The British Shalom-salaam Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £190,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (evaluates 30-40 organizations annually)
• Decision Time: 10 weeks
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £5,000 (max 30,000 NIS)
• Geographic Focus: Israel/Palestine/Golan (West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Israel within 1967 borders)

Contact Details

Website: www.bsst.org.uk

Email: bsst@bsst.org.uk

Phone: 07803 614255

Overview

The British Shalom-Salaam Trust (BSST) is a Jewish charity established in 2004 in response to the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East caused by the Israeli Occupation. It is the only British Jewish grant-giving charity established specifically to work across Israel/Palestine. With an annual expenditure of approximately £190,000, BSST provides small grants to hundreds of grassroots initiatives tackling violations of human rights, poor access to healthcare, psychological trauma to children, attacks on the rule of law, violence against communities, women's empowerment, and many social, cultural, and economic issues. The Trust is committed to fostering positive relations between Jews, Palestinians, and other communities living in Israel and Palestine, with a particular focus on small-scale, grassroots organizations that struggle to secure funding elsewhere. Notably, 98% of their expenditure goes directly on charitable grants, reflecting their heavy reliance on volunteers to minimize administrative costs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Program: £1,000 - £5,000 (maximum 30,000 NIS per year)

• Rolling applications accepted year-round
• Grants typically capped at £5,000 per year per organization, except in emergencies or special appeals
• Only one grant per organization in any 12-month period
• Applications must be submitted at least three months before funds are needed

Additional Service: Free “Post Box” service helping groups raise funds from British supporters (contact bsst@bsst.org.uk for details)

Priority Areas

BSST funds organizations working in Israel/Palestine/Golan that:

• Human Rights: Violations of human rights, equality and mutual respect between communities, rights relating to sexuality, asylum-seeker and migrant workers' rights
• Women's Rights: Empowering women and advancing gender equality
• Children's Rights: Psychological trauma to children, children's play, education for children
• Health & Wellbeing: Access to healthcare, social care, psychological support
• Peace-building: Inter-communal cooperation, cross-community collaboration, anti-racism
• Rule of Law: Challenging attacks on the rule of law and the press
• Economic & Social Development: Anti-poverty programmes, economic development
• Education & Culture: Cultural programs, sport
• Environmental Protection: Environmental initiatives

The Trust particularly favors:

• Small, grassroots organizations (annual budgets under £250,000)
• New start-ups and developing projects
• Groups tackling difficult issues
• Organizations and projects that struggle to secure funds elsewhere
• Groups committed to achieving equality and mutual respect between all people and communities

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals: Personal education costs, conference travel, or individual support
• Large Organizations: Rarely donate to those with annual budgets over £250,000
• Well-Funded Groups: Unlikely to award grants if you receive substantial help from the Israeli state, other governments, international bodies, or major charitable trusts
• Retroactive Costs: Will not fund work already done or core expenses already paid - future costs only
• External “Do-Gooders”: Do not fund external organizations attempting to “do good” for local populations (though genuine local-external partnerships may qualify)

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Governance and Leadership

BSST has five trustees who bring extensive charitable/voluntary experience, in-depth knowledge of the situation in Israel and Palestine, and a wide range of professional expertise. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Board members have included:

• Professor Irene Bruegel - Expert in Local Economic and Community Development
• Professor Miriam David - Educational sociologist with expertise in gender and development
• Neil Finer - Former journalist
• Vivien Lichtenstein - Accountant with project management experience
• Dr Simon Sandberg - Health care management consultant
• Naomi Wayne - Chief Officer of a small UK-based health charity
• Professor Anthony Bale - Academic whose work includes studies of religious violence and relations between Christians and Jews

The organization is entirely volunteer-run, established in 2004 by a group of Jews specifically to address the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Download Current Application Form: Visit www.bsst.org.uk/grants/ and download the official BSST Grant Application Form. Never reuse an old form as it may be out of date.

1. Complete All Sections: Fill in all sections of the application form, reviewing the Guidelines section within the form.

1. Submit Application: Applications accepted on a rolling basis year-round with no closing dates. However, you must apply at least three months before you need the funds.

1. Agree to Safeguarding Policy: Applicants must agree to BSST's Safeguarding Policy.

• A bank account is essential to receive a grant (personal accounts normally not accepted)
• Organizations do not need to be legally registered under Israeli or Palestinian law
• The application process is simple with no long forms or complex procedures

Decision Timeline

• Decision Time: Groups usually receive a decision within 10 weeks
• Grant Start: Grants begin from the notification date
• Evaluation Process: BSST evaluates grant requests from thirty to forty organizations a year

Success Rates

BSST evaluates approximately 30-40 organizations annually. Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. The Trust makes grants to hundreds of small-scale, grassroots initiatives, often providing repeat grants to effective organizations.

Reapplication Policy

• Repeat Grants Welcome: BSST often makes repeat grants if your organization is effective and fits within their guidelines
• Waiting Period: Only one grant per organization in any 12-month period
• Reporting Required: Groups seeking repeat grants will not be approved without submitting prior reports
• Reconfirm Eligibility: Organizations must reconfirm eligibility when reapplying
• Timing: Apply three months before current grant period ends if seeking continuation funding

Application Success Factors

What BSST Looks for in Applications

Organizational Profile:

• “Small grassroots groups that challenge oppression, injustice and disadvantage”
• Organizations with annual budgets under £250,000
• Groups “unlikely to succeed elsewhere” in securing funding
• New start-ups and groups tackling difficult issues

Values Alignment:

• Organizations must “recognize and oppose the imbalance in power between the Israeli state and oppressed communities”
• Commitment to “achieving equality and mutual respect between all the people and communities”
• Groups that “make it central to their purpose to challenge oppression, injustice and disadvantage”
• Commitment to “a just resolution of the conflict in Israel/Palestine based on equality and mutual respect between all communities”

Geographic Focus:

• Must operate in Israel/Palestine/Golan (Israel within 1967 borders, West Bank including East Jerusalem, Gaza, and Golan)
• Serving Palestinians, Israeli Jews, migrants, and asylum seekers

Practical Considerations:

• Clear demonstration that you struggle to secure funds elsewhere
• Minimal or no funding from Israeli state entities, governments, or major charitable trusts
• Evidence of grassroots, community-based work
• Focus on future costs with clear project plans

Examples of Funded Projects

• Tag Meir: Israeli watchdog supporting victims of religious violence
• Min el-Bahar: Organizes days at the coast for Palestinian children from the West Bank who are otherwise denied access to the sea
• Palestine Trauma Centre (Gaza): Provides therapy for children traumatized by ongoing conflict
• Huda's Kindergarten: South Hebron Hills project funded for many years
• Wrestling Program in Masafer Yatta: Obtained grant for purchasing wrestling mats and equipment for Palestinian children
• Gaza Community Projects: Many projects working with children traumatized by bombing and mothers needing specialized help

Post-Grant Requirements

• Mandatory Reporting: Must submit completed Report Form normally no later than one month after finishing the work
• Repeat Funding Dependent on Reporting: Will not approve repeat grants without prior reports
• Accountability: BSST will send a Report Form asking about your group's achievements when they give a grant

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Small is Beautiful: BSST specifically targets small, grassroots organizations with budgets under £250,000 that struggle to get funding elsewhere - this is your advantage if you fit this profile
• Values Clarity: You must clearly demonstrate commitment to equality and mutual respect between communities and opposition to oppression - this is non-negotiable for BSST
• Simple Application Process: Unlike many funders, BSST keeps applications simple with no long forms - focus on clear, concise information about your project
• Plan Ahead: Apply at least three months before you need funds, and expect a 10-week decision timeline
• Future Focus: Only request funding for future costs, never retroactive expenses - plan your budget accordingly
• Reporting Matters: Complete your post-grant reports on time if you want repeat funding - this is essential for building a long-term relationship
• 98% Goes to Grants: With such a high percentage going directly to charitable work, BSST punches above its weight - they can be an excellent funder for small, hard-to-fund projects in Israel/Palestine

References

• BSST British Shalom-Salaam Trust - Official Website
• Grants Page - BSST
• Grant Guidelines - BSST
• Projects - BSST
• Charity Commission - THE BRITISH SHALOM-SALAAM TRUST
• British Shalom-Salaam Trust - The Sigrid Rausing Trust
• British Shalom-Salaam Trust - GlobalGiving

Information