Cordis Charitable Trust

Cordis Charitable Trust is a discreet, registered grantmaking charity (SC038198) based in Scotland, dedicated to advancing education, health, arts, heritage, culture, science, and human rights through targeted support for charitable projects delivering significant public benefit. With stable annual income around £500,000 (as of 2023), it embodies a generalist ethos focused on institutional capacity-building rather than grassroots or individual efforts, channeling resources via established networks to major Scottish cultural and community institutions like museums and galleries, as evidenced by recipient acknowledgements in National Galleries of Scotland reports.

The trust funds project-specific initiatives and organisational advancement in its core areas, spanning education programmes, health and wellbeing efforts, cultural heritage preservation, scientific endeavours, and human rights activities. It prioritises established charities with proven governance, track records of impact, and compliance, favouring medium to large entities over small groups.

Eligible applicants must be UK-registered charities headquartered in Scotland; unsolicited applications are not accepted, with grants awarded invite-only through trustee discretion and ad hoc meetings, absent any public deadlines, portals, or guidance. Typical grants range from £10,000 to £100,000, averaging £20,000–£50,000 for multi-year institutional support.

Distinctively low-profile with no independent website or open calls, Cordis eschews unrestricted/core funding, emergency relief, seed grants, or support for individuals and grassroots organisations outside Scotland, positioning it as a key but selective backer for professional Scottish institutions seeking substantial project backing via prior relationships.