Aberdeen Endowments Trust

Aberdeen Endowments Trust is a historic Scottish charitable organization, established in 1909 through the amalgamation of predecessor endowments under the Robert Gordon's Technical College and Aberdeen Endowments Trust Order Confirmation Act. Rooted in local philanthropy, it stewards substantial land and property assets in North East Scotland to advance educational equity, tackling disadvantage by enabling children and young people from low-income families to access quality education, particularly at Robert Gordon's College. Its enduring values emphasize social equity, academic merit, talent nurturing regardless of background, and sustainable support for improved life chances via direct financial aid.

The Trust exclusively funds individual educational interventions for Aberdeen-connected beneficiaries, including full-fee bursaries at Robert Gordon's College (covering ~£13,500 annual tuition for 60+ pupils from Senior 1 to Year 6, with 10 new awards yearly based on entrance exam success and means-testing) and means-tested grants under the City of Aberdeen Educational Endowments Scheme (up to £300/year for ~75 families, supporting school trips, books, clothing, and enrichment). It also offers limited university bursaries like the £500 John Robb award.

Eligible applicants are individuals or families (not charities/organizations) with ties to Aberdeen—residing there, born/raised locally, or with parents in the city—prioritizing school-age children in financial need; no organization income rules apply. Applications are unsolicited via postal letter/form with proof of enrolment and income to 19 Albert Street, Aberdeen; bursaries require prior Robert Gordon's College exam registration (January annually). Rolling Trustee meetings (~7/year) yield decisions in weeks to two months, with educational grant deadline 31 October 2025.

Distinctively focused on Aberdeen's formal schooling, it rejects organizational/project/core/capital funding, non-educational causes, or non-local applicants, standing out for its unbureaucratic, asset-backed commitment to elite independent school access amid historical educational philanthropy.