Rowlands Trust

The Rowlands Trust is a grant-making charity established in line with Mr. Rowlands’ Will, dedicated to fostering sustainable community impact through targeted capital grants in the West Midlands and South Midlands. Operating primarily in Birmingham City, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire, its mission emphasizes enduring benefits over short-term aid, guided by values of long-term outcomes, strategic investment, and alignment with priorities like research, education, training, medical and scientific advancement, support for the armed services, and aid for those disadvantaged by education, health, finance, or disability. It distinctly prioritizes projects demonstrating clear, lasting change, often requiring applicants to provide examples or case studies.

The Trust funds a broad spectrum of causes, including the advancement of health and saving lives, disability support, poverty relief, arts, culture, heritage, science, environmental conservation, children and young people, elderly care, and other voluntary bodies. Key activities encompass capital investments in education for success, music and the arts, environmental efforts, and the restoration or re-ordering of church buildings to enhance community use, always favoring initiatives with measurable, perpetual community benefits.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities based in the specified regions, with a preference for small to medium-sized organizations showing no formal income thresholds but a pattern of supporting grassroots groups. Typical grants range from £5,000 to £50,000. Applications require an initial direct enquiry (e.g., via email) to obtain a form—no unsolicited submissions accepted—with ad hoc trustee meetings and no fixed deadlines; timelines are provided individually.

Distinctively, the Trust excludes revenue funding like salaries, rent, or running costs, setting it apart as a selective funder for capital projects with proven long-term impact in targeted locales.