Nisbet Trust grants
Nisbet Trust funds work with young people in and around Bristol and strongly favours applications from Bristol-based organisations, with funding available for up to three years.
Guidance last checked 16 July 2026· from the funder’s own website
Overview
Nisbet Trust is focused on Bristol, and its trustees strongly favour applications from Bristol-based organisations. National charities applying for support for work in Bristol are less likely to be supported. Its objects are to act as a resource for young people living in and around its area of benefit. That covers advice and assistance, programmes of physical and educational activities, advancing education, relieving unemployment, and recreational and leisure activity in the interests of social welfare. Applications can request funding for up to three years. CICs must have been established for at least three years and have an annual income of at least £50,000, with at least 25 per cent of income from trading. It publishes an unusually open figure: the success rate for full eligible applications is in the region of 80 per cent, so the eligibility check is where most of the filtering happens.
What they fund
The Charity Commission register records this trust's purposes as general charitable purposes and arts, culture, heritage and science. Its objects are more specific, centring on young people in and around its area of benefit.
Who and where
The register records that it works in the South West, and in Bristol in particular, benefiting people with disabilities, children and young people, and other charities and voluntary bodies. Its own guidance says trustees strongly favour Bristol-based organisations.
Who they help
Where they fund
What Nisbet 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.
Who they say they'll fund
“CICs must have been established for at least three years and have an annual income of at least £50,000 with at least 25% of income from trading.”
Source: nisbettrust.co.uk — Application Guidelines →
“Trustees strongly favour applications from Bristol-based organisations. National charities applying for support for work in Bristol are less likely to be supported.”
Source: nisbettrust.co.uk — Applying for a Grant – The Nisbet Trust →
Deadlines they mention
“Trustees usually meet quarterly at the end of January, April, July and October.”
Source: nisbettrust.co.uk — Applying for a Grant – The Nisbet Trust →
How they say to apply
“Applications can request funding for up to three years.”
Source: nisbettrust.co.uk — Application Guidelines →
“The success rate for full eligible applications is in the region of 80%.”
Source: nisbettrust.co.uk — Application Guidelines →
“We have a two-stage process starting with an expression of interest which should be submitted as soon as possible, and at least 7 days before the application deadline.”
Source: nisbettrust.co.uk — Applying for a Grant – The Nisbet Trust →
“Your report should be no more than 2 pages long and should include both details of the number of people you have supported and the change or outcomes you have achieved with the funding.”
Source: nisbettrust.co.uk — Applying for a Grant – The Nisbet Trust →
Their charitable objects
As registered with the Charity Commission (their formal purposes):
To act as a resource (whether directly or by providing funding or assistance to existing organisations) for young people living in and around the area of benefit by providing advice and assistance and organising programmes of physical, educational and other activities as a means of:(a)advancing in life and helping…
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 Nisbet Trust give?
In its most recent published accounts it made £3,049,576 of grants to organisations and nothing to individuals. It does not publish a grant range, and there is no typical or median award figure available for this funder. Its guidance does say applications can request funding for up to three years.
What does Nisbet Trust fund?
Its objects centre on young people living in and around its area of benefit, through advice, assistance and programmes of physical, educational and other activities, advancing education, relieving unemployment, and providing recreational and leisure activity in the interests of social welfare. Its Charity Commission entry records its purposes as general charitable purposes and arts, culture, heritage and science, and records that it benefits people with disabilities, children and young people, and other charities and voluntary bodies.
Who can apply?
Its guidance says trustees strongly favour applications from Bristol-based organisations, and that national charities applying for support for work in Bristol are less likely to be supported. Community interest companies must have been established for at least three years and have an annual income of at least £50,000, with at least 25 per cent of income from trading.
What are my chances?
It publishes an unusually open figure: it says the success rate for full eligible applications is in the region of 80 per cent. That makes the expression of interest stage the important hurdle, so read the eligibility rules carefully before you start.
How do I apply?
It says it has a two-stage process, starting with an expression of interest, which should be submitted as soon as possible and at least seven days before the application deadline. Trustees usually meet quarterly at the end of January, April, July and October. If you are funded, it asks for a report of no more than two pages, including the number of people you have supported and the change or outcomes you have achieved. Check the funder's own website (www.nisbettrust.co.uk) and its Charity Commission entry (charity number 1143496) 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 Nisbet Trust.