Sir Harry & Lady Judith Solomon Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £683,420 (charitable activities, year ending December 2024)
• Total Expenditure: £724,340 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales, with some international support (Israel)
• Application Process: No public application process - grants by trustee discretion

Contact Details

Registered Address:

32 Hampstead High Street

London NW3 1QD

Phone: 020 7431 7739

Charity Number: 326959

Note: This foundation does not have a publicly accessible website or published contact email for grant applications.

Overview

The Sir Harry & Lady Judith Solomon Charitable Foundation, also known as The Heathside Charitable Trust (formerly The Hillsdown Charitable Trust), was established in 1985 as a private family foundation. Registered as charity number 326959, the foundation received a significant donation of £3.88 million in 2024, bringing total income to £3,952,485. The foundation makes grants to organizations for general charitable purposes throughout England and Wales, with demonstrated interests in Jewish community organizations, education (particularly co-existence and management education in Israel), health research (especially kidney research), and children's welfare. The foundation is led by Sir Harry Solomon, a prominent British businessman knighted in 1991 for services to the food industry as co-founder of Hillsdown Holdings plc, and his family members. In 2015, Sir Harry received a Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing his philanthropic funding of education and co-existence initiatives to better Israeli society. The foundation operates as a private trust making grants through trustee discretion rather than accepting public applications.

Funding Priorities

Known Areas of Support

Based on publicly documented grants and Sir Harry Solomon's philanthropic activities, the foundation has supported:

Jewish Community Organizations

• Sir Harry Solomon serves as a patron of Jewish Care
• He was a key figure in Jewish Continuity and helped establish UJIA (United Jewish Israel Appeal)
• Demonstrated commitment to Jewish communal charities

Health Research

• Kidney Research UK: The Solomon family funded dialysis research in memory of Lady Judith Solomon, specifically establishing an award to fund a PhD student studying fistula health monitoring at the University of Warwick under Dr. Yongman Chung
• Focus on making dialysis more tolerable and improving outcomes for kidney patients

Education and Co-existence Initiatives

• Sir Harry Solomon School of Management at Western Galilee College in Akko, Israel, opened for Israelis of all ethnic backgrounds
• Demonstrates interest in education initiatives that promote co-existence

Children's Welfare

• Listed as a funding partner of One to One Children's Fund
• Sir Harry Solomon serves as patron/ambassador to One to One Children's Fund

Peace and Economic Development

• Sir Harry Solomon is co-founder and Vice Chairman of the Portland Trust, which promotes peace and stability between Israelis and Palestinians through economic cooperation

Charitable Purposes

The foundation's official objects are to make grants to organizations for general charitable purposes, providing services to the general public/mankind throughout England and Wales.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• Sir Harry Solomon - Co-founder of Hillsdown Holdings plc, knighted in 1991 for services to the food industry, qualified as a Solicitor in 1960
• Lady Judith Solomon (deceased) - The foundation continues her memory through kidney research funding
• Geoffrey Jayson
• Mrs Louise Sara Jacobs
• Mr Daniel Mark Solomon
• Ms Juliet Kate Solomon
• Mr Sam Jack Jacobs

Leadership Philosophy

Sir Harry Solomon has been recognized for “decades of business activities with Israel and philanthropic funding of education and co-existence initiatives to better Israeli society.” His approach to philanthropy appears to focus on:

• Long-term institutional support (establishing named schools and research programs)
• Co-existence and peace-building through education and economic cooperation
• Supporting the Jewish community in the UK
• Medical research connected to personal family experience
• Strategic, high-impact grants rather than broad distribution

The foundation has no employees with benefits over £60,000 and operates with trustees receiving no remuneration.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Sir Harry & Lady Judith Solomon Charitable Foundation operates as a private family trust that makes grants through trustee discretion. There are no published application guidelines, no online application portal, no published deadlines, and no evidence of the foundation accepting unsolicited applications from organizations.

Grants appear to be made:

• Through the trustees' personal knowledge and connections
• To organizations where trustees serve as patrons or board members
• To causes connected to the Solomon family's interests and values
• In memory of family members (such as the kidney research award in memory of Lady Judith Solomon)

Getting on Their Radar

While there is no formal application process, organizations working in the foundation's demonstrated areas of interest might consider:

Specific Connections:

• Sir Harry Solomon serves as patron of Jewish Care and One to One Children's Fund - organizations in similar spaces within the Jewish community or children's welfare sectors might explore whether Sir Harry or other trustees have involvement in sector events or networks
• UJIA connections: Sir Harry is Chairman of the UJIA Ashdown Board - organizations working with British-Israel connections or young British Jews might encounter foundation trustees through UJIA networks
• Portland Trust connections: Organizations working on Israeli-Palestinian peace and economic cooperation might encounter trustees through Portland Trust activities

Note: There is no evidence that the foundation welcomes or responds to unsolicited contact, and organizations should not expect a response to speculative approaches. The above information is provided only to help grant writers understand how the foundation appears to identify beneficiaries through the trustees' existing networks and commitments.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application data available.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, examining their known funding patterns provides insight into what the trustees value:

Connection to Trustees' Personal Networks

All documented grants appear to flow from organizations where trustees have direct personal involvement (serving as patrons, board members, or having family connections).

Memorial and Legacy Projects

The kidney research funding was established specifically in memory of Lady Judith Solomon, suggesting the foundation responds to opportunities to create lasting legacies connected to family members.

Co-existence and Peace-Building

Sir Harry's recognition for “philanthropic funding of education and co-existence initiatives” and his role as co-founder of the Portland Trust indicates strong commitment to projects that bring together different communities, particularly in Israel.

Institutional Impact

Rather than making many small grants, evidence suggests the foundation prefers significant, institutional support - such as funding an entire school building (Sir Harry Solomon School of Management) or endowed research positions.

Jewish Community Support

Sir Harry's extensive involvement with Jewish Care, UJIA, and Jewish Continuity demonstrates ongoing commitment to Jewish community organizations in the UK.

Education with Social Impact

The Western Galilee College business school was specifically noted as serving “Israelis of all ethnic backgrounds,” indicating interest in education that promotes inclusivity and opportunity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a private family foundation with no public application process - unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered or may not receive responses
• Grants flow from personal connections - all documented funding appears linked to trustees' direct involvement with beneficiary organizations
• Focus on substantial, institutional support - evidence suggests preference for major, named projects (schools, research programs) over numerous small grants
• Jewish community, education, health research, and co-existence are the primary areas of documented support
• Memorial projects may receive consideration - the kidney research award established in Lady Judith Solomon's memory indicates responsiveness to legacy-building opportunities
• Geographic focus on UK and Israel - while registered for England and Wales, significant support flows to Israeli educational and peace-building initiatives
• Relationship-building is essential - organizations are most likely to receive support if trustees already serve as patrons, board members, or have other established connections

References

1. UK Charity Commission Register - The Heathside Charitable Trust (Charity 326959): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/326959

1. "Family funds dialysis research in mother's memory," Kidney Research UK, December 16, 2022: https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/2022/12/16/family-funds-dialysis-research/

1. One to One Children's Fund - Funding Partners page, listing Sir Harry & Lady Judith Solomon Charitable Foundation: https://www.onetoonechildrensfund.org/funding-partners

1. “Leading food industry figure Sir Harry Solomon honoured at British Israeli Business awards,” The Jewish Chronicle: https://www.thejc.com/news/leading-food-industry-figure-sir-harry-solomon-honoured-at-british-israeli-business-awards-uwxgkty6

1. Sir Harry Solomon profile, Sir Martin Gilbert Learning Centre: https://sirmartingilbertlearningcentre.org/team/sir-harry-solomon/

1. Board of Trustees, Portland Trust: https://portlandtrust.org/board-of-trustees/

1. Jewish Care - Patrons: https://jewishcare.org/get-involved/become-a-patron

1. “120 over 80: Our oldest and wisest,” Jewish News: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/120-over-80-our-oldest-and-wisest/