Thriplow Charitable Trust

The Thriplow Charitable Trust, established in 1993 as a family trust, advances higher education and research with a strong preference for UK institutions, governed by eminent academic trustees who embody its commitment to excellence, innovation, academic freedom, and the conservation of educational and cultural heritage. Its mission emphasizes targeted support for intellectual advancement, extending from core academic pursuits to related fields like environmental studies and early career performing arts development, prioritizing discrete projects with tangible, measurable impact over broad or unrestricted funding.

It funds academic research projects, undergraduate and postgraduate bursaries, exhibitions, conservation of museum/library collections, teacher training/resources in the developing world, and early career support in performing arts. Beneficiaries include students, early researchers, academics, and UK-based institutions, with examples like bursaries for Refugee Protection studies at the University of London, grants to the National Manuscripts Conservation Trust, and aid for textile conservation and scholarly societies.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities or academic institutions based in the UK (primarily England and Wales), with a preference for small- to medium-sized organizations where grants make a clear difference; no support for individuals, major national charities, or those focused on clinical trials. Typical grants range from £1,000 to £5,000, awarded via an online form (or post/email) on a rolling basis at unpublicized trustee meetings, with no fixed deadlines—applicants should include project budgets and charitable status evidence.

Distinctively, it excludes primary/secondary education, capital projects, core costs, and large-scale appeals, standing out as a specialist funder for high-impact, research-intensive initiatives in higher education and cultural preservation, managed transparently with lean overheads and no trustee remuneration.