Andrew Carnegie Legacy

“The Carnegie Dunfermline Trust is founded by a handwritten letter from Andrew Carnegie. He transferred Pittencrieff Estate and Glen and $2,500,000.00 to the Board of Trustees and asks them to bring more ‘sweetness and light’ into the lives of the people of Dunfermline.

He says to the Trustees ‘remember you are pioneers and do not be afraid of making mistakes, those who never make mistakes never make anything. Try many things freely but discard just as freely’.

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“During the early years, the Trustees develop Pittencrieff Estate and Glen into a recreational park for the people.
They also follow Andrew Carnegie’s lead in providing buildings – children’s health clinics, swimming baths, technical colleges, social institutes, handicraft school, sporting facilities and a musical theatre are bought and built in Dunfermline.





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“The second world war brings a period of change and many of the Trust’s activities stop as buildings are taken over for the war effort.

With the introduction of national health and welfare services at the end of the 1940’s, the Trust transfers many of its buildings to the public sector and shifts focus to direct grant giving, facilitation and partnership projects.




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“Over the years, society has changed with new economic and environmental issues impacting on us all. Our Trustees recognise, however, that poverty is still with us, children still need opportunity and encouragement, and older people need supported.

As a consequence, our Trustees have continued with an annual programme of grant-giving and in recent years have placed their focus on alleviating poverty, improving health and wellbeing and reducing loneliness.”

“Today the Trust continues to play a key role in improving Dunfermline. The Trust funds a wide range of activities and works in partnership on bigger projects to benefit Dunfermline and its people.

In addition, our Trustees oversee the running of the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum and direct the operation of the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust.

At the beginning of 2008, the Trust moved into Andrew Carnegie House, which is a custom-built new headquarter on the edge of Pittencrieff Park. This headquarters is shared with our sister Trusts, the Carnegie UK Trust and the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland.”