W E Dunn Trust

The W E Dunn Trust, a long-established charitable trust registered in England and Wales since 1964 (charity number 219418) and based in Solihull, West Midlands, operates with a broad generalist mission to make discretionary grants for the benefit of charitable institutions, voluntary organisations, community groups, and individuals in need. Guided by trustee stewardship, governance, and safeguarding principles, it embodies a flexible, responsive ethos prioritising local community welfare without rigid strategic plans, focusing on grass-roots efforts at the margins of statutory provision.

It funds diverse themes including children and young people, older adults, education, training and employment, health advancement, amateur sport, arts, culture, heritage, science, and general charitable purposes. Supported activities encompass direct service delivery, core costs, welfare relief, and community development, with recent examples like grants to Beyond the Horizon for children's mental health.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community groups based in the West Midlands, specifically Birmingham, Solihull, Warwickshire, and adjacent areas, with a preference for smaller organisations (typically under £1m annual income). Unsolicited applications are not accepted; funding is invite-only at trustees' absolute discretion.

Grants are small, one-off awards ranging from £1,000 to £5,000 (averaging £1,500–£3,000), unrestricted or project-specific, without public deadlines, application forms, or cycles—decisions are ad hoc. Distinctively non-bureaucratic, it avoids capital or multi-year projects, differentiating itself through quiet, impactful support for immediate local needs in a trustee-led, low-overhead model ideal for modest Midlands charities seeking flexible aid.