Keren Association Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £14,055,811 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales (UK), Belgium, Israel, United States
• Established: 1961

Contact Details

Registered Office:

New Burlington House

1075 Finchley Road

London NW11 0PU

Phone: 020 8800 9677

Email: mail@cohenarnold.com

Website: None

Note: Cohen Arnold is the charity's accountants and handles administrative correspondence.

Overview

KEREN ASSOCIATION LIMITED is a well-established UK grant-making charity founded in 1961 and registered with the Charity Commission (No. 313119). Operating as a private company limited by guarantee without share capital, the organization maintains significant financial resources with long-term investments that generated approximately £1.48 million in investment returns in 2024. Despite having income of £3.5 million in 2024, the charity distributed over £14 million in charitable activities, drawing on its substantial reserves to support its mission.

The charity operates internationally across England, Wales, Belgium, Israel, and the United States, with a focus on advancing the Orthodox Jewish faith and supporting general charitable purposes recognized by English law. Based in North London, the organization serves the Orthodox Jewish community through a combination of educational grants and broader institutional support. The charity maintains 8 trustees who serve without remuneration and operates through trustee discretion rather than a public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Educational Bursaries:

• Study grants and bursaries for mature students attending the Keren Shlomo Institute
• Support for Orthodox Jewish religious education

Institutional Grants:

• Grants to charitable organizations and institutions
• Support for other charities to promote charitable work in the UK
• International grants to organizations in Belgium, Israel, and the United States

Priority Areas

• Advancement of the Orthodox Jewish religion
• Orthodox Jewish religious education
• Relief of poverty among persons of the Jewish faith
• General charitable purposes recognized by English law
• Support for charitable organizations serving the Jewish community

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but given the charity's focused mission on Orthodox Jewish causes and education, funding outside this community is unlikely. The organization does not appear to fund:

• Non-Jewish religious causes
• Organizations without connection to the Orthodox Jewish community
• Individual applications outside their established educational programs

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee Board

The charity is governed by 8 trustees who serve without any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the organization. Individual trustee names are available through the Charity Commission register. The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, with a declaration of trust dated 11 September 1991.

One or more trustees also serve as directors of subsidiary organizations, indicating a connected network of charitable entities.

Professional Support

Accountants: Cohen Arnold, Chartered Accountants

Cohen Arnold, based in Golders Green, specializes in charity accounting and serves multiple Jewish charitable organizations. They handle the financial compliance and administrative correspondence for KEREN ASSOCIATION LIMITED.

Staff: The charity operates with no employees receiving total benefits exceeding £60,000, suggesting a lean operational model focused on grant-making rather than direct service delivery.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

KEREN ASSOCIATION LIMITED does not operate a public application process. The charity appears to identify grant recipients through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships within the Orthodox Jewish community.

Grant decisions are made by the trustees based on their knowledge of charitable needs within their focus areas. Organizations seeking funding should note that:

• There is no application form or online portal
• No published application deadlines or funding rounds
• Grants are awarded based on trustee initiative and community connections
• Educational bursaries for Keren Shlomo Institute appear to operate through that institution directly

Getting on Their Radar

Given the private nature of this grant-maker, building relationships within the Orthodox Jewish charitable sector may be beneficial for organizations whose work aligns with the charity's mission. However, specific strategies for this particular funder are not publicly documented.

Organizations might consider:

• Contacting Cohen Arnold at mail@cohenarnold.com for initial inquiries about whether the charity's interests align with your work
• Ensuring your organization has a strong track record within the Orthodox Jewish community
• Connecting with Keren Shlomo Institute if your work relates to Jewish education

It's important to note that unsolicited approaches may not be welcomed or reviewed, as the charity appears to proactively identify beneficiaries through its trustee network.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable. Grants are awarded at the discretion of trustees throughout the year based on identified needs and opportunities within their areas of focus.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The private nature of the grant-making process means no data is published on application volumes or success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since KEREN ASSOCIATION LIMITED operates without a public application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have been funded by this charity typically share the following characteristics:

Alignment with Mission

• Orthodox Jewish Focus: All funded activities align closely with Orthodox Jewish religious practice, education, or community welfare
• Educational Excellence: The charity's support for the Keren Shlomo Institute demonstrates commitment to mature Jewish education
• Community Integration: Beneficiaries are typically well-established within the Orthodox Jewish community in London, particularly North London areas like Stamford Hill and Clapton

Organizational Characteristics

• Established Track Record: As a private foundation with trustees making discretionary grants, they likely favor organizations with proven effectiveness
• Financial Stewardship: With significant resources under management, the charity values prudent financial management in its beneficiaries
• Geographic Presence: Priority appears given to organizations operating in their stated geographic areas (England, Wales, Belgium, Israel, United States)

Trustee Connections

• Pre-existing relationships with trustees or within their networks appear to be the primary pathway to funding
• Organizations already known within the Orthodox Jewish charitable sector are more likely to receive support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This is a private grant-making charity operating on trustee discretion; there is no application portal or formal process for unsolicited proposals

• Orthodox Jewish Focus: All funding priorities center on Orthodox Jewish religious advancement, education, and community welfare; organizations outside this scope should not pursue this funder

• Substantial Resources: With over £14 million in annual charitable expenditure drawn from significant investment holdings, this is a major funder within its sector, though operating privately

• Educational Priority: The charity's support for Keren Shlomo Institute highlights a commitment to mature Jewish education and student support

• International Scope: While based in London, the charity operates across multiple countries (UK, Belgium, Israel, USA), indicating potential for cross-border Jewish charitable work

• Administrative Contact Only: The listed email address (mail@cohenarnold.com) reaches the charity's accountants, not a grants officer; unsolicited applications may not receive responses

• Trustee-Driven: With 8 unpaid trustees making all funding decisions, this operates as a traditional private foundation where personal knowledge and community standing influence grant-making

References

• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity Details for KEREN ASSOCIATION LIMITED (313119). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/313119 []

• Companies House, KEREN ASSOCIATION LIMITED Company Information (00707087). Available at: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00707087 []

• Charity Choice, Keren Association Limited Profile. Available at: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/keren-association-limited-130659 []

• Cohen Arnold Chartered Accountants, Charity Sector Services. Available at: https://www.cohenarnold.com/specialist-sectors/charities []

• UK Charity Commission Register, Annual Returns for Charity 313119, Financial Year Ending March 31, 2024 []

• NGO Explorer, KEREN ASSOCIATION LIMITED Profile. Available at: https://ngoexplorer.org/charity/313119 []