Serth and Gates Charity

The Serth and Gates Charity, established in 2008 through Geoffrey Serth's endowment and later absorbing the Mrs I J Gates Charity Fund in 2012, is an independent grant-making trust with roots in the Geoffrey Serth Charitable Trust. Governed by a small board of trustees—recently just two—with no paid staff, it pursues general charitable purposes while prioritizing veterinary education, study, and research to advance animal welfare and public health. Its ethos emphasizes sustainable investment, risk management, and public benefit through expertise-building in veterinary science, operating flexibly across England and Wales without government ties.

It funds project-specific initiatives in veterinary fields, including educational programs, student awards, tuition support, and research for animal welfare organizations. Beneficiaries are exclusively UK-registered charities and higher education institutions, such as Woodgreen Pets Charity (£10,000 grant) and the University of Bristol's BVSc program, focusing on aspiring veterinary professionals and service-delivery charities rather than direct individual or community aid.

Eligible applicants must be established UK charities or academics based in the UK, with a preference for medium-to-large organizations; no strict income thresholds apply, but unsolicited applications are not accepted—funding is invite-only or via nominations from partners like universities. Typical grants range from £5,000–£15,000 for organizations and £1,000–£3,000 for student awards, allocated ad hoc by trustees. The Serth and Gates Charity Awards at Bristol have a 3 April 2025 deadline via university process. Exclusions include individuals, core funding, emergencies, and non-UK entities; its distinctives lie in niche veterinary focus, trustee-led discretion, and proactive adaptation to sector needs.