Main Grants
We welcome applications from eligible charities working in the following areas:
Community projects
These grants are to community-based charities in the West Midlands*, addressing an identified need within the local community.Special needs groups
These grants are to charities in the West Midlands*, focused on supporting people with special needs or those with age, health or learning issues which put them at a disadvantage within society.
*West Midlands area is defined as : Birmingham City, Coventry City, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton and the County of Warwickshire.Youth development projects supporting young people aged 16-25
The focus of these grants is to address the needs of 16-25 year olds, who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs). While individuals will not be selected and supported directly, the Trustees will consider applications from programmes which encourage young people to expand their experiences and challenge their capacities.
The Sheldon Trust welcomes applications for Youth Development projects from across the UK .
Application Criteria
Please read our criteria carefully to establish whether your charity has projects that are eligible for consideration:
Applications will only be accepted from charities registered with the Charity Commission for England & Wales and OSCR( The Scottish Charity Regulator).
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. Charities should have at least 1 month’s operating costs in unrestricted reserves but no more that 6 months operating costs in unrestricted reserves(including designated reserves). Charities who have had two consecutive years of accounts with a deficit will not be considered.
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 £10,000 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.
To apply for a grant please use this link The Sheldon Trust – Application Eligibility Main – Intellistack.
There is a pre-questionnaire as part of the application process to verify you are eligible to apply. (Please read the information above for guidance on our core criteria). If you are eligible you will be taken through to the full application. The application window will be open until midday Monday 16th March 2026.
(Please note we are unable to answer queries if you are unsuccessful through the pre-questionnaire.)
Applications will be reviewed and considered at the Trustee meeting on 24th April 2026 and charities will be informed of the Trustees decisions within 7 days of the meeting.
"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