Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust
Could Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust be a fit? Check free — then find open funders like them if not.
- Typical grants
- £10,000 – £75,000
- Applications
- Not accepted
- Decisions
- As needed
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.ukAbout Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust
The Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust, established by trust deed in 1952, is a family-led UK charitable trust chaired by Alastair Reginald Macdonald-Buchanan, with trustees drawn from Macdonald-Buchanan and Lascelles family connections. Its core mission is to apply income and capital at trustees' discretion for broad charitable purposes, supporting UK and potentially international charities through a generalist, flexible approach. Emphasising integrity, prudent stewardship, robust risk management, and independent investment oversight, the trust prioritises impactful grants to fewer, well-governed organisations at higher levels, maintaining financial sustainability amid a deliberately unrestricted mandate unchanged since inception.
What Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust funds
The trust funds diverse causes without thematic limits, including medical research, health and wellbeing, education, food poverty, heritage, and charitable infrastructure. Beneficiaries encompass young people, those with health conditions, and communities in need, with unrestricted support for core costs, projects, or capital via one-off grants to established charities demonstrating strong governance. Grants are typically made to organisations operating UK-wide, with rare international grants considered.
Who can apply
Exclusively for UK-registered charities operating UK-wide, with rare international grants, the trust prefers medium-to-large organisations over grassroots or small entities, with no income thresholds but a clear aversion to unsolicited applications. Beneficiaries include young people, those with health conditions, and communities in need, as noted above. Organisations must demonstrate strong governance to be considered.
What Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust doesn't fund
The trust does not accept unsolicited applications and avoids multi-year pledges. It prefers not to fund grassroots or very small organisations, focusing instead on medium-to-large, well-established charities. International grants are rare.
How they like to fund
Grants are awarded discretionarily through a closed process—approaches must come via trustee invitation. The trust provides one-off grants for core costs, projects, or capital, and does not typically make multi-year commitments. Funding is unrestricted, allowing charities flexibility in use.
How much does Macdonald-Buchanan 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 Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust
Macdonald-Buchanan 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.
- Decisions are typically as needed.
What you can do here
- 1Check fit. See if your project aligns with Macdonald-Buchanan 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 Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust could be a fit — then find open funders like them.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust provide?
Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust typically provides grants of £10,000 - £75,000.
Where does Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust fund charities?
Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust funds charities operating in the UK.
Does Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust accept unsolicited applications?
Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications.
How do I apply for funding from Macdonald-Buchanan Charitable Trust?
Macdonald-Buchanan 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.
Similar funders
Other UK funders with overlapping focus — not a claim they fund the same charities.
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