The HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust is an environmental and conservation grant-making Trust that generally awards small revenue, capital and project grants to registered charities in England, Scotland and Wales. Charities should be actively involved in conserving and maintaining the natural environment and its indigenous woodland flora and fauna for the benefit of the public, and in particular the conservation and maintenance of the character and amenity of rural areas. Overseas projects are also supported by the Trust.
The Trust prefers to fund smaller registered charities with modest projects that have a significant impact on a local area.
The following grants are available:
1. Small Grants - the Trust seeks to make donations to general charities which are small enough in size or are applying for support for a modest project such that the charity will benefit substantially from a donation of between £500 and £2000. It also makes grants to charities, which focus on the conservation of wildlife and the environment which are typically between £1,000 to £2,000.
2. The Martin Wills Wildlife Maintenance Trust - grants are typically between in the £1,000 to £2,000 range, though sometimes up to £5,000, for the conservation and maintenance for the benefit of the public of the natural environment and its indigenous woodland flora and fauna, with particular reference to the conservation and maintenance of the character and amenity of rural areas.
3. Large Grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 are made every 2 years in a 7-year cycle. The current large grants round is open to application between January 2023 and Sunday 1st December 2024.
There is no specified requirement for matched funding for any of the Trust's grant categories.
Further information, guidance and an online application form is available on the Trust’s website.
Applications for the Small Grants and the Martin Wills Wildlife Maintenance Trust may be made at any time. The Trust meets monthly to review applications.
The deadline for applications for a Large Grant of up to £50,000 is Sunday 1st December 2024.
