Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust – Charity Commissions

Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust provides grants to charities registered in Sussex, England, and to nonprofit organisations focused on wildlife conservation and reproductive health in the United Kingdom. The trust board awards three tiers of funding, with up to £20,000 available twice a year. The board of trustees at Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust is in charge of reviewing every application within 12 -15 weeks of submission. 

About The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust Grant

Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust was established in 1963 as an independent UK family trust by Ernest and Joan Kleinwort to provide philanthropic support to their charitable causes. The charity trust grant focuses on giving support to charity commissions across Sussex with a focus on disability, youth and elderly care, community welfare and development. 

There is also a budget for other organisations in the UK and international wildlife and environmental conservation and reproductive health, and family projects in Africa and Asia that have an impact on the environment. 

Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust is funded by investments and has donated over £50 million since 1978. Applications are open year-round for small grants, four times for medium grants, and twice a year for large grants. The board of trustees oversees applications and awards grants to deserving organisations. 

Funding Size

• Typical grant amount: Varies depending on the funding tier: small, medium and large grants.
• Maximum award: 
• Small grants: £10,000
• Medium grants: £20,000
• Large grants: £20,000
• Project duration supported: Not publicly specified.

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Who Can Apply to Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust

• • Eligible organisation types: Charity commissions registered in the UK

• Registration requirements:

• • Registered charities in the UK should have been operating for up to one year before applying.
  • Applications for large grants are only for charities that the board of trustees have built a relationship with, and the application process is password-protected and not for everyone.

• Geographic eligibility: 

• • Sussex, United Kingdom 
  • Africa or Asia for an International focus on wildlife and environmental conservation

• Sector or thematic focus:

• Wildlife and environmental conservation
• Youth support
• Elderly care
• Social welfare
• Disability support
• Hospices care
• Reproductive health family planning for international projects.

Application Process

• Complete the eligibility questionnaire on the EKCT official website.
• Determine if your project aligns with small, medium or large grants.
• Fill the online application form for small and medium grants. For large grants, contact the EKCT team.
• The board of trustees reviews applications, and the timeframe varies by grant size. 60 days for small grants, 8 – 12 weeks for medium and 12 -15 weeks for large grants.

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Required Materials

• Project proposal detailing activities
• Project budget
• Proof of charitable registration in the UK

Key Dates

• • Small grants deadline: applications are accepted year-round. Occurs on a rolling basis; apply early.
  • Medium grant: opens four times a year:
  • 4th Jan – 4th Feb
  • 18th April – 12th May
  • 10th July – 13th August
  • 9th October – 12th November 
  • Large grant: opens twice a year:
  • 4th January – 4th March
  • 10th July – 10th September 

• Notification timelines:

• Small grants: 60 days 
• Medium: 8–12 weeks
• Large: 12–15 weeks

Selection Notes

• Funding is competitive and limited by tiers and trustee discretion, especially for large grants. 
• Priority focus areas: youth support, community welfare, wildlife and environmental conservation, elderly care, social welfare, disability support, hospices, reproductive health, and family planning for international projects.
• Exclusions: Organisations unregistered as UK charities, newly registered charities, and projects outside EKCT’s goals.

Official Source of Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust

• Official Application Page: https://ekct.org.uk/apply/