Jessie Spencer Trust

The Trust funds a wide range of charitable activities that benefit people in the East Midlands. This includes projects in health, education, youth, and community development, as long as these are not the statutory responsibility of local authorities. Grants can support project costs, core costs, or capital items. The Trust prioritises organisations where the amount of its grant makes a difference, such as small organisations unlikely to have access to similar amounts of funding, and those with significant volunteer support. All work must take place in or benefit people in the East Midlands region.

Registered charities and community interest companies operating in the East Midlands are eligible to apply. The Trust particularly welcomes applications from small, locally rooted organisations that have strong volunteer support and may find it difficult to access larger grants. It does not fund individuals. The Trust prefers to support groups where its grant can make a tangible difference, and it values organisations that are embedded in their communities.

The Trust does not fund individuals, endowment appeals, loans or business finance, sponsorship or marketing appeals, fundraising events, or campaigning work. It also excludes projects that are the responsibility of local health or education authorities, activities that have already taken place, and general or mail shot appeals.

The Trust offers multi-year grants, providing a regular income over several years to help organisations plan projects. It supports project costs, core costs, and capital items. The Trust welcomes unsolicited applications and is known for its trust-based approach with minimal bureaucracy. It aims to make a difference for small organisations that may not have access to similar grant amounts.