The Djanogly Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ??330,942 (expenditure, year ending April 2025)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (no reply sent to unsuccessful applications)
• Grant Range: ??200 - ??15,000 (larger grants in exceptional circumstances)
• Geographic Focus: UK and Israel (priority: City of Westminster, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire)

Contact Details

Address:

The Djanogly Foundation

3 Angel Court

St. James's

London SW1Y 6QF

Phone: 020 7930 9845

Secretary: Christopher Sills

Note: The Foundation does not maintain a website or email account.

Overview

The Djanogly Foundation was established in 1980 as a UK registered charitable trust. Founded by Sir Harry Djanogly CBE, a prominent textile manufacturer and philanthropist known for his extensive support of arts, education, and healthcare in Nottingham and beyond, the Foundation continues his legacy of strategic philanthropy. With annual expenditure of approximately ??330,942 (year ending April 2025) and total income of ??125,126, the Foundation operates as a traditional grant-making trust supporting registered charities in the UK and Israel. The Foundation takes a distinctive approach by focusing on new projects that may require several years to establish, providing multi-year support during critical development phases. Sir Harry Djanogly was awarded a CBE in 1983 and knighted in 1993, and in 2014, he and his wife received the Prince of Wales Medal for Arts Philanthropy for their extensive charitable contributions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates a single grant program with rolling applications accepted throughout the year. Applications must be made in writing (no online portal or application form). Most grants range from ??200 to ??15,000, with larger grants made in exceptional circumstances for particularly compelling projects.

Application Method: Rolling basis, applications accepted at any time in writing.

Priority Areas

The Trustees' policy is to support developments in:

• Medicine and Health: Healthcare projects and medical research initiatives
• Education and Training: Educational programs and training initiatives for all ages
• Social Welfare: Projects relieving distress and promoting welfare of the aged and young
• Arts and Culture: Arts, culture, heritage, and creative projects
• Religious Activities: Faith-based community initiatives
• Disability Support: Projects supporting disabled individuals
• Amateur Sport: Grassroots sports initiatives
• Environment and Conservation: Environmental protection and heritage conservation
• Economic and Community Development: Employment and community development projects

Geographic Priority: Strong preference given to organizations operating in the City of Westminster, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, though UK-wide and Israeli charities are eligible.

Project Type: The Foundation is particularly interested in funding new projects that may require a number of years to establish, with grant-making activity related to the development phases of these projects.

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation only supports registered charities; applications from non-charitable organizations will not be considered. The Foundation does not appear to fund individuals directly.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The Foundation is governed by four trustees, including:

• Sir Harry Arieh Simon Djanogly CBE (Founder): Born August 1, 1938, Sir Harry is an English textile manufacturer, art collector, and philanthropist who made his fortune through the merger of his Nottingham Manufacturing Company with other textile interests in 1986 to form Coats Viyella. He has been instrumental in founding numerous cultural and educational venues in Nottingham.

• Jonathan Simon Djanogly: Sir Harry's son, Jonathan served as Conservative Member of Parliament for Huntingdon from 2001 to 2024.

Note: No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the Foundation. The charity does not employ staff earning over ??60,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation maintains a deliberately low-profile, traditional approach:

1. No application form: The Foundation does not publish an application form
2. Written applications only: Submit applications in writing to Christopher Sills, Secretary, at the Foundation's London address
3. No website or email: The Foundation does not maintain a website or email account
4. Rolling applications: Applications may be made at any time throughout the year

Decision Timeline

The Foundation does not publicly disclose typical decision timeframes.

Important: The Foundation does not reply to applications which are unsuccessful. Applicants should only expect to hear from the Foundation if their application has been successful.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation maintains considerable discretion in its grant-making and does not publish detailed statistics about application numbers or success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not publicly available. Given the Foundation's approach of not responding to unsuccessful applications, organizations may choose to reapply if they do not receive a response, though optimal timing is not specified.

Application Success Factors

Key Considerations

Geographic Alignment is Critical: Priority is explicitly given to organizations in the City of Westminster, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire. If your organization operates in these areas, emphasize this prominently in your application.

New and Developmental Projects: The Foundation states it is “particularly concerned with the funding of projects that are new and may require a number of years to establish.” Applications for innovative, developmental projects that need multi-year support may be particularly attractive.

Multi-Year Perspective: Grant-making activity is “related to the development phases” of projects. Frame your application around development milestones and how funding will support establishment and growth.

Sector Alignment: Ensure your project clearly fits within one of the Foundation's four priority areas: medicine, education, social welfare, or arts. Applications that don't clearly align with these sectors are unlikely to succeed.

Clarity and Conciseness: With no application form or website guidance, written applications should be clear, concise, and professionally presented. Include all essential information about your charity, the project, budget, and outcomes.

Registered Charity Status: Only registered charities are eligible. Ensure you clearly state your charity registration number in your application.

Application Tips

• Keep written applications concise but comprehensive
• Clearly state your charity registration number early in the correspondence
• Emphasize geographic connections to Westminster, Nottingham, or Nottinghamshire
• Highlight if your project is new or in a developmental phase
• Explain how your project aligns with the Foundation's priority areas
• Include a clear budget showing the specific amount requested
• Be realistic about grant amounts (??200-??15,000 range for most grants)
• Don't expect acknowledgment if unsuccessful
• Professional presentation matters in the absence of a structured form

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic location matters: Organizations in Westminster, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire have priority; emphasize any connections to these areas
• Target developmental projects: The Foundation specifically seeks to fund new projects requiring multi-year establishment support
• Prepare for silence: No response means unsuccessful; don't wait indefinitely before pursuing other funding sources
• Traditional approach: This is an old-fashioned grant-making trust without digital infrastructure; formal written applications are essential
• Realistic grant expectations: Most grants are ??200-??15,000; requests outside this range need exceptional justification
• Sector fit is essential: Clearly demonstrate alignment with medicine, education, social welfare, or arts priorities
• Consider the Djanogly legacy: Understanding Sir Harry Djanogly's focus on arts, education, and Nottingham may provide insight into trustee priorities

References

• UK Charity Commission Register. “THE DJANOGLY FOUNDATION - Charity 280500.” Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=280500

• Young Camden Foundation. “Djanogly Foundation.” Available at: https://youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk/funding/djanogly-foundation

• Making Music. “Djanogly Foundation.” Available at: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/funding-opportunity/djanogly-foundation

• Wikipedia. “Harry Djanogly.” Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Djanogly

• Giving is Great. “THE DJANOGLY FOUNDATION | Charity Factsheet.” Available at: https://givingisgreat.org/charity-factsheet/?regNo=280500

• Charity Commission records show financial year ending April 5, 2025: Total income ??125,126, Total expenditure ??330,942