Rothschild Foundation (hanadiv) Europe

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £8.4 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 3 weeks for first-stage notification; 5-6 months total for final decision
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £60,000 (varies by programme)
• Geographic Focus: Europe-wide (excluding Ukraine, Russia, Belarus)

Contact Details

Address: 14 St. James's Place, London, England, SW1A 1NP

Website: https://www.rothschildfoundation.eu

Email: info@rothschildfoundation.eu

Phone: 01296 658778

Programme-Specific Contacts:

• Jewish Communal Life: Daniela Greiber (d.greiber@rothschildfoundation.eu)
• Academic Jewish Studies: Dr Ruchama Johnston-Bloom
• Archives and Libraries: Rebecca Singer (Communications and Grants Manager)

Overview

The Rothschild Foundation (Hanadiv) Europe is one of three philanthropic trusts established by the British branch of the Rothschild family. Registered as a UK charity (1083262) in 2000, the Foundation focuses exclusively on supporting Jewish culture, heritage, and education across Europe. With an annual grant expenditure of approximately £8.4 million (2023), it has invested nearly £10 million in academic Jewish Studies alone over 15 years. The Foundation operates in 24 countries and aims to increase access to European Jewish heritage and culture through funding for archives, libraries, museums, academic research, and community development. Nearly 90% of Foundation alumni secure positions within academia or heritage institutions, demonstrating significant impact in building capacity within the field.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

European Jewish Heritage:

• Collections Management: £30,000 - £60,000 per year (up to 3 years) for cataloguing, conservation, preservation, and digitization projects
• Digital Heritage Projects: Up to £40,000 for first-year pilot projects using digital tools (VR, AR, apps, virtual museums)
• Scoping Grants: Available year-round for collection assessments and preliminary research
• Applications via online portal; two-stage process with spring and autumn rounds

Academic Jewish Studies:

• Doctoral Fellowships: Up to £19,000 per year (up to 3 years) for first-year PhD students
• Postdoctoral Fellowships: Up to £35,000 per annum (2 years) for universities to employ postdoctoral fellows
• Research Consortia: Up to £40,000 per annum (3 years) for multi-institutional collaborative research projects
• Language Studies Grants: Support for Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, and Judeo-Arabic
• Applications once annually in autumn

Jewish Communal Life:

• Paths to Leadership: £10,000 - £40,000 per year (up to 2 years) for programmes developing young community leaders
• Professional Development for Community Educators: £15,000 - £40,000 per year (up to 3 years)
• Professional Development for Camp Leadership: £10,000 - £20,000 per year (up to 3 years)
• Applications via two-stage process; spring and autumn rounds

Professional Development (Year-Round):

• Expert/Consultant Visits: Up to £2,000 (£1,000 for fees, £1,000 for travel)
• Travel Grants: Up to £1,000 for conference attendance or professional training
• Rolling applications

Priority Areas

• Archives and libraries holding Jewish collections
• Jewish museums and heritage institutions
• Academic research and teaching in Jewish Studies (history, languages, literature, religion, philosophy, ethnography)
• Digital engagement with Jewish heritage
• Jewish community education and leadership development
• Contemporary Jewish life in Europe (particularly from social sciences perspective)
• Digital humanities research techniques in Jewish Studies

What They Don't Fund

Geographic Restrictions:

• Organizations based in Ukraine, Russia, or Belarus (current policy)
• Projects outside Europe

Content Restrictions:

• National Holocaust memorials stemming from government initiatives
• Holocaust memorials that are strictly memorial sites without collections, exhibitions, or associated research
• Jewish Studies projects only tangentially related to the field
• Projects about individuals who happen to be Jewish but whose historical importance isn't significantly contingent on that fact
• Widescale cataloguing projects for Jewish community libraries (due to volume across Europe)
• Retroactive projects (already completed)
• Building projects

Application Restrictions:

• Only ONE application per organization per grant round
• Cannot apply if currently holding an active grant (unless it's due to end)
• Organizations whose activities are not deemed charitable under UK charity law

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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by a board of trustees who receive no remuneration. While specific current trustee names are not publicly disclosed on their website, the Foundation is part of the broader Rothschild family philanthropic network. It operates as a Private Limited Company by guarantee, with a small professional staff including programme managers for each grant area.

The Foundation is related to but administratively separate from Yad Hanadiv (the Israeli arm) and the Rothschild Foundation (UK-focused). The name “Hanadiv” means “the benefactor” in Hebrew, referring to Baron Edmond de Rothschild (1845-1934), a pioneering philanthropist.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Online Applications Only: All applications must be submitted through the Foundation's online portal at rothschildfoundation.eu
• Account Required: Create an account to save and access applications
• Application Rounds: Most programmes operate on biannual cycles (spring and autumn); professional development grants available year-round
• Two-Stage Process: Collections Management, Digital Heritage, and Jewish Communal Life grants use a two-stage selection process
• Pre-Application Contact: If reapplying after rejection, contact the relevant Grants Programme Manager before submitting

Decision Timeline

Two-Stage Process (Heritage & Community Life):

• First-stage notification: Approximately 3 weeks after deadline
• Second-stage application deadline: Mid-September (for spring round)
• Final decision notification: Early January (for autumn submissions) or late July (for spring submissions)
• Total timeline: 5-6 months from initial submission to final decision

Academic Jewish Studies:

• Annual application round opens in autumn
• Decision notification timing not specified but typically follows similar pattern

Professional Development Grants:

• Rolling applications processed throughout the year

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publicly disclose application numbers or success rates. However, given the substantial annual giving (£8.4 million) and focused scope, competition is likely significant for larger grants.

Reapplication Policy

Permitted with conditions:

• Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in future rounds
• Important: Must contact the relevant Grants Programme Manager before reapplying if your project was previously rejected
• Cannot reapply while holding an active grant unless it's due to end
• Only one application per organization per grant round

Application Success Factors

Critical Requirements:

• Co-Funding: Maximum 70% funding from Foundation for most programmes (85% for camp leadership); must demonstrate at least 30% from other sources including in-kind contributions (up to 15% of total)
• Open Access: All materials catalogued, conserved, or digitized must be freely accessible to the public
• Charitable Status: Organization must be not-for-profit or publicly funded (e.g., state/private libraries, archives, museums, universities)
• European Base: Organization must be based in Europe (excluding Ukraine, Russia, Belarus)

Foundation's Advice to Applicants:

• "Before starting your application, read the relevant pages on our website, including 'What we don't fund,' to help decide if your organisation and project are well suited to our aims and objectives"
• “Do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information or advice as you prepare your application”
• Read application guidance documents and download sample application forms before beginning
• Save work frequently; applications time out after 50 minutes of inactivity
• Provide English translations for all non-English supporting documents

Strategic Priorities:

• Projects that increase access to Jewish heritage and culture
• Research and education that builds the field of Jewish Studies
• Programmes that develop the next generation of scholars and heritage professionals
• Innovative digital engagement with heritage
• Contemporary Jewish life studies from social sciences perspective
• Multi-institutional collaborations (especially for research consortia)

Recent Funded Projects (Examples):

• UCL's postdoctoral position for Dr Steven Samols (Academic Jewish Studies)
• Multiple university departments across Europe for sustained Jewish Studies teaching
• Collections across Europe from Uzbekistan and Siberia to Ireland and Portugal

Language and Approach:

• Emphasize rigorous, systematic research and professional standards
• Demonstrate commitment to accessibility and public engagement
• Show clear alignment with Jewish Studies or Jewish heritage preservation
• Evidence of sustainability planning (especially for research consortia, which should serve as seed funding for larger national/EU proposals)
• Include skilled collection management and professional presentation for heritage projects

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Contact programme managers before reapplying after any rejection to understand what improvements are needed—this is explicitly encouraged
• Secure co-funding first: With maximum 70% funding, you need firm commitments for at least 30% from other sources before applying
• Open access is non-negotiable: Any materials must be freely accessible to the public; this is a core mission alignment point
• Two-stage process requires patience: First-stage applications are screening tools; expect 5-6 months from submission to final decision
• One shot per round: Can only submit one application per grant round, so choose your programme category carefully
• Contemporary relevance valued: Foundation particularly welcomes social sciences perspectives on contemporary Jewish life in Europe
• Digital innovation encouraged: Strong interest in digital humanities and creative digital engagement projects
• Build relationships early: Foundation staff encourage contact for information and advice during application preparation—use this opportunity to test fit before investing in a full application