EKCT was founded to formalize Ernest and his family's dedication to charitable activities, with a focus on conservation of wildlife and the natural environment, encouragement of youth enterprise and outdoor activity. These ideals, along with supporting their home county of Sussex, remain core to their mission.
The EKCT aims to ‘make a difference’ through its grant programs, supporting UK-registered charities across various activities that align with the trust's interests. Grants are awarded for a range of purposes including start-up costs, core costs, and specific projects. This can cover building or refurbishment projects, specialist equipment purchases, and other capital expenditures, or assistance with running costs. Specifically, the trust supports reproductive health projects in Africa and Asia that also impact the environment. Grants are categorized into three sizes based on the amount of funding requested: Small Grants (up to £10,000), Medium Grants (£10,001 to £20,000), and Large Grants (over £20,001), with the latter being available only to charities that have a long-standing relationship with the trustees. Each grant category has specific application timelines and review periods.