Zetland Associates Limited
Helping philanthropists give with confidence
About Us
Zetland Associates is an independent philanthropy advisory firm, supporting individuals and families who want to give generously but wisely. We provide expert guidance on how to choose charities, run a grantmaking process and ensure gifts make a real and lasting impact.
We work alongside wealth advisers, lawyers and accountants as trusted partners — they provide the financial and tax structures, we help their clients decide how best to use their charitable funds.
Who We Work With
We support:
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Individuals and families establishing charitable trusts.
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Entrepreneurs after a business exit who want to begin giving.
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Wealth advisers, lawyers and accountants seeking a philanthropy partner for their clients.
What We Do
Many successful people want to give back but find philanthropy daunting. They may have created a charitable trust but are unsure how to move forward. Questions arise: Which charities should I support? How do I know they’re effective? How do I avoid being overwhelmed by requests?
Zetland Associates provides clear answers through:
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Giving Strategy Reviews – helping donors clarify their values, priorities and focus.
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Charity Research & Shortlisting – identifying and assessing organisations that match those priorities.
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Due Diligence & Oversight – financial and governance checks to give confidence.
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Ongoing Partnerships – managing relationships and reporting impact.
Why Zetland Associates?
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Experience that matters – Led by Kenneth Ferguson, Chartered Accountant and former Chief Executive of The Robertson Trust, Scotland’s largest independent grantmaker, with over 15 years experience of grantmaking in the UK.
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Grassroots knowledge – unique insight into Scottish and UK charities, including smaller organisations that many advisers overlook.
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Independent & trusted – no products to sell, no tied charities. Our sole focus is to help clients give effectively.
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Discreet & personal – we work with a small number of clients to provide tailored, confidential support.
