Will Charitable Trust

Could Will Charitable Trust be a fit? Check free — then find open funders like them if not.

Typical grants: £3,000 – £30,000
Applications: Not accepted

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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willcharitabletrust.org.uk

About Will Charitable Trust

The Will Charitable Trust, established in 1990 by the Will family, is a UK grant-making charity focused on improving the lives of people affected by blindness, cancer, and learning disabilities. Guided by compassion, lifelong dignity, and personalised care, the Trust emphasises evidence-driven funding for substantive, long-term outcomes in social care. It regularly reviews its programmes to ensure relevance and impact, valuing transformational projects over transactional aid. The Trust operates with a disciplined, thematic focus, committed to high-quality, beneficiary-engaged impact. This approach distinguishes it as a funder that prioritises meaningful change through targeted support for specialist charities.

What Will Charitable Trust funds

The Trust funds holistic care and services for cancer patients and their families, extending beyond clinical treatment to include emotional and practical support. For blind people, it supports prevention, cure, rehabilitation, and independence initiatives such as resource centres. For people with learning disabilities, it funds lifelong care in family-like, self-directed environments. Supported activities include direct services, capital projects, innovation, and independent living schemes, all delivered by specialist charities. The Trust operates UK-wide with no regional limits, and its funding is unrestricted by religious context. It focuses on three core themes: blindness, cancer, and learning disabilities, supporting work that aligns with these areas.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities. The Trust prefers to support small to medium-sized specialist organisations that deliver direct services within its three core themes. There are no regional limits or religious restrictions. Beneficiary groups are people affected by blindness, cancer, and learning disabilities. The Trust seeks organisations that can demonstrate a clear focus on these areas and a commitment to high-quality, beneficiary-engaged impact.

What Will Charitable Trust doesn't fund

The Trust does not fund unrestricted general charitable appeals or activities outside its three core themes of blindness, cancer, and learning disabilities. It also does not support organisations that are not UK-registered charities, and it will not fund work that is not directly aligned with these thematic areas.

How they like to fund

The Trust funds projects, capital costs, innovation, and independent living schemes, with emphasis on evidence-driven, long-term outcomes. It prefers to support substantive work that transforms lives rather than transactional aid. The Trust does not accept unsolicited applications; it works by invitation.

How much does Will Charitable Trust give?

£3,000 – £30,000

Typical published range. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you would clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is the free fit check.

Deadlines & timelines

When to apply, and how long their decisions take.

Your specific fit

Income, location, legal structure and exactly who they fund — matched to your charity.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

DisabilityHealth

How to apply to Will Charitable Trust

Will Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation.

A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
If you cannot apply directly, shortlist open funders with a similar focus instead of writing into a closed door.

What you can do here

1
Check fit. See if your project aligns with Will Charitable Trust.
2
Find open funders. Shortlist similar funders you can approach.
3
Save the notes. Keep the fit check if you are later invited to apply.

See if Will Charitable Trust could be a fit — then find open funders like them.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Will Charitable Trust provide?

Will Charitable Trust typically provides grants of £3,000 - £30,000.

Where does Will Charitable Trust fund charities?

Will Charitable Trust funds charities operating in the UK.

Does Will Charitable Trust accept unsolicited applications?

Will Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications.

How do I apply for funding from Will Charitable Trust?

Will Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation. A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.