J Paul Getty JR General Charitable Trust

The J Paul Getty Jr General Charitable Trust, established in 1986 by philanthropist Sir John Paul Getty KBE after he settled in the UK, aimed to give back substantially to British society through flexible, responsive funding for a broad spectrum of charitable needs. Guided by values of generosity, social justice, opportunity, innovation, and excellence, the Trust operated as a highly generalist funder, proactively identifying and addressing pressing gaps where mainstream resources fell short, distributing over £80 million to thousands of UK organizations before permanently closing. Its distinctive approach emphasized trustee discretion, direct engagement with charities, and support for both high-profile institutions and overlooked grassroots causes, blending cultural heritage with contemporary issues like health and poverty.

Historically, it funded diverse themes including general charitable purposes, education and training, health and lifesaving, disability, poverty relief, overseas aid, arts, culture, heritage, science, amateur sport, environment, community development, human rights, equality, and more. Grants supported organizations rather than individuals, encompassing capital and revenue needs, core costs, capacity building, emergency relief, and long-term development for UK-registered charities and community groups of all sizes, operating anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland—no income thresholds or religious restrictions applied.

Typical grants ranged from £10,000 to £500,000, though smaller or multimillion-pound awards occurred at trustees' discretion, with no fixed application rounds or deadlines. However, the Trust is now permanently closed, accepting no unsolicited or solicited applications of any kind—online, email, postal, or otherwise—and will not respond to inquiries or reopen for new grants. Its legacy lies in transformative, unrestricted support that empowered charities to drive impact across UK society.