Aurelius Charitable Trust

The Aurelius Charitable Trust, established by settlement in December 1975, is a UK-based grant-maker dedicated to conserving inherited culture and disseminating knowledge, with a strong emphasis on the humanities while explicitly excluding general education. Guided by its founder's enduring interests, the Trust upholds core values of safeguarding heritage for future generations and promoting deep understanding of the past. It maintains a distinctive, unwavering focus—untouched by trends—through biannual trustee meetings informed by a board of expert advisors, fostering stable support for cultural preservation rather than reactive or fashionable causes.

The Trust prioritizes projects in arts, culture, heritage, and environmental conservation, funding conservation of historic sites, artefacts, and collections; public engagement exhibitions; research dissemination; and work by specialist institutes. Beneficiaries are UK-registered charities and voluntary bodies with proven expertise in these areas, particularly small to medium-sized organizations demonstrating clear public benefit and project plans. It supports project-specific initiatives, especially capital costs for restoration and preservation, across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Grants typically range from £1,000 to £10,000 (most £2,000–£5,000), with rare exceptions up to £15,000 for major projects. Unsolicited applications from eligible UK charities are welcomed via detailed postal letters (include stamped addressed envelope); there are no fixed deadlines or online forms, but decisions align with spring and autumn meetings. Exclusions include core/unrestricted funding, emergency relief, individuals, non-charities, and general education, setting it apart as a reliable partner for heritage specialists seeking targeted, tradition-rooted support.