Ken and Edna Morrison Charitable Trust

The Ken and Edna Morrison Charitable Trust, established by Sir Ken Morrison, former chairman of Morrisons supermarkets, and his late wife Edna, embodies their Yorkshire roots and commitment to enhancing quality of life through flexible, needs-driven philanthropy. With a generalist ethos, it applies income and capital at trustees' absolute discretion to support charitable institutions and individuals, prioritizing people with disabilities or special needs, education, training, social welfare, and community wellbeing. Its pragmatic approach focuses on meaningful impact, particularly in West Yorkshire, where most grants sustain local voluntary sector efforts addressing vulnerability and disadvantage.

The trust funds a broad spectrum of activities, including disability support (e.g., to Leonard Cheshire), educational access, welfare initiatives, and community projects, offering both project and core funding without rigid thematic limits. Beneficiaries span small grassroots groups to established charities serving West Yorkshire areas like Bradford, Calderdale, Wakefield, Kirklees, and Leeds, though global discretion allows wider reach.

Eligible applicants are primarily UK-registered charities, with occasional individual grants aligning to objectives; no income thresholds or religious restrictions apply, but geographic priority favors West Yorkshire operations. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—grants are trustee-identified via adhoc meetings with no deadlines, forms, or public process.

Typical grants range from £5,000 to £50,000 (averaging £10,000–£25,000), with annual distributions of £144,000–£194,000. Distinctive for its lean operation (no staff, unpaid trustees), Yorkshire-centric impact, and responsive flexibility, it stands out from structured funders by maximizing resources for direct, place-based welfare and education gains.