Sir Jeremiah Colman Gift Trust

The Trust supports a wide range of causes, including education, arts and heritage, health and disability, poverty relief, Christian outreach, environmental conservation, and public welfare. Its grants may cover core costs, projects, or general purposes, giving charities flexibility in how they use the funds. While the Trust has historical ties to Hampshire, its remit is national, and it supports UK-registered charities across the country. Its breadth is illustrated by work in areas such as maritime welfare, family support, fostering, adaptive technology, and disability services, reflecting the trustees' discretionary interests rather than a fixed programme.

UK-registered charities, including constituted community groups, are the Trust's primary applicants, and no income threshold is applied. The Trust's reach is national, with historical ties to Hampshire not limiting where charities are based. It does not prioritise specific beneficiary groups, instead responding to the needs addressed by each charity and favouring those with proven impact and sustained missions, especially where there are existing Colman connections or clear alignment with the Trust's historic themes.

The Trust maintains no rigid list of exclusions. Its only stated limit is that it funds charitable activities; non-charitable purposes fall outside its remit. It may decline work that falls outside its broad themes, but its discretionary approach means exclusions are assessed case by case rather than set in advance.

The Trust works by invitation rather than open application. Grants are made at the trustees' discretion, often through referrals and established relationships, and can support core costs, projects, or general purposes. It values enduring partnerships and sustained missions, tending to favour charities with a lasting commitment to their field over those competing through formal processes. The Trust distributes capital and income annually, sustaining its endowment for long-term giving.