Aylesford Family Charitable Trust

The Aylesford Family Charitable Trust, registered charity number 328299, is a private family-led philanthropic entity governed by the Aylesford family, including Chair Lord Charles Aylesford and trustees The Honourable Georgina and James Finch-Knightley. Established for general charitable purposes, it focuses on making modest financial donations primarily to local charities and community groups across England and Wales, emphasizing responsible stewardship of family resources through a low-profile, discretionary approach rooted in personal relationships and local ties rather than formal strategies or published missions.

It supports a broad spectrum of causes, including health initiatives like Cancer Support UK, community-oriented efforts such as parish churches, and general charitable activities for public benefit, with grants typically unrestricted to bolster core costs, organizational capacity, or occasional project and capital needs. Beneficiaries are established smaller charities and grassroots groups, favoring those with local roots near the Aylesford area or trustee connections, without thematic restrictions but prioritizing continuity and community service over innovation.

Eligible applicants must be UK-registered charities or community groups based in the UK, with a preference for smaller organizations (often under £500,000 annual income); however, it does not accept unsolicited applications—grants are trustee-identified via personal knowledge or direct approaches, with no public process, forms, or deadlines. Decisions occur ad hoc at private meetings.

Typical grants range from £250 to £3,000 (mostly £500–£1,500), as one-off payments without multi-year commitments. It excludes individuals, large-scale programmes, and competitive applications, distinguishing itself through its quiet, relationship-driven tradition of small-scale, trusted local philanthropy that values shared community values over open calls or impact metrics.