Jewish Child's Day (jcd Foundation)

Charity Number: 1167954

Annual Expenditure: £4.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £4,000,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not specified (multi-stage process)
  • Grant Range: Up to £30,000 (£135,000 NIS in Israel) - pilot programme 2025
  • Geographic Focus: UK, Israel, Eastern Europe, and worldwide Jewish communities

Contact Details

Website: https://jcd.uk.com

Email: adele.busse@jcd.uk.com (Head of Grants - Adele Busse)

Phone: Not publicly listed

Address: First floor Elscot House, Arcadia Avenue, London N3 2JU

Registered Charity Numbers: 209266 (original), 1195764 (current CIO), 1167954 (related foundation)

Overview

Founded in 1947 to support Jewish children displaced during World War II, Jewish Child's Day is the UK's leading Jewish grant-giving charity. Originally conceived as a single day of fundraising on the first Sunday of Chanukah, it has evolved into a year-round charitable organization. With £4 million distributed annually, JCD has supported over 1.5 million children since inception. In 2024 alone, they supported approximately 100 projects benefiting more than 25,000 children. Their mission: “to benefit Jewish children in need, awarding grants to organisations to ensure that no child lives in poverty, need, pain or suffering – anywhere.” The organization operates with core values of transparency, proactivity, and loyalty, focusing on delivering tangible help while educating communities about charitable giving (Tzedakah).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Standard Grants: Variable amounts for equipment, therapy services, and project-based support

  • Application Method: Expression of Interest followed by full application (currently closed to new applications)
  • Rolling basis when open

Pilot Grant Programme (2025): Up to £30,000 (UK) or NIS 135,000 (Israel)

  • Only available to organisations not funded by JCD in previous 12 months
  • Application Method: Invitation only for eligible organisations

Priority Areas

What They Actively Fund:

  • Support for children aged 18 and under living in difficult circumstances
  • Poverty relief: food, nutrition, clothing, school equipment
  • Mental health support: art therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, occupational therapy
  • Disability assistance: wheelchairs, hoists, specialist equipment, sensory rooms/gardens
  • Capital projects: new or refurbished buildings, rooms, playgrounds
  • Educational equipment and programs
  • Medical equipment: incubators, respirators
  • War-affected children in Israel: rehabilitation and rebuilding projects
  • Projects demonstrating long-term impact

Geographic Focus: UK, Israel, Eastern Europe, and worldwide Jewish communities where majority of beneficiaries are Jewish

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals (only organisations)
  • People over 19 years old
  • Core funding/salary costs (exception: therapist costs within projects)
  • Summer/winter/school holiday camps
  • Retroactive projects (already completed work or purchased equipment)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (Charity 209266)

Chairman: Charles (since 2017) - Previously Honorary Treasurer (2014-2017), National Council member since 2008. Managing Director at Wells Fargo Asset Management with extensive banking and finance background.

Life President: Joy - Former chairman for over 30 years, awarded MBE for services to charity in 2012.

Vice Chairman: Virginia - Long-term involvement with JCD, continuing family legacy (mother was former Vice Chairman).

Honorary Treasurer: Gary - Council member since 2016, now trustee and Honorary Treasurer.

Honorary Secretary: David - Former Head of North West London Jewish Day School.

Executive Team

Executive Director: Anthea Jackson - 20+ years senior nonprofit and corporate experience, joined August 2019, focuses on fundraising strategy and long-term goals.

Head of Grants: Adele Busse - 16+ years voluntary sector experience, joined September 2020, leads grant-making process and launched Heritage Grant programme in 2022. Professional background in grant making, fundraising, and marketing.

Head of Marketing & Collaborations: Shachaf Vainer Eytan - Corporate marketing background (Microsoft, Matrix), joined March 2020.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Initial Contact

Email Head of Grants Adele Busse (adele.busse@jcd.uk.com) including:

  • Organisation name
  • Charity registration number
  • Details about who you support
  • Project requiring funding

Step 2: Expression of Interest Form

  • Short form about your organisation and work requiring funding
  • Attach project budget sheet showing grant allocation
  • Only organisations meeting eligibility criteria will progress

Step 3: Full Application (if invited)

Submit:

  • Completed application form
  • Audited accounts
  • Detailed project budget
  • Safeguarding Policy (procedures for keeping children safe from harm, with staff/volunteer processes and responsibilities)

Step 4: Site Visit

First-time applicants generally not awarded funds until JCD representative conducts site visit

Eligibility Requirements

  • Registered charitable organisation in UK or Israel
  • Annual income ≤ £1,500,000 or NIS 6,750,000 (exception: UK schools with higher income)
  • Projects over £5,000 must be fully budgeted before approval
  • Beneficiary organisations typically have existing relationship with JCD through engagement, funding, or collaboration
  • Must have charitable or amuta status

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified. Multi-stage process includes:

  • Expression of Interest review
  • Full application assessment
  • Due diligence process
  • Site visit for first-time applicants
  • Trustee approval

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. In 2024, approximately 100 projects were funded.

Reapplication Policy

  • Pilot Grant Programme (2025) requires 12-month gap since last JCD grant
  • Standard grants: no specific waiting period mentioned

Application Success Factors

What JCD Prioritises

Long-term Impact: Projects demonstrating sustained benefit to children rather than one-off interventions

Tangible Outcomes: Equipment, capital improvements, and therapeutic services that directly improve children's lives

Safeguarding: Strong child protection policies and procedures are essential

Financial Transparency: Fully budgeted projects with clear allocation of grant funds

Established Relationships: “Beneficiary organisations are generally known to JCD though engagement, funding and collaboration over a number of years”

Projects Recently Funded

  • Leo Baeck Education Center (Haifa, Israel): Financial aid for students in need
  • JCoSS: Mentoring programme for students with learning disabilities using horse-based experiences
  • Clore Shalom Primary School: Outdoor facilities
  • Step by Step Hub (London): Special project funded in charity's 70th year
  • JCOSS secondary school: Mentoring program with horse-based experiences for students with learning disabilities

Language and Terminology

JCD uses terminology reflecting Jewish values and community:

  • Tzedakah: Charitable giving (central to their education mission)
  • Focus on “transforming lives” and “rebuilding”
  • Emphasis on children living in “difficult circumstances”
  • References to war-affected children in Israel

Common Success Factors

  1. Majority Jewish Beneficiaries: While non-Jewish children may benefit, majority must be Jewish
  2. Equipment Over Salaries: Capital items and specialist equipment favoured over running costs
  3. Detailed Budgeting: Projects over £5,000 require comprehensive budgets
  4. Relationship Building: Existing engagement with JCD significantly advantageous
  5. Site Visit Readiness: First-time applicants should prepare for representative visit

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Build Relationships First: JCD favours organisations with existing engagement and collaboration history. Don't expect to succeed as a completely unknown applicant
  • Focus on Equipment and Capital: Core funding and salaries are excluded (except therapists); emphasise tangible equipment, building improvements, or specialist resources
  • Demonstrate Long-Term Impact: One-off or short-term projects are less competitive; show sustained benefit to children
  • Budget Meticulously: Projects over £5,000 require full budgeting before approval—incomplete financial planning will derail applications
  • Safeguarding is Non-Negotiable: Robust child protection policies must be in place and ready to submit with full application
  • Target Under-£1.5M Income: If your organisation exceeds this threshold (except UK schools), you're ineligible—don't waste time applying
  • Timing Matters: Applications currently closed; monitor website for reopening announcements and be ready to respond quickly to Expression of Interest opportunities
  • Site Visits Required: First-time applicants should expect and prepare for in-person assessment by JCD representative

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References