Nisbet Trust

The Nisbet Trust is an independent grant-making charity established in 2011 by the Nisbet family, with roots in Greater Bristol through Andrew Nisbet's business and personal ties. Its mission centers on tackling local disadvantage, reducing inequity, and enhancing opportunities for vulnerable groups by strengthening community infrastructure. Guided by a place-based, responsive strategy and a lean family-led governance structure, the Trust emphasizes targeted investments yielding tangible social impact, having awarded over £14 million since inception to foster skill development, inclusion, and resilience in Bristol.

It prioritizes projects supporting disadvantaged children and young people with life and work skills; initiatives promoting community cohesion; homelessness prevention through advice and guidance; and arts programs boosting participation for underserved youth. Funding covers project costs, core costs (in reasonable proportions), and capital projects, with both single-year and multi-year grants (up to three years) to enable organizational stability and sustained outcomes.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities, exempt charities, and CICs (requiring 3+ years operation, £50,000+ annual income, and 25%+ from trading), focusing exclusively on activities benefiting Greater Bristol communities—no national or non-local work. Small/medium local organizations are preferred, though larger capital grants are considered.

Grants typically range from £5,000 to £30,000 (small: up to £10,000; medium: £10,001–£30,000), with multi-year up to £30,000 annually. Unsolicited applications start with a brief email EOI to the Director; fitting proposals advance to full forms with budgets and safeguarding policies. Quarterly deadlines are 12 December 2025, 13 March 2026, 12 June 2026, and 18 September 2026 (5pm), with trustee meetings end-January, April, July, October, and decisions within two months. Distinctive for its tight thematic boundaries and aversion to generalist funding, it excludes non-Bristol work, prioritizing direct, community-facing impact over broad or unrelated causes.