The Trust favours applications from smaller animal welfare charities registered in the UK and working in the UK or abroad which demonstrate an active re-homing and rehabilitation policy for animals taken into their care, or is involved with conservation of wildlife, when the rescue, rehabilitation and where possible, the release of animals is their main aim.

The trust funds groups and organisations working in nature conservation

The Trust was created to provide funds for charitable purposes, with emphasis on the Isle of Bute and west coast of Scotland. Typically, donations are made towards Community, Medical, Youth and Heath & Awareness projects. The Trust also regularly supports cancer charities and international charities in response to the need for emergency and disaster relief.

The objectives of the Trust are widely drawn. The trustees will employ their discretion in order to determine which charitable initiatives receive donations.

Grants are distributed twice a year with the sole purpose of improving the lives of others through charitable donations in and around Scotland, and where possible on a global scale, with a focus on five core funding priorities: the advancement of education; the prevention or relief of poverty; the advancement of health and saving of lives; the advancement of art, heritage, science and culture; the advancement of public participation in sports.

The Trust furthers its charitable purposes for the public benefit by making grants supporting voluntary organisations working in three areas, where the Trust has many years of experience: Sustainable livelihood projects in Africa, such as small business support and training, and microfinance in both urban and rural, regions. Trustees also welcome appeals that support and protect street children; Work with families affected by domestic abuse in Britain. Trustees fund projects that work with survivors and/or perpetrators of domestic abuse; Work by organisations that help to improve the lives of prisoners an ex offenders in Britain. Trustees fund projects that offer practical help to rehabilitate offenders and help them to prepare for life after release.

The Trust provides grants to registered charities in Scotland for work relating to training for employment, employment support and vocational skills. It is particularly interested in employment and skills training for young people who are unemployed, and in re-training and support for unemployed people to get them back into work. The Trustees to have particular regard to the needs of the communities in Airdrie and Ayr in Scotland and with West Bengal in India.

Funding is available to advance the Christian religion, with particular emphasis on evangelism and the encouragement among believers of good works in all parts of the world.

The overall focus is on developing and promoting sustainable, low-carbon alternatives to the current consumerist and growth-based paradigm. Funding priorities: Better economics, Beyond consumerism, New voices.

The trust gives to a wide variety of causes, mostly in Scotland, including health, education, arts and the environment.