S E Franklin's Charitable Trust No 3

S E Franklin's Charitable Trust No 3, established on 16 September 1961 as Sydney Franklin's Charitable Settlement and registered in England and Wales, is a family-governed grant-making charity administered voluntarily by three Franklin family trustees. Their core mission is to apply income for the benefit of charitable institutions at absolute trustee discretion, embodying traditional philanthropic values of ethical stewardship, prudent endowment investment, independence, impartiality, and public benefit. This generalist approach eschews thematic restrictions, enabling flexible support for a diverse spectrum of registered charities across England and Wales, typically via unrestricted grants for general purposes rather than specific projects.

The trust funds established charitable institutions of varying sizes, with a noted preference for medium to larger organisations based on grant patterns, providing core or general support without focus on particular causes, beneficiary groups, or activities. Grants go exclusively to UK-registered charities operating in England and Wales, with no regional sub-restrictions or international funding.

Eligibility is limited to registered charities in England and Wales; there are no strict income thresholds, though smaller entities may be less common recipients. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—trustees select and invite beneficiaries directly, with no published forms, guidelines, deadlines, or cycles; decisions occur ad hoc via internal meetings. Typical grants range from £5,000 to £30,000 (average ~£12,000).

Distinctive for its 60+ year longevity, family-led discretion, minimal overheads, and absence of thematic or geographic constraints within England and Wales, the trust avoids funding individuals, communities directly, restricted projects, or non-UK entities, prioritising enduring, impartial philanthropy over trendy causes.