Gemach Ltd

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £5,433,061 (FY 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Jewish community worldwide, administered from London
• Application Method: No public application process

Contact Details

Email: levison@bondcare.co.uk

Phone: 020 8202 2277

Address: 18 Lodge Road, London NW4 4EF

Registered Office: 1st Floor Cloister House Riverside, New Bailey Street, Manchester M3 5FS

Note: Contact details are provided for informational purposes. This charity does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

GEMACH LTD is a grant-making charitable company founded in 2003 to support religious Jewish educational institutions and charitable organizations. The charity's name derives from the Hebrew “gemilut chasadim” (acts of lovingkindness), reflecting traditional Jewish values of charitable giving. With charitable expenditure of £5.4 million in the financial year ending July 2024 and income of £4.6 million (entirely from donations and legacies), GEMACH LTD is a significant funder within the UK Jewish charitable sector. The organization operates as a private grant-making trust, with funding decisions made at the discretion of its three trustees, all members of the Levison family. The charity has no employees and operates with minimal administrative costs, directing virtually all expenditure to charitable activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

GEMACH LTD does not operate formal grant programs with published criteria or application processes. All grants are made at trustee discretion.

Priority Areas

Based on the charity's registered objects, funding supports:

• Jewish Religious Education: Religious Jewish educational institutions worldwide
• Advancement of Jewish Religion: Organizations promoting Jewish religious practice and observance
• Poverty Alleviation: Relief of poverty within the Jewish community globally
• Jewish Charitable Organizations: Broader charitable organizations serving Jewish communities whose objectives align with the charity's mission

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the charity's focus is exclusively on:

• Jewish religious and educational causes
• Organizations whose objectives fall within their charitable objects

Organizations outside the Jewish community or without religious/educational focus would not align with their mission.

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Governance and Leadership

GEMACH LTD is governed by three trustees:

• Leib Levison - Secretary and Director (appointed 2003)
• Yael Levison - Director (appointed 2003)
• Yitzchok Zvi Zeidel Levison - Director (appointed 2005)

All trustees are British nationals and members of the Levison family. No trustees receive remuneration or benefits from the charity. The charity has no employees and operates with exceptionally low administrative costs (just £120 in other expenditure in FY 2024), ensuring nearly 100% of resources go directly to charitable activities.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

GEMACH LTD does not have a public application process. This is a private grant-making trust where funding decisions are made entirely at the discretion of the trustees. The charity does not:

• Accept unsolicited grant applications
• Publish grant guidelines or eligibility criteria
• Operate an application portal or accept application forms
• Publicize grant recipients or award amounts
• Respond to general funding inquiries

The trustees identify and select beneficiary organizations through their own networks and knowledge of the Jewish educational and charitable sector. Grants appear to be made to predetermined beneficiaries rather than through competitive application processes.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

As GEMACH LTD operates as a private trust without public applications, traditional “success factors” do not apply. However, organizations that have been funded share these characteristics:

• Religious Jewish Educational Mission: Strong alignment with Jewish religious education and practice
• Established Presence: Likely known to the trustees through existing Jewish community networks
• Clear Charitable Purpose: Objectives that clearly fall within the charity's registered objects
• Jewish Community Focus: Beneficiaries primarily or exclusively serve Jewish communities

Organizations seeking funding from private Jewish grant-making trusts generally benefit from:

• Strong connections within Jewish communal networks
• Clear demonstration of impact on Jewish education or religious life
• Alignment with traditional Jewish charitable values (gemilut chasadim)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: GEMACH LTD is a private grant-making trust that does not accept unsolicited applications
• Trustee Discretion: All funding decisions are made by three family trustees without published criteria
• Substantial Resources: With £5.4 million in annual charitable expenditure, this is a significant funder, but access is restricted
• Exclusive Focus: Funding is exclusively for Jewish religious educational institutions and charitable organizations
• Minimal Public Information: No published grant recipients, amounts, or guidelines are available
• Network-Based: Beneficiaries are likely identified through trustees' existing connections within Jewish communal networks
• Contact for Information Only: While contact details are provided, organizations should not expect to successfully apply for funding through unsolicited contact

References

• Charity Commission Register, GEMACH LTD - Charity Number 1099106. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=1099106
• Companies House, GEMACH LTD - Company Number 04822639. Available at: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04822639
• Charity Choice Directory, GEMACH LTD. Available at: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/gemach-ltd-51392
• Wikipedia: Gemach - Traditional Jewish Free-Loan Funds. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemach