D D McPhail Charitable Settlement CIO

Who we are

Mr D D McPhail set up the Trust in 1973. The Trust made a variety of small annual grants until his death in 1995. The Trust was then significantly enlarged by a bequest from his estate in 1997. Since then, the Settlement has mainly supported small and medium sized charities.  The objective of a grant to a charity is to enable an investment and/or step change in its activities through a relatively large award, generally over a period of 2 to 4 years. Projects should be self sustaining following the conclusion of the grant. The Trust deed specifies three key areas of preference in the UK around:

- furtherance of medical research,

- care of the disabled particularly disabled children, and

- care of the aged and infirm

However, there is a wider discretion given to the Trustees to support other charitable activities in the UK. There have also been a low number of smaller grants to causes supported by the Founder and the Trustees. The charity also has an active small grant programme via members of the UK Community Foundation network.

Our culture and values

We are a UK charitable organisation that provides grant funding to other charities whose work aligns with our charitable objectives. We believe in responsible, transparent, and fair use of charitable funds and in supporting organisations that are well governed and deliver clear public benefit. Our grant-making process is proportionate and impartial, with decisions based on meeting our charitable aims. We aim to communicate clearly, keep administrative requirements appropriate to the size of grants awarded, and ensure funding is used for the agreed purposes. We regularly review our practices to ensure they remain effective and aligned with our charitable purpose.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

The Trustees of DD McPhail Charitable Settlement CIO are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences, particularly those underrepresented in leadership roles within the charity sector.