Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £94,874 (historical data - 39 grants awarded in 2017)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (trustees met regularly)
• Grant Range: £500 - £20,000
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (UK-registered charities only)
• Total Lifetime Giving: Over £10 million

Contact Details

Website: www.ernesthechtcharitablefoundation.org

Email: info@ernesthechtcharitablefoundation.org / applications@ernesthechtcharitablefoundation.org

Phone: 020 8458 7427

Application Email: applications@ernesthechtcharitablefoundation.org

Overview

The Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation was established in 2003 by Ernest Hecht OBE, a British publisher and philanthropist who passed away in 2018. Following his death, trustees Ben Barkow CBE, Barb Jungr, and Robert Ward continued the Foundation's work. The Foundation's primary objective was to support UK-registered charities by awarding grants that benefited the disadvantaged and promoted the advancement of the arts and education. With grants typically ranging between £500 and £20,000, the Foundation focused particularly on making a difference for the vulnerable, the young, and the elderly. In 2017, the Foundation made 39 grants totalling £94,874, with an average grant of £2,433. The Foundation emphasised supporting projects where their donation could make a tangible difference and help progress charitable initiatives. In its lifetime, the Foundation donated in excess of £10 million.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

General Grants Programme: £500 - £20,000

• Rolling application basis via email
• Applications accepted at any time
• Electronic submissions only
• Required completion of application form and two years of audited accounts

Priority Areas

The Foundation supported UK-registered charities working in the following areas:

• Arts and Culture: Theatre, music, visual arts, and cultural programming
• Education: Educational advancement and access to learning opportunities
• Healthcare: Medical services and health-related support
• Youth Support: Services and programmes benefiting young people in need
• Elderly Care: Programmes supporting older people, including dementia care
• Disability Support: Services for mentally and physically disabled individuals
• Relief of Poverty: Programmes addressing poverty and deprivation
• Religion: Advancement of religious causes

The Foundation particularly prioritised projects that benefited the vulnerable, the young, and the elderly.

What They Didn't Fund

• Individual applications (only UK-registered charities eligible)
• Charities whose primary area of benefit was outside the UK
• Postal applications (electronic submissions only)
• Incomplete applications (all sections had to be fully completed)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Ben Barkow CBE

• Also serves as trustee for the Holocaust Survivors' Friendship Association
• Part of the leadership team continuing Ernest Hecht's philanthropic vision

Barb Jungr

• Long-serving trustee who served during Ernest Hecht's lifetime

Robert Ward

• Joined the board shortly before Ernest Hecht's passing

The trustees continued to honour Ernest Hecht's legacy by giving priority to projects where their donation could make a meaningful difference and progress charitable initiatives.

How to Apply to Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation

How to Apply

1. Download Application Form: Available on the Foundation's website at ernesthechtcharitablefoundation.org
2. Complete All Sections: Every section had to be fully completed or the application would not be considered
3. Gather Supporting Documents: Include copies of your most recent two years of audited accounts
4. Submit Electronically: Email completed application and accounts to applications@ernesthechtcharitablefoundation.org
5. Postal Applications Not Accepted: The Foundation only accepted electronic submissions

Important: The Foundation would not enter into correspondence beyond confirmation of submission, so applications needed to be complete and compelling from the start.

Decision Timeline

• Applications were reviewed on a rolling basis
• Trustees met regularly to review applications
• Specific decision timelines were not publicly disclosed
• No detailed correspondence provided beyond submission confirmation

Success Rates

Success rates were not publicly disclosed. Historical data shows 39 grants were awarded in 2017 from the applications received that year.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants were not publicly specified.

Application Success Factors

Critical Requirements

Complete Every Section: The Foundation explicitly stated that “if each section of the application form is not completed fully, the application will not be considered for funding.” This was non-negotiable.

Electronic Submissions Only: Postal applications would not be considered or acknowledged. Applications had to be submitted via email to applications@ernesthechtcharitablefoundation.org.

What the Trustees Looked For

The trustees prioritised projects where their donation could make a difference and progress the charity's initiative. Applications needed to focus on demonstrating tangible impact and how the grant would advance the organisation's work.

Geographic Eligibility: Applicants had to be UK-registered charities. Charities whose primary area of benefit was outside the UK were not eligible.

Target Beneficiaries: Applications emphasising work benefiting the vulnerable, the young, or the elderly aligned with the Foundation's specific priority groups.

Examples of Funded Projects

The Foundation supported a diverse range of organisations, including:

• Mildmay Mission Hospital: £50,000 for core services and Day Therapy Services
• University of Westminster: £12,300 for weekly Monday Classic Matinée cinema events
• Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge: Educational scholarships and programmes
• University College London: Student scholarships and support
• Chickenshed Theatre: Arts programming
• Royal College of Music: Music education
• Alzheimer's Society: “Singing for the Brain” groups
• Whizz-Kidz: Disability mobility support
• React: Support for children with potentially terminal illness
• Cardboard Citizens: Homelessness and theatre programmes
• 4Sight Vision Support: Visual impairment services
• Age UK: Elderly care programmes

Application Language and Approach

The Foundation used language focused on “making a difference,” “benefiting the disadvantaged,” and “advancing” arts and education. Applications needed to mirror this impact-focused language and demonstrate how projects would create tangible change for beneficiaries.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Verify Current Status: Before applying, confirm the Foundation is still accepting applications, as its website indicates all funds have been expended.

• Complete Every Field: Incomplete applications were automatically rejected. Applications required thorough completion of every section of the application form before submitting.

• Electronic Only: Postal applications were not accepted. Email submissions to applications@ernesthechtcharitablefoundation.org with completed form and two years of audited accounts were required.

• Focus on Impact: Trustees prioritised projects where grants would make a measurable difference. Applications needed to clearly articulate how funding would advance charitable work and benefit vulnerable groups.

• Target Beneficiaries Matter: Work benefiting the vulnerable, young people, or elderly aligned with explicit Foundation priorities.

• Grant Range Awareness: Most grants fell between £500-£20,000, with an average of approximately £2,433 historically. Requests needed to be realistic and well-justified for the Foundation's giving capacity.

• Diverse Portfolio: The Foundation funded across arts, education, healthcare, and social welfare. Applicants didn't need to fit a narrow niche - genuine charitable impact in any supported sector was valued.

• No Back-and-Forth: The Foundation did not engage in correspondence beyond submission confirmation. Applications had to be compelling, complete, and clear on first submission - there was no opportunity to clarify or supplement later.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Arts Council Of England
• Paul Hamlyn Foundation
• Bbc Children In Need
• The Wolfson Foundation
• The London Community Foundation
• The Big Give Trust
• The Linbury Trust
• The Calleva Foundation
• The Wimbledon Foundation
• The Childhood Trust
• Baron Davenport's Charity
• The John Horseman Trust
• The Peter Stebbings Memorial Charity
• The Charles Skey Charitable Trust
• The Medicash Foundation
• The William Allen Young Charitable Trust
• The Patricia Routledge Foundation
• Chapman Charitable Trust
• The Oakdale Trust
• The Tula Trust Limited

References

• Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation official website: https://ernesthechtcharitablefoundation.org/
• Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation - About page: https://ernesthechtcharitablefoundation.org/about/
• Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation - Supported Charities: https://ernesthechtcharitablefoundation.org/supported-charities/
• Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation - Guidelines & Applying for Funding: https://ernesthechtcharitablefoundation.org/guidelines-and-apply/
• UK Charity Commission Register - Charity No. 1095850: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1095850
• PAVO - The Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation: https://www.pavo.org.uk/help-for-organisations/funding/funding-news/article/news/the-ernest-hecht-charitable-foundation.html
• Mildmay Mission Hospital: “The Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation supports Mildmay”: https://www.mildmay.org/post/the-ernest-hecht-charitable-foundation-supports-mildmay
• University of Westminster: “Westminster receives generous support from Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation for Matinée Classics at Regent Street Cinema”: https://www.westminster.ac.uk/news/westminster-receives-generous-support-from-ernest-hecht-charitable-foundation-for-matinee-classics-at-regent-street-cinema
• Action Together: “Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation”: https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/ernest-hecht-charitable-foundation-1
• Wikipedia: “Ernest Hecht”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Hecht