New Trusts: Where are they now?

The research team at DSC have also been exploring the hundreds of budding new grant-making charities for the new edition of The Guide to New Trusts.  

With each new trust comes new opportunities, not just for funding but for establishing relationships that could eventually blossom into valuable partnerships which may help you to support your beneficiaries for years to come. 

In fact, connecting with a new grant maker in its early years can be an incredibly beneficial strategy to explore. Often, newly established trusts are actively seeking organisations to establish long-term partnerships with to help them carry out their charitable purposes. Long-term partnerships offer benefits for both parties, such as flexible relationships, a deeper understanding of projects and, of course, reduced fundraising costs!  

The other great thing about new trusts is their potential to bloom into substantial and impactful grant-makers. Last year, we brought you some incredible examples of new trusts that have gone on to do great work. The list is ever-growing, but here are four more examples of new trusts that have already made an impact: 

The McCarthy Stone Foundation 

Featured in the 10th edition of the Guide to New Trusts back in 2021, The McCarthy Stone Foundation was launched by McCarthy and Stone, a UK-based developer and manager of retirement communities. Established as a vehicle to drive the company’s charitable giving, the foundation planned to support local and national charities across the UK in aid of its charitable outcomes – the health and well-being of older people, young people in education, and enhancing community spaces. It has already begun working with national literacy charity Coram Beanstalk and The Royal Voluntary Service.  

In its first full year, the foundation worked with 40 organisations providing nearly £90,000 in grants, which its annual report notes were double the initial target! It has also supported several organisations with volunteering and fundraising. Now the foundation runs several grant programmes throughout the year, supporting grassroots community-based charities and other organisations. 

The John MacLeod Charitable Trust 

Also featured in the 10th edition of The Guide to New Trusts was The John MacLeod Charitable Trust. At the time, we noted it had been established to provide grants to organisations and individuals for general charitable purposes.  

Since it was featured, this has expanded to include funding for registered charities whose aims are to support those who are in need due to age, illness, disability or financial hardship. In its first full year, the trust awarded grants totalling over £301,000 and has supported the likes of The Refugee Council (a charity which works with refugees and asylum seekers), Evolve Housing + Support (an organisation tackling homelessness) and Sufra NW London ( a community food bank and kitchen). 

RSM UK Foundation 

The corporate foundation of RSM UK, RSM UK Foundation featured in the 8th edition of the Guide to New Trusts from 2019/20. We noted at the time that it planned to support four core charities (The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Anthony Nolan Trust, Trees for Cities and Leadership through Sport and Business), but also makes grants to other organisations in line with its funding priorities. These priorities were – environmental protection and improvement, citizenship and community development, education, and the relief of poverty in the context of access to employment. Since its inclusion in the guide the foundation has awarded over £1.92 million to charities, £724,500 in 2021/22 alone. The foundation still supports its four core charities (which also demonstrates the importance of early partnerships!) but also has an open grant programme for organisations working within those initial funding priorities. 

The Moulding Foundation 

This foundation was established in 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic to provide funding and resources to frontline organisations. Its objectives included funding medical equipment and accommodation for isolating key workers. As well as Covid-19 related support, the foundation aimed to support organisations, particularly in the North of England, working in a variety of areas including disability, homelessness, domestic abuse, social exclusion and substance abuse. Since it was featured in the Guide to New Trusts 10th edition, the foundation went on to award £2.44 million in grants during its first year. It has now also launched its first major initiative by providing a £5 million grant to the Seashell Trust, a learning disability charity based in Manchester. The foundation now defines its core focus areas as social exclusion, young people with disabilities, health, and education.  

So, what do we know? Planting a seed early with a newly established trust could be a great way to secure a beneficial partnership or locate much-needed support. Just like the organisations searching for funding, new trusts are looking to change lives by providing it, and The Guide to New Trusts is there to help you find them. 

The new edition of The Guide to New Trusts is now ready to pre-order! (published in May)