E C Graham's Charitable Settlement

E C Graham's Charitable Settlement is a longstanding independent grantmaking trust, registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales in 1977, dedicated to supporting smaller charities and grassroots projects primarily in Carlisle and surrounding areas of Cumbria. Governed by a small group of trustees with a hands-on, relational approach, its core mission is to enable local charitable work that enhances community well-being and fills funding gaps for organizations underserved by larger funders. Without formal thematic priorities or a founder's manifesto, it acts as a generalist supporter of diverse activities, including social welfare, community services, voluntary groups, and projects delivering clear local benefits through project funding, core costs, capital, or revenue support.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities and community groups operating in Carlisle and Cumbria, with a strong preference for smaller, grassroots organizations of limited income that are deeply embedded in the local area. There are no religious restrictions or strict income thresholds, but the trust favors entities struggling to access mainstream funding.

Grants typically range from £1,000 to £5,000, awarded discretionarily by trustees during annual meetings without fixed deadlines, open calls, or published application processes—unsolicited applications are not accepted. Organizations are selected via trustees' local knowledge and direct engagement. Distinctively low-profile and selective, the Settlement stands out for its quiet, consistent role as a flexible enabler of hyper-local initiatives, avoiding strategic plans, public guidelines, or national scope to prioritize targeted, personal philanthropy for well-networked Carlisle-based groups.