About Us
The Dulverton Trust was founded in 1949 by Sir Gilbert Alan Hamilton Wills, the 1st Lord Dulverton.
The objects of the Trust are broad and the emphasis has evolved over the years. See further details of what we fund here.
Since its foundation, the Dulverton Trust has made grants totalling over £120 million, which have provided much-needed support to thousands of charities.
For more information about our funding and how we make decisions, please see our Annual Report and Accounts and FAQs.
Trustees
As a family foundation, the Trustees include members of the Founder’s family as well as a number of other individuals with wide experience of the areas and activities supported by the Trust.
Christopher Wills* – Chairman
Dame Mary Richardson
Richard Fitzalan Howard* – Vice Chairman
Sir Malcolm Rifkind
Tara Douglas-Home
Laura Wills
The Lord Dulverton
The Hon. Robert Wills*
The Lord Hemphill*
*Members of the Trust Finance Committee
Meet Our Team
Binda Patel
Director
Bio
Binda joined the Dulverton Trust as Director in 2024. She is responsible for the overall operation of the Trust.
Binda has previously worked at the Sutton Trust, a charity championing social mobility in the UK.
She has dedicated over 15 years of her career to working with charities and held several trustee positions, including the Diana Award and Arts Emergency.
Ella Hingley
Head of Grants
Bio
Ella joined the Trust in 2018, originally as Grants Officer. In her current role as Head of Grants, she manages the Trust’s day-to-day grant making and grant management, as well as the Community Foundation partnerships. Since 2021, she has also led on the Trust’s partnership with the #iwill Fund.
Before joining the Trust, Ella worked at BBC Children in Need in roles in the Finance, Operations and grant making teams, and as a fundraiser at the charity I Can.
Ella completed a Masters degree in Sociology of Childhood and Children’s Rights in 2017, which informs her work at the Trust.
Emma Stanger
Finance Director
Bio
Emma recently joined the Dulverton Trust as its Finance Director. She is responsible for the finance and investment-related operations.
Emma is a chartered accountant with over 30 years of experience in audit, investment banking, and, for the last 13 years, in the education and charity sectors, where she has consistently delivered transparency and accountability in financial practices.
Beyond the world of finance, you’ll likely find her on a golf course, enjoying the challenge and fellowship that the sport brings.
Rhea Patel
Grants Manager
Bio
Rhea joined the Dulverton Trust as the Grants Manager in December 2025. She is responsible for supporting the Trust’s grants assessment and management.
Before joining the Trust, Rhea worked at NatWest Social & Community Capital and DCMS as part of the On Purpose programme, a leadership programme for those moving into the impact space.
Rhea has founded two social ventures in Tanzania, a targeted skills programme for 15-20-year old girls and a microfinance scheme for single mothers.