R S Macdonald Charitable Trust

The RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, established in 1978 by Roderick Stewart Macdonald from family inheritance tied to Glenmorangie plc, advances charitable service exclusively in Scotland, upholding a legacy of philanthropy. Its mission centers on empowering beneficiary charities through targeted, impactful grants that foster community engagement, collaboration, shared learning, and lasting networks. Core values of openness, accountability, and enabling support distinguish it, extending beyond funding to build sector capacity via rigorous due diligence, expert panels, and transparency through 360Giving grant data.

The Trust funds five strategic themes: tackling child abuse and neglect, supporting visual impairment, advancing neurological conditions (e.g., MS, MND), promoting animal welfare, and medical research in these areas. It backs vulnerable groups like at-risk children, sight-loss affected individuals, neurology patients, and animals, via direct services, community support, research (often academic-led), capital projects, capacity-building, innovation, scaling, and multi-year efforts. Past grantees include RNIB Scotland, Capability Scotland, Scottish SPCA, and Freedom from Torture for child recovery.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities or academic institutions based in or operating in Scotland, delivering benefits there; no income thresholds apply, supporting small community groups to large organizations with proven governance and sustainability. Small grants (up to £20,000, rolling) and main grants (£15,000–£55,000, avg. £30,000) use an online form—phone discussion encouraged—with biannual deadlines (next: 6 March 2025, then 3 September 2025); decisions within two months. It excludes individuals, non-charities, and non-themed work, prioritizing sustainable, collaborative Scottish projects.