Sulney Fields Charitable Trust

The Sulney Fields Charitable Trust, a UK-registered charity established in July 2000, is governed by three trustees and operates a proactive, trustee-led grant-making model to support overseas development in Africa. Its core mission focuses on alleviating poverty, advancing education, promoting healthcare, and enhancing life chances for disadvantaged African communities through funding established UK charities. With no public application process or founding benefactor statement, the trust emphasizes high-impact, sustainable progress via long-term partnerships with sector leaders, prioritizing trust, reputation, and trustee discretion over open calls.

It funds thematic priorities in international development, including health (e.g., maternal care and obstetric fistula via Hamlin Fistula UK), education (postgraduate scholarships through Windle Trust International), peacebuilding (War Child, Peace Direct), rural livelihoods (Farm Africa), and support for orphans/vulnerable children (The Mango Tree, Stephen Lewis Foundation). Grants also back humanitarian aid, capacity building, and child welfare for marginalized groups like girls, rural families, conflict-affected youth, and women facing health inequities, delivered through UK charities' African projects across the continent.

Eligible recipients are exclusively UK-registered charities—medium to large with strong governance and proven track records in Africa; small or new organizations are not supported. No income thresholds apply, but geographic focus is strictly Africa via UK entities, excluding domestic UK work. Trustees meet biannually to award grants proactively, typically £15,000–£55,000 per organization (e.g., £192,000 total in 2022-23), often as unrestricted core funding, project support, or capacity building.

Distinctively, the trust rejects all unsolicited applications, funds no non-African or UK-only initiatives, and stands out for its behind-the-scenes, high-trust approach, consistent high spend relative to income, and amplification of reputable partners driving lasting change in Africa.