Applications
We welcome applications from eligible charities working in one or more of our 3 areas:
Community projects
Special needs groups
Youth development projects supporting young people aged 16-25
The Sheldon Trust’s defined geographical area of giving for themes 1 and 2 is the West Midlands with particular emphasis on the following areas: Birmingham City, Coventry City, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Wolverhampton and the County of Warwickshire. Theme 3 is open to charities based anywhere in the UK.
Application Criteria
Please read our criteria carefully to establish whether your charity has projects that are eligible for consideration:
Grants will only be made to UK registered charities and charitable organisations. The Trustees do not accept applications from CIC’s.
National charities are generally not considered. However, national charities wishing to apply under funding themes 1, 2 and 3 may only do so where they have a branch in one or more of the defined areas which is responsible for its own financial management and fundraising and can provide separate accounts.
Grants are provided for specific projects, operating costs, including staff, as well as refurbishment and specific items of equipment.
Please note that capital appeals for building costs and vehicles are not considered.
Our focus is on small and medium-sized charities. We do not consider applications from charities with an annual income of over £1 million and/or free unrestricted reserves to the value of more than six months of their annual expenditure.
The Trustees play a very active role in the Trust and review their policy and criteria regularly. Flexibility is retained to allow for reaction to changes in the environment and the community alike.
Trustees will consider applications for funding of up to £15,000 in a year. A proportion of income is made available for multi-year grants for a period of two or three years. The Trustees keep the value of these continuing grants under review to avoid over committing their resources.
In addition to the above, the Trustees may put aside a portion of their income for grants for special projects of which they have personal knowledge or an organisation which they have supported in the past.
Previously funded charities will not be considered for further funding for a period of two years following receipt of a grant (or final payment of repeat funding). Previously unsuccessful applicants can re-apply after two years.
We ask all recipients of our Grants to complete our Monitoring Report which allows us to view the results of the contribution we have made.
Holiday Grants will be considered throughout the year. Please allow up to 8 weeks between submission and notification of the result.
Applications deadline for the next Funding Window:
The next funding round will open on Monday 9th June 2025 and close at 5pm Friday 18th July 2025. Applications will be reviewed and considered at the Trustee meeting on 5th September 2025 and charities will be informed of the Trustees decisions within 7 days of the meeting.
Next Trustees Meeting:
5th September 2025
"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."
President Barack Obama