Rockcliffe Charitable Trust

The Rockcliffe Charitable Trust, established in 1977 as the Simon Keswick Charitable Trust, is a family-governed UK grantmaker led by trustees Simon Lindley Keswick, Emma Bridget Keswick, and Nicholas Goodson. Operating under Charity Commission oversight with a low public profile, it channels annual income of £330,000–£500,000 into discretionary grants to advance health and save lives, support people with disabilities, relieve poverty, and protect the environment and heritage. Its distinctive approach emphasizes flexible, responsive giving to established charities delivering demonstrable impact, often via multi-year or core funding that leverages additional philanthropy, without running programs, employing staff, or owning assets.

The trust prioritizes children, young people, and disabled individuals, funding projects like Gympanzees’ Project Home, Transforming Autism Project’s ‘First Steps,’ and Disability Africa initiatives, alongside broader efforts in health, poverty alleviation, and environmental protection across health, disability, and community support themes. Grants support restricted projects, core costs, and capacity building for UK-registered charities with strong governance and delivery records.

Eligible applicants must be UK-registered charities based and operating in England or Scotland; it does not accept unsolicited applications, favoring direct written appeals or network referrals from organizations with proven impact and no strict income thresholds, though preferring small to medium-sized entities. Typical grants range from £5,000 to £50,000 (mostly £10,000–£30,000), awarded on a rolling basis at trustees' discretion with no deadlines, formal forms, or portals.

Exclusions include individuals, non-charities, and activities outside its thematic remit; its family-led model, thematic consistency, and emphasis on risk-managed, high-impact support to resilient organizations set it apart as a discreet, generalist funder committed to enduring UK charitable causes.