David Snowdon Trust grants
David Snowdon Trust is a Cumbria-based trust funding charities in the Westmorland and Furness area, with grants generally up to £20,000 for higher education, social needs and the arts.
Guidance last checked 16 July 2026· from the funder’s own website
Overview
David Snowdon Trust is an independent grant-making trust that supports charitable causes in Cumbria, particularly in the area of Westmorland and Furness Council (the former areas of Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland), with a focus on higher education, social needs and the arts. Grants are generally up to £20,000, preferably for capital projects rather than buildings, though revenue projects and multi-year grants of up to three years may be considered. The trust does not generally support causes that promote a single religion, political causes, animal welfare or statutory bodies, and is unlikely to support individuals other than through any scholarship schemes, or sporting events. Applications are made using the trust's standard application form, with deadlines of 1 March and 1 September each year, and trustees make decisions in May and November.
What they fund
David Snowdon Trust funds work relating to disability, health, general charitable purposes, poverty relief and education, with a stated focus on higher education, social needs and the arts.
Who and where
It supports the general public in Cumbria, with a particular focus on the Westmorland and Furness Council area.
Who they help
Where they fund
What David Snowdon Trust says in its own guidance
Quoted directly from the funder’s own website, with a link to the page each quote came from. Always the most current word is theirs — check the source before you apply.
What they say they're looking for
“The charity makes grants to support charitable causes particularly Higher Education, Social Needs and the Arts in the county of Cumbria.”
Source: dstrust.org.uk — Supporting Charitable Causes - David Snowdon Trust →
Who they say they'll fund
“There is a geographic restriction to the county of Cumbria, but more particularly to the area of the Westmorland and Furness Council (the old areas of Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland).”
Source: dstrust.org.uk — Funding from The David Snowdon Trust →
What they say they won't fund
“We do not in general support causes that promote a single religion, political causes, animal welfare or statutory bodies. We are unlikely to support individuals (other than through any Scholarship schemes) or sporting events.”
Source: dstrust.org.uk — Funding from The David Snowdon Trust →
Grant sizes they mention
“Our grants are generally up to £20,000 preferably for capital (but not buildings), revenue projects may be considered along with multi-year grants of up to 3 years.”
Source: dstrust.org.uk — Funding from The David Snowdon Trust →
Deadlines they mention
“The application deadlines are 1 March and 1 September each year and the Trustees will make their decisions at meetings in May and November.”
Source: dstrust.org.uk — Funding from The David Snowdon Trust →
How they say to apply
“Applications should be made directly to the Charity on the standard application form (together with all relevant supporting documentation)”
Source: dstrust.org.uk — Application and Evaluation - David Snowdon trust →
Their charitable objects
As registered with the Charity Commission (their formal purposes):
I] to advance the education of the public, particularly in the artsii] to the relief of poverty, particularly in the artsiii] to the relief of suffering, including medical research
How to approach them
Start with the official sources — they’re always more current than any directory, including this one.
Common questions
How much does David Snowdon Trust typically give?
Grants are generally up to £20,000, preferably for capital projects rather than buildings, though revenue projects and multi-year grants of up to three years may also be considered.
What does it fund?
It supports charitable causes particularly in higher education, social needs and the arts.
Who can apply?
There is a geographic restriction to the county of Cumbria, but more particularly to the area of the Westmorland and Furness Council (the former areas of Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland).
What won't it fund?
The trust does not in general support causes that promote a single religion, political causes, animal welfare or statutory bodies. It is unlikely to support individuals, other than through any scholarship schemes, or sporting events.
How do I apply?
Apply directly using the trust's standard application form, together with all relevant supporting documentation. Application deadlines are 1 March and 1 September each year, with trustees' decisions made in May and November. Check the funder's own website (www.dstrust.org.uk) and its Charity Commission entry (charity number 1078527) for current guidance, as processes can change.
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Contains public sector information from the Charity Commission for England and Wales licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and grants data from 360Giving used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Figures are derived (filtered and summarised by TrusteeMeetings), not republished unchanged. About the data · Terms of use. This page is a starting point for your own research, not a promise of funding, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with David Snowdon Trust.