Richmond Trust Fund

The Richmond Trust Fund, a UK-registered charity (number 1098241) established in 2003 as a company limited by guarantee, operates from Manchester under a board of three trustees with expertise in community service. Its core mission advances general charitable purposes, emphasizing education and training, poverty prevention or relief, and religious activities to enhance societal wellbeing, opportunity, and inclusion for diverse communities. With values rooted in inclusiveness, prudent stewardship, and responsiveness to local needs, it adopts a generalist approach, flexibly supporting both immediate hardships and longer-term social advancement without rigid strategic plans.

The fund prioritizes initiatives benefiting children and young people, elderly individuals, ethnic or racial communities, and voluntary bodies, funding education projects, social welfare services, essential living costs, community engagement, faith-based activities, and poverty alleviation. Grants cover project costs, core costs, and occasional emergency aid, fostering practical interventions that improve life chances for vulnerable groups.

Eligible applicants are limited to UK-registered charities and community groups based strictly in Gateshead, Manchester City, or London, with a preference for small to medium-sized, grassroots entities. Unsolicited applications are not accepted; funding occurs on an invite-only, discretionary basis via trusted referrals or trustee-identified needs, with rolling awards from meetings held at least annually and no public deadlines or forms.

Typical grants range from £500 to £5,000, often £1,000–£2,000 for organizations or smaller sums for individuals. Distinctively generalist among urban funders, it avoids capital projects and statutory bodies, differentiating through its dual support for individuals and charities in major UK cities, prioritizing broad charitable impact over themed restrictions.