Jessie Spencer Trust

The Jessie Spencer Trust, established in 1962 by Jessie Spencer of Linby, Nottinghamshire, in memory of her husband Arthur and inspired by her family's philanthropic legacy, serves as a flexible general charitable funder. With a small board of five trustees and no paid staff, it emphasizes trust, minimal bureaucracy, and trustees' absolute discretion to support impactful grassroots initiatives in the East Midlands, particularly Nottinghamshire. Its distinctive approach prioritizes small local organizations where a medium-sized grant can act as a catalyst for sustainability, favoring those with strong volunteer support and modest resources that struggle to secure larger funding.

The Trust funds a broad range of charitable purposes benefiting vulnerable people and communities, including respite care, health conditions like epilepsy, education, support for children and families, and community-based projects. Grants cover project work, core costs, or capital items, focusing on locally rooted efforts delivering meaningful public benefit.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities or CICs operating in Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands, with a preference for small grassroots groups without formal income limits. Applications are accepted unsolicited via an online form on a rolling basis, reviewed at quarterly trustee meetings (decisions typically within 1-4 months). Typical grants range from £2,000 to £10,000, often around £5,000 for small projects.

It excludes funding for individuals, non-UK charities, endowments, loans, business finance, sponsorships, or fundraising events, standing out as a responsive, regionally committed generalist that empowers overlooked small-scale charities through low-overhead, high-impact support.