Johnson Family Charitable Trust
Could Johnson Family Charitable Trust be a fit? Check free — then find open funders like them if not.
- Typical grants
- £2,000 – £30,000
- Applications
- Not accepted
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.ukAbout Johnson Family Charitable Trust
The Johnson Family Charitable Trust is a private grant-making trust established in 2005, previously known as The Guy Johnson Charitable Trust and The Ladham Charitable Trust. Chaired by Guy Johnson, it operates with a lean, volunteer-supported structure and no public bureaucracy. Its core mission is to distribute funds to charitable causes entirely at the trustees' discretion, embracing a generalist approach without declared thematic priorities or guiding values. The trust deliberately maintains a low public profile, with no website or strategic plans, and favours informal, relationship-based giving over open outreach. This flexibility and hands-on style define its funding character, making it a distinctive choice for charities already connected to the trustees.
What Johnson Family Charitable Trust funds
The trust supports a wide array of general charitable purposes. It will consider both core costs and project support, and places no restrictions on sectors, beneficiaries or activities. Reflecting its generalist stance, it does not target specific causes, communities or programmes; instead, trustees use their judgement to award grants across the full spectrum of charitable work. There are no geographic limits, so UK-registered charities anywhere in the country may be considered, though in practice grants are directed to organisations with existing trustee connections. Because there are no published grant examples or programme areas, the trust's funding can best be described as flexible and responsive to whatever the trustees believe is worthwhile.
Who can apply
Only UK-registered charities are eligible, but there are no income thresholds, size requirements or restrictions on the type of charity. The trust does not prioritise any particular beneficiary group or community, and its openness to different activities means most registered charities could fit its broad criteria. However, grants are awarded exclusively to organisations with pre-existing trustee connections. Unsolicited applications are not accepted, and there are no forms, guidance or open rounds. In practice, therefore, eligibility is less about meeting published criteria and more about whether a charity already has a direct relationship with the trust's trustees.
How they like to fund
The trust makes grants at the trustees' full discretion, on an ad hoc basis. It does not run open rounds, publish guidelines or set strategic priorities, and it avoids competitive processes and measurable impact frameworks. Funding can support core costs as well as specific projects. The trust's approach is deliberately low-key and relationship-driven: it works through pre-existing trustee connections and does not invite unsolicited approaches. Charities that are already aligned with the trustees may find it a flexible and responsive funder, though it offers little public visibility into how decisions are made.
How much does Johnson Family Charitable Trust give?
Typical published range. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you would clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is the free fit check.
When to apply, and how long their decisions take.
Income, location, legal structure and exactly who they fund — matched to your charity.
Good to know
How to apply to Johnson Family Charitable Trust
Johnson Family Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation.
- A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
- If you cannot apply directly, shortlist open funders with a similar focus instead of writing into a closed door.
What you can do here
- 1Check fit. See if your project aligns with Johnson Family Charitable Trust.
- 2Find open funders. Shortlist similar funders you can approach.
- 3Save the notes. Keep the fit check if you are later invited to apply.
See if Johnson Family Charitable Trust could be a fit — then find open funders like them.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Johnson Family Charitable Trust provide?
Johnson Family Charitable Trust typically provides grants of £2,000 - £30,000.
Where does Johnson Family Charitable Trust fund charities?
Johnson Family Charitable Trust funds charities operating in the UK.
Does Johnson Family Charitable Trust accept unsolicited applications?
Johnson Family Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications.
How do I apply for funding from Johnson Family Charitable Trust?
Johnson Family Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation. A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
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