Who we are
The Pilgrim Trust is a UK wide independent grant-making charitable trust. We believe that the wellbeing of the UK’s people is enhanced both by its cultural heritage and by social initiatives that support people experiencing disadvantage. We support organisations that share our commitment to delivering positive and lasting change.
Our history
We were founded in 1930 by an endowment of £2 million from American philanthropist, Edward Stephen Harkness. Our founder gave us a wide remit – to support the urgent and future needs of the UK. This has allowed our Trustees the freedom to respond to immediate needs and to be flexible as new needs emerge. From the outset, our focus has been on social change and preservation and conservation.
Our work today
Over the decades, we’ve supported a wide range of causes, adapting to the changing circumstances and needs in the UK. Currently we’re running grant making programmes in preservation and conservation and young women’s mental health. We also support strategic interventions in the areas within which we work and investigate potential future areas of need through our research, advocacy and development fund.
How we work
Like our founding Trustees, we take great pride in the Trust’s independence and flexibility. We use our standing, experience, connections and voice, as well as our monetary resources to be a responsive funder in meeting urgent needs and acting as a catalyst for further work.
Meet the team
Our trustees
“We aim to be flexible, unbureaucratic, collaborative and pioneering.”