Mrs L D Rope's Second Charitable Settlement

Mrs L D Rope's Second Charitable Settlement is a Suffolk-based grantmaking charity established in 1978 to perpetuate the philanthropic legacy of Mrs L D Rope, emphasizing generosity, compassion, and community support for wide-ranging public benefit. Rooted in the founder's values, it operates as a responsive, generalist funder with a strong local focus, prioritizing Suffolk communities while drawing on trustees' intimate knowledge of needs to deliver flexible, impactful grants to both organizations and individuals in exceptional circumstances.

It supports general charitable purposes, poverty relief, religious and pastoral activities, children and young people, elderly individuals, people with disabilities, and voluntary bodies. Funding covers project grants, core costs, emergency relief, welfare initiatives, disability support, community projects, educational efforts, and occasional research sponsorship, favoring service delivery and running costs over capital builds.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities and community groups, with a preference for small to medium-sized, established local organizations; large national charities are excluded. While primarily targeting Ipswich and south-east Suffolk (East Suffolk, Babergh, Mid Suffolk), some UK-wide organizational grants are possible, though individual and school support is strictly local. No strict income thresholds apply, but grassroots groups are favored.

Typical grants range from £1,000 to £5,000 (often £3,000–£4,000), occasionally higher for urgent needs. Unsolicited applications are accepted on a rolling basis via an online portal—requiring initial registration for access—with prompt trustee responses in weeks. Distinctives include discretion for personally known individuals, no fixed deadlines, exclusion of arts, animal welfare, new overseas projects, and capital via unsolicited apps, setting it apart as a regionally anchored, trustee-led trust blending institutional and personal aid.