Nisbet Trust

Could Nisbet Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £5,000 – £30,000
Where they fund: Greater Bristol
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Two-stage application
Decisions: Quarterly

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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nisbettrust.co.uk

About Nisbet Trust

The Nisbet Trust is an independent grant-making charity established in 2011 by the Nisbet family, with strong roots in the Greater Bristol area. Its mission is to tackle local disadvantage, reduce inequity, and enhance opportunities for vulnerable groups by strengthening community infrastructure. The Trust favours a place-based, responsive approach and a lean family-led governance structure, emphasising targeted investments that yield tangible social impact. It supports registered charities, exempt charities, and Community Interest Companies (CICs) working within Greater Bristol.

What Nisbet Trust funds

The Trust prioritises projects that support disadvantaged children and young people to gain skills for life and work, as well as initiatives promoting community cohesion, homelessness prevention through advice and guidance, and arts programmes that boost participation for underserved youth. Funding can cover project costs, core costs, and capital works, with both single-year and multi-year grants available. Beneficiaries include children, young people, homeless individuals, and disabled people. All funded work must benefit communities in Greater Bristol.

Who can apply

Applicants must be a Registered Charity, exempt charity, or Community Interest Company. The Trust prioritises organisations and projects supporting disadvantaged young people, homeless people, and disabled people. Small and medium-sized local organisations are preferred, though larger capital grants are considered. CICs whose core business model is substantially grant-reliant are unlikely to be successful.

What Nisbet Trust doesn't fund

The Trust does not fund physical health or animal welfare causes, and it excludes sponsorship. It also will not support CICs whose core business model is substantially grant-reliant. National or non-local work is not funded, as the focus is exclusively on activities benefiting Greater Bristol communities.

How they like to fund

The Trust offers both single-year and multi-year grants, with applications able to request funding for up to three years. Funding can support project delivery, core costs, and capital works. The Trust welcomes unsolicited applications from eligible organisations.

How much does Nisbet Trust give?

Nisbet Trust runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

£5,000 – £30,000

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 19 sourced facts

Nisbet Trust GrantsOpen to applications

Two-stage process
4 rounds a year
Multi-year funding

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Nisbet Trust funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

Children and Young People: prioritising organisations and projects which support disadvantaged young people to gain skills for life and work. The Arts: supporting performance venues and activities for disadvantaged children and young people. Prevention of Homelessness: including support for organisations who provide advice and guidance to people at risk of losing their homes. Community Cohesion: projects which support equality, diversity and social inclusion for high need groups from all communities in the city.

Where they fund

Greater Bristol

Costs they'll cover

Core costsProject deliveryCapital works & buildings

They don't fund

Physical healthAnimalsIndividuals

The full exclusions list (2)

Sponsorship
CICs whose core business model is substantially grant-reliant are unlikely to be successful

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Children & youthEducationCommunityHomelessnessArts & culture

How to apply to Nisbet Trust

Nisbet Trust takes applications via two-stage application.

Published programme route: two-stage process.
Decisions are typically quarterly.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Nisbet Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Nisbet Trust provide?

Nisbet Trust typically provides grants of £5,000 - £30,000.

Where does Nisbet Trust fund charities?

Nisbet Trust funds charities operating in Greater Bristol.

Does Nisbet Trust accept unsolicited applications?

Nisbet Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Nisbet Trust not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Sponsorship; CICs whose core business model is substantially grant-reliant are unlikely to be successful. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Nisbet Trust?

Nisbet Trust takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: two-stage process.