Patricia and Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust

The Patricia and Donald Shepherd Charitable Trust, established in 1977 and registered in England and Wales, is a selective grant-making charity that supports charitable purposes through financial contributions to organizations where trustees have close personal knowledge, interest, or association. Its core mission emphasizes strengthening community-level initiatives, particularly those benefiting children, young people, education, and local welfare, guided by values of discretion, personal involvement, long-term relationships, and tangible grassroots impact. Distinctively relational and place-based, the Trust prioritizes trustee-connected charities over open processes, fostering informed, engaged philanthropy across England and Wales with a nod to local ties, especially in York and surrounding areas.

It funds general charitable activities, including core costs, running expenses, capacity-building, and specific projects like youth development (e.g., music programs via NYMAZ), health support (e.g., National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society), and community welfare for small voluntary groups. Thematic priorities center on children, young people, education, wellbeing, and local community strengthening, with examples spanning physiotherapy, youth engagement, and grassroots operations.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities (no individuals or local authorities) based in England and Wales, favoring small to medium-sized grassroots organizations with modest incomes and strong local roots or trustee connections; no strict income thresholds apply, but large nationals are uncommon. Grants typically range from £5,000 to £20,000, awarded on a rolling basis with no deadlines or open calls—unsolicited applications are not accepted, and recipients are identified directly by trustees.

Key exclusions include individuals, statutory bodies, and large capital projects. What sets it apart is its intimate, non-procedural approach: no public guidelines or forms, emphasis on sustained partnerships via personal trustee networks, and a commitment to small grants maximizing local impact through trusted, enduring relationships.