Fitton Trust

The Fitton Trust is a longstanding UK grant-making charitable foundation, established on 10 March 1965 as the Thomas Cliffe Fitton Will Trust and later renamed, governed by five trustees from its base in Bramhall, Stockport. Its core mission is to support UK-registered charities at the trustees' absolute discretion, embracing a flexible, generalist approach without thematic, geographic, or beneficiary restrictions, allowing responsive funding to evolving needs. Rooted in values of impartiality, stewardship, and minimal bureaucracy, it maintains rigorous financial controls while distributing micro-grants to foster diverse charitable work, with annual income around £107,000 and grants totaling over £119,000 in 2024.

It funds a broad spectrum of causes, including community initiatives, education, health and disability support, older people, faith-motivated projects, and general welfare, aiding small to medium charities (often under £1 million income) through flexible grants for projects, core costs, activities, and general purposes. Beneficiaries span grassroots groups like Open Country to disease-specific and community organizations across England, Wales, Scotland, and occasionally overseas projects.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities; there are no formal income thresholds but a preference for smaller entities, with unsolicited applications welcomed via a simple letter by post to PO Box 289, Bramhall, Stockport, SK7 0DZ—no forms, website, or EOI required. Grants typically range £150–£350 (majority £200–£350), rarely up to £1,000, with 200–275 awards yearly. Applications are rolling, considered at quarterly trustee meetings (April, August, December), with decisions notified post-meeting.

Distinctive for its rare unrestricted scope, hands-off micro-granting, and traditional postal process, the Trust avoids exclusions or deadlines, suiting generalist small charities seeking quick, flexible support without red tape.