Lillie Johnson Charitable Trust

The Lillie Johnson Charitable Trust, established in 1985 by trust deed, is a generalist grant-making trust administered by a board of trustees with discretion to support broad charitable purposes across England and Wales. Its core mission is to advance public benefit through donations to organizations and occasionally individuals demonstrating charitable need, drawing from investment income and property rents. With no thematic or sectoral restrictions, the trust embodies a flexible, discretionary approach guided by Charity Commission standards, emphasizing governance, risk management, and stewardship—evident in its compliant regulatory record and reserved publicity style that prioritizes trustee-led decisions over strategic plans.

It funds diverse activities, including health initiatives (e.g., Cancer Support UK), welfare, relief of need (e.g., Batten Disease Family Association), project work, core costs, and hardship support for communities or individuals, welcoming small grassroots groups to larger national charities without persistent focus on specific causes.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities based in England and Wales, with no income thresholds, religious restrictions, or size limits; unsolicited applications are not accepted, as grants arise via trustee initiative or direct approaches rather than open calls. There is no formal process, online portal, or deadlines—decisions occur on a rolling basis at trustees' discretion.

Distinctive for its unrestricted remit and lack of published guidelines, the trust avoids thematic prescriptions, capital projects without clear charitable fit, or non-compliant entities, offering flexible funding (typically several thousand to tens of thousands of pounds) to aligned causes seeking discretionary support over competitive processes.