Joffe Charitable Trust Cio

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £1.5 million (2023)
• Success Rate: 83% (2024), 76% (2023)
• Decision Time: 6 weeks for initial response; 3 decision meetings per year
• Grant Range: Up to £40,000 per year
• Grant Duration: 1-3 years
• Geographic Focus: UK-based charities
• Organization Size: Annual income up to £5 million

Contact Details

Website: https://joffetrust.org

Email: abigail@joffetrust.org (for initial enquiries)

Phone: 020 7841 6360

Charity Number: 1180520

Overview

The Joffe Charitable Trust CIO was established in 1968 by Joel and Vanetta Joffe and reorganized as a CIO in April 2019. The Trust is a specialist grant-maker supporting civil society leaders to build a fairer world, with a mission of “working to make the UK a better global citizen.” In 2021, the trustees decided to spend out the Trust's assets and close around 2030, in line with Joel Joffe's intention that funds should be used to address current needs rather than perpetuating his name. The Trust currently focuses on strengthening financial integrity in the UK's international financial systems, addressing the country's “dirty money problem.” The Trust has received positive recognition for its collaborative, flexible approach and was acknowledged for transparency through its use of GrantAdvisor to gather and publish feedback from applicants and grantees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Financial Integrity Programme (Currently Open)

• Grant Amount: Up to £40,000 per year for 1-3 years (smaller grants also available)
• Application Method: Two-stage rolling process with three decision meetings per year
• Focus: Supporting civil society organizations working to strengthen financial integrity in the UK's international financial systems, reduce corruption, and improve transparency

Legacy Grants in Focus Area 2 (Closed to New Applications)

• Previously supported UK civil society leaders building organizations contributing to global justice and equality
• Continuing support for existing grantees through multi-year commitments

Priority Areas

What They Fund:

• Investigative journalism into corruption and money laundering
• Research on illicit financial flows and their impacts
• Organizations holding economic enablers accountable
• Civil society working on tax and corruption issues
• Work fostering alliances and collective action on financial integrity
• Organizations with diverse leadership and clear strategic focus

Recent Funded Organizations:

• Transparency International UK (£996,000 - tackling illicit finance)
• Finance Uncovered (£375,000 - investigative journalism)
• Democracy for Sale (£150,000 - investigating dirty money)
• Bond (£106,863 - tackling illicit financial flows)
• Global Legal Action Network (£105,000 - accountability for economic harm)

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations based outside the UK (with very rare exceptions for South Africa)
• Emergency relief
• Individual applicants
• Work primarily benefiting UK communities
• Organizations entirely led by white men at both board and executive levels
• Organizations with annual income over £5 million

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

David Nussbaum (Chair) - Former CEO of The Elders, WWF-UK, and Transparency International UK

Robert Barrington - Corruption expert at University of Sussex

Sally Bagwell - Social impact strategy researcher

David Hopkins - Community development leader

Abigail Deffee - Works at Climate Bonds Initiative, focused on climate change and green finance

Jameela Raymond - Anti-corruption and talent development expert

Executive Team

Alex Jacobs (Director) - Has led the Trust since 2018 after 20 years working with Joel Joffe. Previously worked with Oxfam and Plan International, and founded Mango charity. Alex states: "We aim to be responsive to our grantees and engage in the substance of the issues we work on. That's work on tax and corruption, and strengthening small non-profit organisations."

Abigail Prabhakar (Trust Manager) - Master's in Politics and Development; previously worked in local government on public health and social care

Josie Stewart (Illicit Finance Programme Director) - Joined 2025; formerly at Transparency International and Foreign Office Illicit Finance

Susie Billings (Strategic Advisor: Funding Partnerships) - Independent consultant with fundraising experience at University of Oxford and Bureau of Investigative Journalism

Leadership Philosophy

Alex Jacobs notes: "Foundation staff don't often hear the unvarnished truth. That's unhealthy in all sorts of ways, like getting in the way of honest conversations that drive learning and improvement." The Trust demonstrates this commitment through transparency initiatives like publishing feedback from both successful and unsuccessful applicants. Joel Joffe's founding principle was that "the Trust's funds should be put to good use, rather than perpetuating his name."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Stage 1: Initial Enquiry

• Send a short email (up to 4 paragraphs) to abigail@joffetrust.org
• Include: organization details, draft proposal summary, funding amount requested, and how you heard about the Trust
• Trust aims to respond within 6 weeks
• Currently only accepting enquiries related to financial integrity work

Stage 2: Full Application (By Invitation Only)

• 6-page proposal covering:
• Grant summary and one-line description
• Introduction to the work
• Goals, activities, and expected outcomes
• How work aligns with related efforts
• Stakeholder involvement
• Implementation responsibilities
• Charitable purpose justification
• Diversity and anti-corruption approaches
• Supporting documents required:
• Organizational budget
• Initiative budget (if applicable)
• CVs of CEO and key managers
• Latest audited accounts/annual report
• Shorter proposals are acceptable
• The Trust may request additional clarification

Decision Timeline

• Three trustee meetings held per year
• Initial enquiries receive response within 6 weeks
• Shortlisted applications presented to trustees at next available meeting
• Trust aims to speak with all applicants (in person or online)
• Applicants may be invited to attend trustee meeting to discuss proposal
• Median time to complete full application: 12 hours

Success Rates

• 2024: 83% of full applications approved
• 2023: 76% of full applications approved
• The Trust uses a two-stage process specifically to avoid wasting applicants' time on full proposals that don't align with priorities
• Between 2015-2024: Made 168 grants to 102 recipients (total £8.8 million distributed)

Reapplication Policy

No explicit reapplication policy is published. The Trust maintains communication with rejected applicants and has gathered feedback from unsuccessful applicants through GrantAdvisor, suggesting openness to future engagement. Applicants should contact the Trust directly to discuss reapplication options.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Trust

“We believe that we can make the best use of our funds by supporting smaller and highly focused initiatives” - emphasis on specialized, strategic work rather than broad approaches.

The Trust specifically looks for:

• Effective leadership with clear focus and strategy
• Demonstration of how work fits with existing civil society efforts - showing applications developed in dialogue with other stakeholders
• Diversity in leadership - will not fund organizations entirely led by white men at board and executive levels
• Feedback from key stakeholders - Alex Jacobs notes the Trust values organizations that include stakeholder feedback in reports

What Makes Applications Successful

Collaborative Approach: The Trust values organizations that work strategically with others rather than in isolation. Show awareness of the broader field and how you complement existing efforts.

Unrestricted or Core Funding Requests: Grantees note the Trust “actually understands the need for unrestricted funding” - don't be afraid to request flexible funding.

Clear Strategic Focus: The Trust funds smaller organizations with highly focused initiatives rather than large generalist charities.

Relationship Building: The Trust takes a supportive, engaged donor approach with multi-year funding and flexibility. They want to speak with applicants and build relationships.

Language and Terminology

The Trust uses specific language around their priorities:

• “Financial integrity” rather than just anti-corruption
• “Dirty money problem”
• “Economic enablers” and “illicit finance”
• “Civil society leaders” and “high-potential non-profit organizations”

Grantee Feedback

Successful applicants describe the Trust as:

• “Approachable, friendly and open”
• Providing “flexible funding and supportive conversations”
• Understanding the importance of unrestricted funding
• Taking time to understand applicants' work

Common Success Factors

• Small to medium-sized organizations (under £5m income)
• Working specifically on UK financial integrity issues
• Evidence of strategic thinking and collaboration
• Diverse leadership teams
• Clear alignment with addressing “dirty money” flowing through UK systems
• Track record in investigative journalism, research, or advocacy on corruption/illicit finance

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Current Focus is Narrow: The Trust is only accepting applications related to UK financial integrity work. Do not apply if your work focuses on other areas, even other social justice issues.

1. Exceptionally High Success Rate: With 76-83% of invited applications succeeding, getting past the initial enquiry stage is the critical hurdle. Invest time in a compelling initial email that demonstrates clear alignment.

1. Relationship-Oriented Funder: The Trust aims to speak with all applicants and takes an engaged, supportive approach. Be prepared for dialogue and view the process as relationship-building, not just form-filling.

1. Diversity is Non-Negotiable: Organizations with entirely white male leadership will not be funded. Highlight your leadership diversity clearly.

1. Collaboration Matters: Show how your work fits within the broader ecosystem of organizations working on financial integrity. The Trust values strategic collaboration and wants to fund work that complements others.

1. Time-Limited Opportunity: The Trust is spending out and closing around 2030. This creates urgency but also suggests they're looking to make meaningful impact with remaining funds - focus on how your work can achieve significant change.

1. Flexible Funding Approach: The Trust is a signatory to flexible funding commitments. Don't over-specify project details if core/unrestricted funding would be more valuable - they understand this.

References

1. Joffe Charitable Trust official website: https://joffetrust.org
2. “How to Apply” page: https://joffetrust.org/how-to-apply/
3. “What We Do” page: https://joffetrust.org/what-we-do/
4. “About” page: https://joffetrust.org/about/
5. “People” page: https://joffetrust.org/people/
6. “Current Grants” page: https://joffetrust.org/current-grants/
7. “Applying for Grants” page: https://joffetrust.org/applying-for-grants/
8. “Annual Reports” page: https://joffetrust.org/annual-reports/
9. Jacobs, Alex. “How the Joffe Trust used GrantAdvisor to listen and learn.” Civil Society, https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/voices/alex-jacobs-how-the-joffe-trust-used-grantadvisor-to-listen-and-learn.html
10. UK Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 1180520: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1180520
11. 360Giving GrantNav - Joffe Charitable Trust: https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1180520