Ptarmigan Trust

The Ptarmigan Trust, established by trust deed on 31 May 1977, is a discretionary Scottish grant-making charity administered by trustees Francoise Stichelbaut, Kit Nicholson, and Frances Nicholson, who receive no remuneration. Its core mission is to support a broad spectrum of charitable purposes determined by trustee judgment, emphasizing public benefit without narrow thematic or regional restrictions beyond charity law. This generalist ethos prioritizes flexibility, privacy, and operational discretion over formal strategies or public-facing philosophies, distinguishing it as a trustee-led philanthropic vehicle responsive to diverse social needs.

The Trust funds general charitable purposes, education and training, overseas aid or famine relief, arts, culture, heritage or science, environment and conservation, and initiatives promoting human rights, religious or racial harmony, equality, or diversity. Primary beneficiaries include children, young people, and voluntary sector organisations, with grants supporting both individuals and groups through project work or core/unrestricted costs, reflecting a wide-ranging commitment to humanitarian, cultural, and environmental causes.

Eligible applicants must operate within Scotland, with a preference for smaller to medium-sized voluntary organisations, though no strict income thresholds or entity types are specified. Unsolicited applications are not accepted; trustees privately select and invite beneficiaries at their discretion, with no published guidelines, forms, or open rounds. Annual grant expenditure totals £68,520–£83,000, with individual awards likely in the low to mid-thousands based on comparable trusts. Decisions occur ad hoc, without deadlines or fixed meetings.

Distinctively private and non-strategic, the Trust avoids public grant lists, case studies, or thematic guidance, excluding support outside Scotland or for large national charities, positioning it ideally for invited Scottish entities seeking flexible, judgment-based funding in a trustee-driven tradition.