive, trustee-led approach, identifying and selecting high-impact projects rather than inviting open applications, distinguishing it as a targeted supporter of cultural excellence.

It prioritizes funding for visual and fine arts initiatives, including exhibitions, restoration of paintings, sculptures, and historic buildings; art historical publications; academic research; and architectural conservation. Beneficiaries are typically major national institutions such as the British Museum, National Gallery, Ashmolean Museum, Wallace Collection, Sir John Soane's Museum, and Dulwich Picture Gallery, with occasional support for films that enhance public appreciation of heritage. Grants enable capital projects, scholarly endeavors like the British Drawings at the Ashmolean, and exhibitions that safeguard cultural treasures for future generations.

Eligible applicants are limited to UK-registered charities and academic institutions based in the UK (primarily England and Wales), with a strong preference for large, established organizations delivering nationally or internationally significant work—no strict income thresholds apply. Typical grants range from £10,000 to £100,000, with annual distributions of £130,000–£350,000; funding is project-specific, not core or unrestricted. Unsolicited applications are not accepted, and there are no deadlines or public processes—trustees make ad hoc decisions at private meetings.

The trust does not support individuals, communities, or non-arts/heritage causes, setting it apart as a specialist funder for elite cultural preservation and curatorial priorities within the UK's heritage ecosystem.