Dame Violet Wills Charitable Trust

The Dame Violet Wills Charitable Trust, established in 1954 by Dame Violet Wills, is a UK-based endowment fund dedicated to perpetuating her lifelong commitment to evangelical Christian causes. Managed through a substantial endowment for sustained grant-making, it advances gospel witness, Christian ministries, and welfare initiatives reflecting values of faith, generosity, and evangelical action. Distinctively focused within the religious funding landscape, it prioritizes long-term support for Christian outreach over broad philanthropy.

It funds revenue needs like core costs, project work, and practical caring by evangelical charities, including religious teaching, church outreach, missionary activities, and support for children, youth, the elderly, and communities. Grants target UK initiatives in England and Wales, with flexibility for other UK areas and occasional overseas evangelical efforts, favoring organizations enabling ongoing mission continuity.

Eligible applicants are established UK-registered charities with a clear evangelical Christian mission or substantive religious caring dimension; no strict income thresholds apply, but small to medium-sized groups are preferred. Currently invite-only and closed to unsolicited applications, it will reopen in Spring 2026—check the website for details, as no standard process or forms exist. Typical grants are modest (small awards to several thousand pounds), with annual expenditure around £40,000–£85,000; revenue over capital is emphasized.

Exclusions include non-Christian causes, generalist voluntary work without evangelical ties, and large capital projects. Its unique hallmarks are unwavering evangelical specificity, founder-driven heritage, and consistent stewardship for enduring gospel impact, setting it apart as a niche supporter for aligned Christian entities.