Henry C. Hoare Charitable Trust

The Henry C. Hoare Charitable Trust, established in 2001 by Henry Cadogan Hoare and Hoare Trustees, embodied centuries of the Hoare family's philanthropic legacy, formalizing support for UK charitable work benefiting the general public. Guided by values of prudent stewardship, social responsibility, and effective fund use, it operated as a rare generalist funder with trustee discretion, flexibly addressing evolving needs without fixed themes. In April 2025, the trust closed after transferring all assets, including its endowment, to The Master Charitable Trust (charity no. 1139904), a donor-advised platform enhancing family giving flexibility; it is now removed from the Charity Commission register.

Historically, it funded a broad spectrum of public benefit activities, including health, education, social welfare, and community development, via project funding, core costs, and unrestricted grants to UK charities—prioritizing those demonstrating robust governance and impact, with no commitments to specific causes or groups.

Eligible entities were UK-registered charities of small to medium size (typically under £1 million income), with national geographic scope and no religious restrictions; individuals received minimal support. Typical grants ranged £1,000–£10,000 (mostly £2,000–£5,000, occasionally up to £25,000).

No longer accepting applications—unsolicited or otherwise—the trust made rolling decisions at periodic trustee meetings pre-closure. Seek funding via donor recommendation or invitation through The Master Charitable Trust, which supports similar flexible, UK/international grants. Distinctively generalist among family trusts, it avoided thematic sharpness, emphasizing responsive, legacy-driven public benefit over modern cause-specific focuses.