Sir Donald and Lady Edna Wilson Charitable Trust

The Sir Donald and Lady Edna Wilson Charitable Trust is a family-founded UK grant-maker established by philanthropists Sir Donald and Lady Edna Wilson to relieve hardship and promote welfare through broad charitable support. Guided by values of community benefit and practical impact, it operates as a pragmatic generalist funder without a narrow thematic focus, prioritizing flexible aid to established charities addressing health, education, children's services, hospices, elder care, disability support, and welfare for vulnerable groups like the elderly, young children, and those facing illness or social exclusion.

It funds a diverse array of projects and core costs, including specialist therapies and home adaptations for disabled children (e.g., Tree of Hope), support for spina bifida and hydrocephalus (Shine), dental health initiatives (Dentaid), and hospice services (Hope House), alongside education and healthcare efforts for disadvantaged communities across the UK, with no regional restrictions.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities—both small and large—with proven impact records; there are no income thresholds or religious restrictions, but the trust is UK-wide only and does not accept unsolicited applications. Trustees identify and contact selected organizations at their discretion, with no open calls, forms, or deadlines; decisions are adhoc throughout the year.

Typical grants range from £5,000 to £25,000 (occasionally up to £50,000), emphasizing service delivery over capital projects. Distinctively, its stable annual giving (£200,000–£400,000 expenditure) favors responsive, high-impact support without published strategies, differentiating it as an invitation-only, broad-spectrum ally for UK charities tackling vulnerability.