Talisman Charitable Trust

The Talisman Charitable Trust, founded in 1936 by Baron Frederic Alfred d'Erlanger, is a longstanding UK grant-making charity dedicated to alleviating poverty and acute hardship nationwide by providing small, targeted financial support to deserving individuals of modest means and aligned charities. Its enduring mission emphasizes compassionate, practical relief where statutory aid falls short, guided by values of stewardship, empathy, non-discrimination, and discretion. With minimal overheads—no paid staff and a voluntary chief executive—the Trust maintains a hands-on, responsive approach, fostering close ties with frontline referrers for agile interventions that fill critical gaps in support systems.

It prioritizes immediate relief for personal hardships linked to health (including disabilities and medical needs), housing, education, and general destitution, funding essentials like household items, mobility aids, medical equipment, urgent repairs, educational resources for children, and emergency aid. Grants target individuals via trusted intermediaries or small-scale projects by poverty-focused charities, reflecting a belief in the transformative power of timely, modest help amid crises like illness, homelessness, or sudden vulnerability.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities, local authorities, Citizens Advice, or not-for-profits referring cases on behalf of UK residents (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland); no unsolicited applications from individuals, and statutory funds must be exhausted first. No formal income limits apply, but it favors grassroots frontline organizations. Typical grants range £800–£1,200 (averaging £1,000), for direct costs only. Applications require a detailed posted letter on headed paper with beneficiary consent, circumstances, evidence, and funding history—no online forms or email—with rolling review and decisions within four weeks.

Distinctive for its referral-only model (paying referrers directly for oversight), unwavering focus on individual destitution over broader programs, and rejection of core costs, capacity building, or unrestricted aid, the Trust embodies quiet, tradition-rooted philanthropy with proven UK-wide impact.