Roan Charitable Trust

The Roan Charitable Trust, established by trust deed in 2008, is a UK-based grant-making charity governed by four independent trustees, chaired by Lady Margaret Joan Jarvis, who direct funding at their discretion to advance charitable purposes worldwide, though primarily across England and the UK. Its mission emphasizes flexibility and responsiveness, enabling registered charities to drive positive social change through effective resource use, without a fixed strategic plan or thematic legacy, prioritizing trustee-assessed impact in diverse fields under UK charity law.

It funds broad priorities including education (scholarships, capacity building, research), medical research (life sciences, disease prevention/treatment), social welfare (poverty relief, support for vulnerable groups like the elderly/disadvantaged, quality-of-life improvements), and overseas development (humanitarian aid, community strengthening). Grant types encompass project funding, core costs, capacity building, capital projects, and occasional unrestricted support, targeting registered charities of all sizes demonstrating meaningful social or scientific benefits.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities with no income thresholds, geographic base restrictions, or religious limits, though grants favor UK-focused work with some international scope; unsolicited applications are not accepted—trustees proactively identify and invite recipients. Typical grants range from £2,000 to £30,000 (mostly £5,000–£25,000), decided internally at undisclosed trustee meetings without published deadlines.

Distinctively generalist with no sectoral exclusions or strict criteria, the trust differentiates through its autonomous, breadth-focused approach, supporting grassroots to established organizations via sound governance, setting it apart from issue-specific funders for charities aligning with its recurring impact-driven themes.