The Association Of Jewish Refugees (ajr)

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £8,456,726 (2023)
• Annual Expenditure: £9,826,553 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Up to 3 months
• Grant Range: Not specified (typically funds up to 50% of project budget)
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom

Contact Details

Website: www.ajr.org.uk

Email: enquiries@ajr.org.uk

Phone: 020 8385 3070

Address: Winston House, 2 Dollis Park, Finchley, London N3 1HF

Overview

The Association of Jewish Refugees was established on 20 July 1941 to support and represent the interests of the estimated 70,000 Jewish refugees from German-speaking countries who fled to Britain to escape Nazi oppression before World War II. Today, the AJR is the UK's largest dedicated funder of programmes and projects which promote teaching and learning about the Holocaust (TLH) in the United Kingdom. The organisation operates through The AJR Charitable Trust (charity number 211239), which provides grants to institutions and organisations for Holocaust education, research and remembrance projects. With annual income exceeding £8.4 million, the AJR allocates a portion of its budget annually to support innovation in Holocaust teaching and learning, while also providing extensive social care and welfare services to Holocaust survivors and refugees living in Britain.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The AJR Charitable Trust awards grants to Holocaust educational and commemorative projects through a tri-annual review process with application deadlines on 15 April, 15 August, and 15 December each year. Applications are submitted via a rolling basis to these fixed deadlines.

Priority Areas

Holocaust Education Projects: The AJR prioritises projects which engage with the formal education sector, primarily for the benefit of teachers and their students. Grants support the development of programmes for the formal teaching of the Holocaust in schools, colleges and universities.

Commemorative Projects: Funding for organisations that arrange and organise commemorative events, programmes and exhibitions relating to the Holocaust.

Research and Archives: Support for educational projects including oral history collections, archives, and research underpinned by current scholarship relating to the history of the Holocaust.

Contemporary Connections: The AJR welcomes project proposals which seek to link historical events to contemporary issues relating to refugees, antisemitism and genocide.

Projects Outside Formal Education: Other projects which are broadly educational in nature but whose target audience consists of adults or those outside of the formal education sector (e.g., exhibitions, events, archives) will also be considered.

What They Don't Fund

• Projects which only focus on present day issues without historical connection to the Holocaust
• For-profit enterprises or individuals (only UK-based charitable organisations are eligible)
• General operating funds of organisations (grants are for specific projects)
• More than 50% of a project's total budget (applicants must demonstrate matched funding)

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees: Mike Karp OBE (Chairman), Eleanor Angel, Gaby Glassman, Frank Harding, Danny Kalman, Andrew Kaufman MBE, Miriam Kingsley, Stephen Kon, Anthony Spiro OBE, Philippa Strauss, and Mark White. No trustees receive remuneration from the charity.

Chief Executive: Michael Newman OBE has served as Chief Executive since July 2012, having joined the organisation in January 2001. He works closely with the Board of Trustees and senior management team with overall responsibility for implementing strategy and delivering services.

Executive Director: Adam Daniels works alongside the Chief Executive to implement policies set by the trustees.

Chairman's Background: Mike Karp is a retired partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers who holds several communal and non-communal positions, including as a trustee of the Holocaust Educational Trust. He assumed the chairmanship in December 2021.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Applications must be made on behalf of a UK-based charitable organisation
• Applications are not accepted from for-profit enterprises or individuals
• The AJR Trustees review grant applications three times per year
• Application deadlines: 15 April, 15 August, and 15 December
• For time-sensitive proposals, applicants should plan ahead given the review cycle
• The AJR considers proposals for multi-year grants, generally of no more than three years in duration
• Funds for the second and third years of multi-year grants are not guaranteed; recipients must submit comprehensive reports at specified milestones to satisfy the AJR that subsequent funds should be released

Decision Timeline

• Notification period: Up to 3 months from application submission
• Successful applicants will receive a grant offer and conditions letter, which sets out expectations relating to ongoing monitoring and consultation, grant instalments, evaluation, and how the AJR's support should be acknowledged

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The AJR does not publish statistics on the number of applications received or the percentage of applications approved.

Reapplication Policy

The search did not reveal a specific policy for unsuccessful applicants regarding reapplication. However, the AJR does note that in cases where renewing an existing grant may be the most effective route towards achieving the AJR's own strategic aims, repeat applications will be considered. Prospective applicants should contact the AJR directly for guidance on reapplication after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Use AJR Resources: The AJR particularly encourages applications which seek to make meaningful use of resources produced by the AJR, such as the Refugee Voices video archive (300+ oral history video interviews with Jewish survivors) and the UK Holocaust Map. This demonstrates awareness of the AJR's work and creates synergy with existing resources.

Demonstrate Current Scholarship: The AJR aims to support programmes which are underpinned by current scholarship relating to the history of the Holocaust and contemporary pedagogical approaches to teaching it. Applications should reflect an understanding of modern Holocaust education methodology.

Show Matched Funding: Since the AJR typically does not fund more than 50% of a project's total budget, successful applications must demonstrate financial sustainability with matched funding from other sources. This policy reflects their approach to fostering innovation and self-sustainability.

Focus on Formal Education: While other types of projects are considered, priority is given to projects engaging teachers and students in formal education settings (schools, colleges, universities).

Avoid Present-Day Only Projects: Applications should connect historical Holocaust education to contemporary issues (refugees, antisemitism, genocide) rather than focusing solely on present-day issues without historical context.

Plan for Sustainability: The AJR is willing to fund most categories of expenditure within a project's budget, but applicants should demonstrate how the project will achieve lasting impact beyond the grant period.

Example of Funded Project: The AJR Refugee Voices Testimony Archive, created by Dr Bea Lewkowicz and Dr Anthony Grenville, is an oral history collection funded by the AJR containing 300+ video interviews with Jewish survivors living in the UK.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Align with formal education: Projects engaging teachers and students in schools, colleges, and universities receive priority consideration
• Leverage AJR resources: Explicitly incorporate the Refugee Voices archive or UK Holocaust Map into your project design to demonstrate awareness of AJR's work
• Secure matched funding: Plan to secure at least 50% of your project budget from other sources before applying, as the AJR will not fund more than half
• Connect past and present: Frame proposals that link Holocaust history to contemporary issues like refugee experiences, antisemitism, or genocide rather than purely present-day projects
• Apply strategically to deadlines: With only three application cycles per year and up to 3 months decision time, plan submissions well in advance of project start dates
• Demonstrate scholarship: Show that your project is informed by current academic research and pedagogical best practices in Holocaust education
• Consider multi-year funding: For larger projects, the AJR accepts multi-year proposals (up to 3 years), though continued funding depends on satisfactory progress reports

References

1. The Association of Jewish Refugees official website - Grant Giving page: https://ajr.org.uk/remembrance/grant-giving/
2. The Association of Jewish Refugees - AJR Grants page: https://ajr.org.uk/remembrance/grant-giving/ajr-grant/
3. UK Charity Commission - THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH REFUGEES (AJR) - Charity Number 1149882: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5031668
4. Michael Newman Bio - AJR: https://ajr.org.uk/michael-newman-bio/
5. Association of Jewish Refugees - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Jewish_Refugees
6. Jewish News - “New chair announced for the Association of Jewish Refugees”: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/new-chair-announced-for-the-association-of-jewish-refugees/
7. fundsforNGOs - Apply for AJR Educational Grant: https://www2.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/apply-for-ajr-educational-grant-united-kingdom/
8. Association of Holocaust Organizations - Association of Jewish Refugees profile: https://www.ahoinfo.org/component/k2/3-association-of-jewish-refugees

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