Mary Homfray Charitable Trust

The Mary Homfray Charitable Trust is an independent family-run grant-making foundation established in 1977 by Mary Homfray to support charitable causes, especially in Wales where she lived most of her life. Managed by her daughter, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, it upholds a personal, values-driven ethos of stewardship, flexibility, and meaningful impact through relational giving to small and medium-sized charities addressing pressing community needs.

It prioritises themes close to the founder and trustees, including Alzheimer’s and dementia care, homelessness, wildlife conservation, animal welfare, health causes, student hardship (via the Homfray Awards for veterinary students), and social inclusion. Grants support direct services to vulnerable people, communities, and animals, funding projects, core costs, or one-off needs for UK-registered charities with a strong Welsh connection, though wider UK or global operations are considered if relevant.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, favouring smaller organisations where grants make a significant difference; large medical research charities are excluded except for dementia-related work. Applications are unsolicited via a concise single-page online form on the website, accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed annually at the Spring trustees' meeting, with decisions notified by May/June.

Typical grants range from £1,000 to £5,000, awarded to around 30 charities yearly, often recurrent for trusted partners. Distinctive for its familial governance, trustee-led decisions blending personal ties with enduring values, and focus on Wales' urgent social, health, and welfare challenges without formal criteria or fundraising.