Mansfield Building Society Charitable Trust

The Mansfield Building Society Charitable Trust, established in 2015 with an initial gift from Mansfield Building Society, is a community-rooted funder dedicated to enhancing social wellbeing and environmental sustainability in its Heartland counties of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Governed by independent trustees and Society employees, it embodies values of integrity, transparency, local responsiveness, and community investment, channeling funds from Community Saver Accounts to deliver lasting legacies through grants totaling around £95,000 annually. Its mission prioritizes underserved populations—such as older people, those with disabilities, and young people—via projects that foster inclusion, build capacity, and strengthen community resilience, alongside environmental initiatives.

The Trust supports charitable organizations and community groups with project funding and small-scale capital grants through its Charitable Trust Fund for larger awards and Community Support Scheme for modest interventions that create measurable local impact, exemplified by past grantees like Portland College for disability training and Unanima Theatre for community arts.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community groups operating exclusively in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, with a preference for small to medium-sized grassroots entities and no strict income thresholds. Applications start with an Expression of Interest (EOI) email detailing the organization and project; suitable ones receive a full form. Rolling submissions are assessed at panel meetings roughly three times yearly, with typical grants of £100–£1,000 (often £250+), and decisions within weeks to months.

Exclusions include individuals, core running costs, political or religious promotion, animal charities, commercial ventures, and event sponsorships. Distinctively, its bureaucracy-light, responsive model ties philanthropy directly to local savers, ensuring practical, high-impact support without national scope or restrictive agendas.