How we work
The Robertson Trust aims to be a flexible and helpful funder that builds relationships with the organisations we fund. We have a small staff team who work hard to provide the support required by charities that wish to make applications. We recognise that charities are often dealing with complex issues and we try to provide as much advice and support as we can in addition to donations. We are always happy to answer telephone and e-mail enquiries and to give pre-application support as appropriate. We will only meet with potential applicants once we have received an application.
We want to fund effective people and organisations that can make a difference. We are an independent grant-maker and we are willing to take risks and support new ideas; however, we will also fund ongoing work which can show it makes a difference. Donations can take the form of core funding including salaries and general running costs, project grants or capital grants for building or equipment.
How to apply
There are two ways to apply:
- By Application Form or
- By letter, so that applicants may express themselves in their own words without the restrictions of set questions. However, there are certain details which you will need to include in your application to enable the Trust to make an informed decision on whether or not to fund your organisation. These are detailed in the guidelines.
In addition, whichever method you use, please ensure you complete and return the Organisation Information sheet along with the other supporting documentation detailed in the guidelines.
The Trustees introduced new guidelines in early 2007 which were updated in August 2009.
The four priority areas are now Care, Health, Education and Training and Community Art and Sport.
The Trustees have identified a further 7 categories for support which are: Animal Welfare, Civil Society, Communities, Culture, Heritage and Science, Environment, Saving Lives and Young People and Families.
Four types of donation have been established;
- small
- main
- major capital
Small and main donations form the bulk of the donations made by the Trust and are assessed on a rolling programme with recommendations made to the Trustees six times a year.
Major capital donations which are likely to be for capital developments where the total value is in excess of £1M will be considered three times a year in January, May and September.
There are a number of areas of charitable work which the Trust does not support and these are detailed in our guidelines. A new addition was made to these in early 2007 when the Trustees decided that that they will no longer give donations to organisations and projects who primarily provide a counselling, advice and/or information service.
Full guidelines and the Organisation Information Sheet can be downloaded in Word or PDF format on the navigation to the left.
The Trust assumes that the information provided on any application gives a true and accurate account of the organisation's work and needs and that the person making the application is authorised to commit the organisation in this way. In making the application, the organisation unconditionally authorises The Robertson Trust to publish details of financial support given to the organisation and of the objectives of the organisation; to pass any details obtained about the organisation through the application or through subsequent assessment procedures to external agencies, including other grant-making bodies, and also to use such information as part of any survey undertaken by The Robertson Trust; and/or to use any such details as part of any press release or publication; and that without the need at any time to obtain the further consent or agreement from the organisation.