Harry Bottom Charitable Trust

The Harry Bottom Charitable Trust, founded by Harry Bottom on 7 October 1960, is a longstanding Sheffield-based grant-maker governed by its original trust deed and overseen by trustees connected to local institutions like the University of Sheffield and the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire. Its core mission advances religion, relieves the aged, sick, and poor, promotes education, supports chronic disease sufferers and research into their causes/cures, and funds other charitable purposes at trustees' discretion. Emphasizing community enhancement and tangible social impact in the Greater Sheffield region (Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, North East Derbyshire, and adjacent South Yorkshire areas), the trust values flexibility, local responsiveness, and balanced stewardship of its investment portfolio, distributing over £150,000 annually without rigid strategic themes.

It funds religious activities (e.g., churches, faith-based work), medical initiatives (healthcare, chronic disease research/relief), educational efforts (schools, bursaries), and broader community causes via project, core costs, unrestricted, or capital grants. Preference goes to organizations demonstrating clear local benefit, supporting people/communities across all sizes—from grassroots groups to large institutions—without income thresholds.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities and academic institutions, with no geographic base restriction but strong priority for the specified region; unsolicited applications are welcomed via email or post. Typical grants range £1,000–£20,000 (most £5,000–£10,000), considered on a rolling basis at quarterly trustee meetings (March, June, September, December)—submit at least four weeks prior with a detailed letter, charitable status proof, and alignment evidence; decisions follow shortly after.

Distinctively flexible and generalist, it avoids narrow criteria or exclusions (no religious limits), prioritizing trustee-led, community-driven impact over thematic silos, setting it apart as a traditional yet adaptive regional supporter.