Alliance Family Foundation Limited

Charity Number: 258721

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £152,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Trustee discretion (no fixed timeline)
  • Grant Range: £25,000 - £50,000 (major grants), plus smaller grants
  • Geographic Focus: England, Wales, Israel, and United States

Contact Details

Address: Suite 1B Maclaren House, Lancastrian Office Centre, Talbot Road, Manchester M32 0FP

Phone: 020 7493 7735

Email: aff@alliance.me

Charity Number: 258721

Company Number: 00943938

Overview

The Alliance Family Foundation Limited was established on 11 December 1968 by the late Lord David Alliance (Liberal Democrat peer and businessman) along with his brother Nigel Alliance, and registered as a charity on 28 May 1969. The foundation is a private family trust that makes grants to a diverse range of charitable causes with a particular focus on Jewish, pro-Israel and Zionist organizations. With total expenditure of approximately £152,000 in the financial year ending March 2024, the foundation normally provides a limited number of larger grants (£25,000-£50,000) to 6-8 organizations annually, supplemented by numerous smaller grants across a wider range of causes. The foundation operates internationally, supporting registered charities in England and Wales, Israel, and the United States. Lord Alliance's legacy includes major philanthropic contributions such as a £15 million donation to Manchester Business School (renamed Alliance Manchester Business School in 2015) and establishing an Iranian Studies Centre at Tel Aviv University.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grant program with two tiers:

  • Major Grants: £25,000 - £50,000 (6-8 grants annually)
  • Smaller Grants: Variable amounts to a diverse range of charitable causes

Application Method: Trustee discretion only - no public application process

Priority Areas

The foundation supports:

  • Education and Training: Including higher education institutions, particularly those with Jewish or Israeli connections
  • Advancement of Religion: Primarily Jewish religious causes
  • Relief of Poverty: Programs addressing poverty and hardship
  • Health/Saving Lives: Medical research charities and health initiatives
  • Arts/Culture/Heritage/Science: Cultural and scientific endeavors
  • Jewish, Pro-Israel and Zionist Causes: Organizations supporting Jewish communities and Israel-related initiatives

Geographic Focus: UK registered charities operating in England, Wales, Israel, and the United States

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations not registered as charities in the UK
  • Causes outside their priority areas (education, religion, poverty relief, health, arts/culture)
  • Organizations operating outside England, Wales, Israel, and the United States
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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees (as of 2024)

  • Lady Homa Alliance - Trustee (appointed 10 January 2024)
  • Hon Joshua Jacob Moshe Alliance - Trustee (appointed 30 May 2007)
  • Hon Sara Dorn Esterkin - Trustee (appointed 12 July 1984)

Historical Leadership

The foundation was founded and chaired by Lord David Alliance (1932-2025), who passed away in 2025. Lord Alliance was a prominent businessman, Liberal Democrat peer, and philanthropist known for his significant contributions to education, Jewish causes, and Israel-related initiatives.

Governance Note: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. The trustees operate on a discretionary model, reviewing requests for financial support and making donation decisions based on their collective judgment.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Alliance Family Foundation operates on a trustee discretion model. According to their governance documents, "the trustees' policy is to review requests for financial support and make donations at their discretion."

The foundation may also give formal or informal commitments to make allocations available from annual income over a number of years for certain causes.

Given the private nature of this family foundation and its focus on Jewish, pro-Israel, and Zionist causes, grants are typically awarded to:

  • Organizations with which the trustees have existing relationships
  • Causes aligned with the family's philanthropic interests
  • Major institutions where the family has historical connections (e.g., Manchester Business School, Tel Aviv University, Weizmann Institute)

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made at trustee discretion without fixed timelines.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed due to the invitation-only nature of grant-making.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a formal application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Alliance Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations seeking funding should consider:

Alignment with Foundation Priorities:

  • The foundation has a clear focus on Jewish, pro-Israel, and Zionist causes
  • Strong preference for organizations working in education, religion (particularly Jewish), poverty relief, health, and arts/culture
  • Must be a UK registered charity operating in England, Wales, Israel, or the United States

Historical Funding Patterns:

  • The foundation has supported major educational institutions (Manchester Business School received £15 million)
  • Support for Israeli institutions (Tel Aviv University, Weizmann Institute)
  • Lord Alliance served on boards of organizations the foundation supported, indicating a preference for personal connection and engagement

Trustee Discretion Model:

  • Grants are awarded based on trustee review and discretion rather than competitive application processes
  • The foundation may make multi-year commitments to certain causes
  • Given the foundation's total annual expenditure of approximately £152,000 and the historical £15 million gift to Manchester Business School, major grants may come from other sources or represent multi-year commitments

Geographic and Legal Requirements:

  • Must be a UK registered charity
  • Must provide charitable activities in England, Wales, Israel, or the United States

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: The Alliance Family Foundation operates exclusively through trustee discretion and does not accept unsolicited applications
  • Jewish and Israel focus: Strong preference for Jewish, pro-Israel, and Zionist causes across England, Wales, Israel, and the United States
  • Relationship-driven: Historical funding patterns suggest grants go to organizations where trustees have personal connections or board involvement
  • Two-tier approach: Limited number of major grants (£25,000-£50,000) to 6-8 organizations annually, plus numerous smaller grants
  • Diverse charitable interests: While Jewish causes are central, the foundation also supports education, poverty relief, health, and arts/culture
  • Family foundation structure: Operates as a private family trust with no trustee remuneration and decisions made collectively by family members
  • Multi-year commitments possible: The foundation may make formal or informal commitments for allocations over multiple years

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