Grants of up to and over £20,000 for UK registered charities working in the UK and/or internationally in the area of Wildlife and Environmental Conservation, and internationally in the area of Reproductive Health. The Trust also makes grants to Sussex charities in a range of other areas, as detailed below.
The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust, which became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO no. 1197205) in May 2022, transferring its funds from the charity of the same name (no. 229665), provides grant support to UK charities working in the following areas:
- Charitable work in the County of Sussex
- Wildlife & Environmental Conservation (UK and Internationally), and
- Reproductive Health (Internationally only) – applications within this category will only be considered for family planning projects delivered in Africa and Asia, and in areas where there is clear and intended impact on the environment.
Applicants in Sussex only may apply for work that supports the following:
- Care of the Elderly
- Disability
- General (Social) Welfare
- Hospices, and
- Youth
Applicants elsewhere in the UK or abroad may apply for:
- Reproductive Health (Internationally only, particularly in Africa and Asia), and
- Wildlife & Environmental Conservation (UK and Internationally).
If you're a charity outside of Sussex but operating elsewhere in the United Kingdom, you can only apply for a grant in the area of Wildlife and Environmental Conservation, and if you're a UK charity operating internationally, you can apply for a project in the areas of Reproductive Health and Wildlife & Environmental Conservation.
The Trust is currently accepting applications to its Small, Medium and its Large Grant programmes. There is no requirement for matched funding.
The Trust provides 3 levels of funding:
- Small Grants up to £10,000: applications may be made at any time.
- Medium Grants between £10,001 and £20,000, and
- Large Grants over £20,001
Please note that Large Grants are usually restricted to charities with whom the trustees have built up a deep understanding and/or close relationship over a period of several years.
Grants can be used for:
- Start-up costs
- Core costs, and
- A specific project (capital expenditure or assistance with running costs)
Further information, guidance and an application for is available on the Trust’s website. Charities interested in applying should complete the online Eligibility Questionnaire in the first instance.
Applications may be made at the following times:
- Small Grant applications (up to £10,000) are accepted throughout the year and may be made at any time.
- Medium Grant applications (£10,001 - £20,000) are accepted 4 times each year. The current application window will open on Friday 9 October to Thursday 12 November 2026.
- Large Grant applications (over £20,001) are accepted twice a year. Applications for a Large Grant is restricted to charities with whom the trustees have built up a deep understanding and/or close relationship over a period of several years.