Barzilai Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
• Founded: 2022
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: £5,000+ (varies by program)
• Geographic Focus: UK and Gibraltar
• Application Process: Partnership-based (no public application process)

Contact Details

Website: https://barzilaifoundation.org

Email: info@barzilaifoundation.org

Location: Gibraltar

Overview

Founded in 2022, the Barzilai Foundation is a Gibraltar-based philanthropic trust that supports individuals and families dealing with difficult life challenges beyond their control. Led by CEO Brandon Sosa with principal benefactor David Barzilai, the foundation operates across the UK and Gibraltar through strategic partnerships with established charitable organizations. The foundation's approach is distinctive: support is “active, customized and temporary” with the aim to help people overcome challenges and excel beyond. Since inception, the foundation has funded grants, awarded scholarships and bursaries, provided access to healthcare, and worked with multiple community partners across several countries. The foundation is structured as a trust with Phenix Philanthropic Limited (company number 125358) serving as trustee, with trustees including Peter Montegriffo and Graham Olivero.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through four main program areas:

Barzilai Grants (Partnership-based)

• Hardship Grants: Provide “just in time support for critical life moments” including essential home needs, food insecurity, and new employment costs
• Exceptional Needs Grants: Address larger, more complex challenges to either remove obstacles reducing long-term potential, allow individuals to maintain a standard of living, or help families avoid long-term debilitating financial arrangements

Education Programs (Direct scholarships/bursaries)

• Undergraduate Studies Bursaries: Up to £5,000 each (eight bursaries awarded in collaboration with EV Foundation for students from low-income households studying abroad)
• University Scholarships: Full tuition coverage at University of Gibraltar and University of Wisconsin-Madison for select fields (nursing, maritime science, environmental science); renewable annually with satisfactory academic progress
• Access to Nursing Bursary: Support for students with financial need enrolled in Access to Nursing courses
• Apprenticeship Program: Vocational and skills training support

Healthcare Access

• Support for medical treatments and healthcare needs
• Partnership with Cancer Relief Gibraltar to support cancer patients and their carers

Multi-year Organizational Support

• Committed multi-year financial support to partner organizations like Calpe House

Priority Areas

• Individuals from low-income backgrounds facing circumstances beyond their control
• Educational access for high-potential students who cannot fully fund their studies
• Healthcare access for those facing medical hardships
• Vocational training for skills development and poverty reduction
• Crisis intervention providing just-in-time support to prevent financial distress escalation
• Families experiencing hardship due to loss, trauma, or cost-of-living challenges

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation focuses exclusively on supporting individuals and families (not organizational projects or infrastructure) through either direct programs or partnership arrangements.

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Governance and Leadership

CEO: Brandon Sosa

Principal Benefactor: David Barzilai

Trustee: Phenix Philanthropic Limited (Gibraltar company number 125358)

Trustees: Peter Montegriffo (Director), Graham Olivero

Co-founder: Louise Federico

Leadership Perspectives:

Brandon Sosa (CEO) explained the foundation's rationale: “We are excited about this work because for many trying to lift themselves out of poverty, the story is small financial hardships that turn into bad debt or close the door on opportunities to move forward financially, a vicious repeating cycle.”

The foundation's mission statement emphasizes: “The Barzilai Foundation works with individuals whose life has been derailed by challenges beyond their control. Our support is active, customized and temporary. The aim is to help people overcome those challenges and excel beyond.”

How to Apply to Barzilai Foundation

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process for organizational funding.

The Barzilai Foundation operates through two distinct models:

1. For Organizations: The foundation works through invited partnerships with established charitable organizations rather than accepting unsolicited grant applications. They identify partner organizations aligned with their mission and establish collaborative funding arrangements where the partner organization administers grants to individuals on behalf of the foundation.

1. For Individual Scholarships: The foundation does appear to accept applications for their educational scholarship and bursary programs. Interested students should contact info@barzilaifoundation.org for application details.

Current Partner Organizations Include:

• National Benevolent Charity (UK) - hardship grants for low-income families
• Calpe House (Gibraltar/UK) - multi-year support for Gibraltarians traveling to London for medical treatment
• Cancer Relief Gibraltar - support for cancer patients and carers
• EV Foundation (Gibraltar) - educational bursaries for students
• University of Gibraltar - scholarship programs in nursing, maritime science, environmental science

Getting on Their Radar

Contact: Organizations interested in partnership opportunities can reach out to the foundation at info@barzilaifoundation.org to discuss potential collaborative arrangements.

Partnership Model: The foundation seeks organizations that:

• Work directly with communities experiencing hardship
• Have established infrastructure for administering individual grants
• Serve populations facing circumstances beyond their control (low-income families, students, medical patients, individuals in crisis)
• Can provide referral-based support to identify individuals in exceptional need

Geography: The foundation currently focuses on UK and Gibraltar operations, with partners in both jurisdictions.

Approach: Given that the foundation was only established in 2022 and has already formed multiple partnerships, they appear open to developing new relationships with organizations aligned with their mission of supporting individuals dealing with life challenges.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Partnership arrangements appear to be established through direct negotiation.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - partnership-based model.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates through invited partnerships rather than open applications, the following insights are relevant for organizations seeking to understand their funding approach:

For Potential Partner Organizations:

1. Mission Alignment: The foundation's CEO Brandon Sosa emphasizes their focus on breaking the “vicious repeating cycle” where small financial hardships create long-term barriers. Organizations demonstrating how they address this cycle would align with their priorities.

1. Individual-Focused Support: All foundation grants ultimately support individuals, not organizational operations. Partner organizations must have infrastructure to administer grants directly to people in need.

1. Just-in-Time Intervention: The foundation values support that arrives at “critical life moments” - partnerships that can identify and respond quickly to urgent needs align with their model.

1. Evidence of Impact: While specific metrics aren't published, the foundation tracks individuals supported, healthcare access provided, and scholarships awarded, suggesting they value measurable outcomes.

1. Established Community Connections: Current partners (National Benevolent Charity, Cancer Relief Gibraltar) have long track records and deep community roots. The foundation appears to prefer working with trusted, established organizations rather than newer entities.

For Partnership Proposals:

Ali Russell, Chief Executive of National Benevolent Charity (a current partner), noted: “The number of people looking for support and the urgency of their need has grown at an unprecedented pace” and “The grants we provide in moments of crisis can prevent an onslaught of financial distress.” This suggests the foundation responds to demonstrated urgent need and crisis prevention.

Recent Funding Examples:

• National Benevolent Charity: Funding for up to two-dozen additional hardship grants providing vouchers for essential home needs, food insecurity support, and clothing for job interviews
• Calpe House: Multi-year financial commitment for supporting Gibraltarians traveling to London for medical treatment
• EV Foundation: Eight bursaries of up to £5,000 each for students from low-income households

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - the foundation works exclusively through invited partnerships with established charitable organizations
• Partnership-based model: If your organization works with low-income individuals facing hardship, healthcare crises, or educational barriers, contact the foundation directly to explore collaboration opportunities
• Individual focus: All funding ultimately supports individuals, not organizational projects or infrastructure - partnerships must enable direct grants to people in need
• Quick intervention valued: The foundation emphasizes “just in time” support at critical moments, suggesting they value partners who can respond rapidly to urgent needs
• Young but active foundation: Established only in 2022, they have already formed multiple partnerships across UK and Gibraltar, suggesting openness to new relationships
• Education, healthcare, and hardship: Three clear priority areas with established funding streams
• Geographic scope: Currently UK and Gibraltar focused; organizations outside these areas unlikely to be considered

For Individual Applicants: The foundation does appear to offer direct scholarship and bursary programs for students - contact info@barzilaifoundation.org for application information.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Kenora Charitable Foundation
• The Clarkson Foundation
• The Greenslade Family Foundation
• Peter Dubens Family Foundation
• Axis Foundation
• Wellington Management Uk Foundation
• The Conway Charitable Foundation
• The Cosaraf Charitable Foundation
• The Tmt Foundation
• Lifelines International Fund For Education

References

1. Barzilai Foundation Official Website - https://barzilaifoundation.org/
2. Barzilai Foundation, “Barzilai Grants” - https://barzilaifoundation.org/our-work/barzilai-grants
3. Barzilai Foundation, “Supporting Low Income Families Facing Hardships” - https://barzilaifoundation.org/initiative/supporting-low-income-families-facing-hardships
4. Barzilai Foundation, “Access to Education” - https://barzilaifoundation.org/our-work/access-to-education
5. Gibraltar Chronicle, “Barzilai Foundation commits multi-year financial support for Calpe House” - https://www.chronicle.gi/barzilai-foundation-commits-multi-year-financial-support-for-calpe-house/
6. Hassans Law Firm, “Barzilai Foundation Impact Report 2023” - https://www.gibraltarlaw.com/insights/post/102j1uz/barzilai-foundation-impact-report-2023/
7. GBC News, “Barzilai Foundation offers bursaries to students in need, as EV Foundations highlights family struggles on the Rock” - https://www.gbc.gi/news/barzilai-foundation-offers-bursaries-students-need-ev-foundations-highlights-family-struggles-rock
8. Calpe House GA, “The Barzilai Foundation committed to support Calpe House GA” - https://www.calpehouse.com/past-events/the-barzilai-foundation-committed-to-support-calpe-house-ga/