Albert Hunt Trust

The Albert Hunt Trust, an independent UK grant-making foundation established in 1979 by Miss Mary Kathleen Coyle and Miss Florence I Reakes in honour of businessman Albert Hunt, promotes physical and mental welfare for individuals and groups across the UK through flexible, largely unrestricted grants to local charities. Guided by values of impartiality, responsiveness, minimal bureaucracy, and trust-based philanthropy, it empowers smaller organisations with core funding while honouring its founders' vision. Distinctively female-founded and endowed, the trust adopted a spend-down strategy in 2023, planning to distribute all assets and close by its 50th anniversary in January 2029 to address urgent societal needs.

It prioritises hospice core costs; homelessness support for charities with income under £500,000; and health/wellbeing initiatives for organisations under £250,000 income, including family support, counselling, suicide prevention, carer/cancer aid, prisoner rehabilitation, food banks, community centres, and debt advice. Beneficiaries include homeless people, those with mental health issues, disabilities, terminal/chronic illnesses, and those in poverty. Grants fund revenue/core costs (salaries, overheads) and some projects, serving vulnerable frontline communities UK-wide.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities based in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland (no CICs or overseas work). Applications are unsolicited via online portal (account required); health/wellbeing applicants should contact first. Rolling deadlines: last working day monthly; trustee meetings monthly, decisions in 4-6 weeks. Typical grants: £20,000-£40,000 (hospices), £5,000-£10,000 (homelessness), £1,000-£5,000 (health/wellbeing). Exclusions: capital funding. Unique for high-trust, light-touch support ending in 2029.