Spear Charitable Trust

The Spear Charitable Trust, originating as the charitable arm of Spears Games—the original publisher of Scrabble—is a UK-based generalist funder established to provide broad philanthropic support across England and Wales, with a legacy emphasis on former employees of J W Spear and Sons Plc and their families. Its mission embraces diverse charitable purposes, including education, training, health advancement, overseas aid, arts, culture, heritage, science, animal welfare, and environmental conservation. This flexible, trustee-led approach prioritizes community benefit and public good through smaller, targeted grants to individuals, charities, and voluntary groups, reflecting values of responsiveness, pragmatism, and enduring support without rigid strategies or bureaucracy.

The Trust funds a wide array of initiatives, such as local community projects, core costs, unrestricted support, and urgent needs for beneficiaries including children, young people, the elderly, those in need, and other nonprofits. It has a track record in animal welfare, wildlife conservation, museums, and Jewish community efforts, welcoming both mainstream and niche causes operating nationally or locally.

Eligible applicants are limited to UK-registered charities, community groups, and individuals based in the UK (primarily England and Wales), with a preference for small to medium-sized grassroots organizations; unsolicited applications are not accepted, as trustees focus on existing partners and commitments at their discretion. Typical grants range from £2,000 to £8,000, awarded on a rolling basis with no deadlines, formal processes, or published guidance.

Distinctively, the Trust avoids large-scale funding, religious restrictions, or thematic exclusions, differentiating itself as an accessible, low-bureaucracy source for pragmatic philanthropy rooted in its gaming heritage and community ties.