Eric Stanton- Northampton Trust

The Eric Stanton Northampton Trust, established in 1998, is a discretionary grant-making trust dedicated to holding and distributing funds to charitable institutions for public benefit, guided by trustees' flexible and responsive philanthropy. Its core mission emphasizes supporting a broad spectrum of community needs through generalist funding, with values of discretion, adaptability, and direct impact on evolving priorities like health advancement, life-saving efforts, animal welfare, environmental conservation, and heritage preservation. This trustee-led approach distinguishes it by enabling nimble responses to emerging needs without rigid sectoral focus.

The trust prioritizes UK-registered charities delivering practical services with clear public benefit, particularly those aiding vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and local communities. Funding supports health and wellbeing initiatives (e.g., hospices, Northamptonshire Health Charity), animal welfare, heritage sites (e.g., Delapré Abbey, Northampton Catholic Cathedral), and environmental projects, often with a strong emphasis on Northamptonshire-based impact, though not exclusively. Grants cover project funding, capital works, core costs, and specific initiatives providing direct community assistance.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, with a preference for small to medium-sized, grassroots organizations delivering local services; no strict income thresholds apply, and geographic focus favors Northamptonshire but allows any area. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—support arises via direct trustee approaches, referrals, or personal connections, with no forms, portals, or deadlines. Trustees meet ad hoc year-round, awarding typical grants of £5,000–£15,000. No explicit exclusions exist, setting it apart as a versatile funder for flexible, unrestricted charitable support.