Pilkington Charities Fund
About This Funder
Pilkington Charities Fund, established in 1950 by the Pilkington family—founders of the iconic St Helens glass manufacturing company—originally aimed to alleviate poverty and ill health among local communities and employees. Over decades, its mission evolved to support Merseyside organisations tackling poverty, old age, ill health, disability, and health stigma, rooted in a profound sense of local responsibility, particularly in the Liverpool City Region and St Helens. In July 2025, it transferred its £25m assets to the Community Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside as a ringfenced named fund, ensuring continuity with specialist oversight and annual distributions exceeding £800,000 to sustain its legacy of flexible, impactful philanthropy.
The fund prioritises advancing health and disability services, poverty relief, and awareness-raising initiatives that address inequalities and deliver sustainable benefits to vulnerable residents. It supports both project-specific work—such as health outreach and support for older people—and core costs like salaries, running expenses, and infrastructure, favouring organisations with proven local impact and deep community ties. Grants go to charities delivering measurable outcomes in poverty alleviation, disability support, and health empowerment across Merseyside.
Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, CICs limited by guarantee, or constituted community groups established for at least three years, with a minimum of three unrelated trustees/directors; grants are proportional to income (not exceeding 50% annually) and target activity in the Liverpool City Region (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral), prioritising St Helens. Unsolicited applications are welcomed via online form on the Community Foundation website, requiring documents like constitutions, accounts, and safeguarding policies; the next deadline is 15 August 2025, with annual panel decisions in October. Distinctively flexible on core funding unlike many restricted grantmakers, it excludes new organisations and emphasises enduring local disadvantage over capital projects.
Eligibility Checklist
Funding Details
Writing your application?
Free guides on what funders look for, common mistakes, and how to stand out
How to apply to Pilkington Charities Fund
Skip weeks of research. Write a strong application this afternoon — in your own words, with AI doing the heavy lifting.
Check your match
Describe your charity once and see how well you fit Pilkington Charities Fund's priorities — scored on location, cause, size, and 3 other factors.
Draft with your AI co-pilot
Paste the application question and word limit. The co-pilot writes a first draft using your charity's real data and this funder's criteria — not generic filler. You edit every word before it leaves.
Review, refine, submit
Every answer runs through an 8-point quality check — clear ask, funder alignment, measurable outcomes, and more. You stay in control. The AI does the drafting; you make it sound like you.
Is Pilkington Charities Fund right for your charity?
See your compatibility score and find similar funders.
Free · No credit card required
Similar Funders
Other funders with a similar profile and grant range.
Browse Related Grants
Apply to Pilkington Charities Fund
Match, draft, and review — all in one place.
Free. No credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does Pilkington Charities Fund provide?
Pilkington Charities Fund typically provides grants ranging from Up to £20,000.
Where does Pilkington Charities Fund fund charities?
Pilkington Charities Fund funds charities operating in Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool.
How do I apply for funding from Pilkington Charities Fund?
With Fundermatcher, you describe your charity once and see your compatibility score with Pilkington Charities Fund. If you're a good fit, you can start drafting your application immediately using our AI co-pilot — paste each question and word limit, and the co-pilot writes a tailored first draft using your charity's real data and Pilkington Charities Fund's priorities. You review and edit every answer before submitting.
Will funders know my application was drafted with AI?
No. The co-pilot uses your charity's real name, numbers, and impact data — not generic filler or templates. Every draft reads like it was written by someone who knows your charity inside-out, because it's built on your actual profile. You edit and refine every word before it goes anywhere, so the final application sounds like you — because it is.
Your next application could be finished today
Pilkington Charities Fund is one of 3,500+ UK funders in our database. See how well they match your charity, discover similar funders, and find the ones most likely to fund your work.
Free · No credit card required
You've explored 19 funders — let us find your best matches
Describe your charity once and we'll match you with the most relevant funders from 3,500+ UK grant-makers.