The Esfandi Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £820,000 - £1,028,000
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation/discretion only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: National and international

Contact Details

Address: 4 Fitzhardinge Street, London, W1H 6EG

Note: This foundation does not have a website, public email, or phone number for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Esfandi Charitable Foundation was established in February 2004 as a private discretionary trust. With annual expenditure of approximately £820,000-£1,028,000, the foundation makes grants to both organizations and individuals at the complete discretion of its trustees. The trust deed specifies that “the trustees hold the income and capital of the trust upon trust to apply them for such charitable purposes and such registered charities as the trustees in their absolute discretion think fit.” Notably, no policies have been adopted regarding the selection of grant recipients, giving trustees complete autonomy in their grant-making decisions. The foundation operates nationally and internationally, with connections to Jewish charitable causes evident through the trustees' other philanthropic activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs or publish grant amounts. All funding decisions are made at trustee discretion.

Priority Areas

Based on the trustees' connections and known beneficiaries, the foundation appears to support:

• Jewish community organizations and causes
• International humanitarian work, particularly in Israel
• Education initiatives for disadvantaged children
• Care and support services for vulnerable populations

Known supported organizations include:

• Kisharon (disability support for Jewish community)
• Beit Halochem UK (supporting wounded Israeli veterans)

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are published, as all decisions are discretionary.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Joseph Esfandi (Chair) - Real estate professional appointed in 2020. Mr. Esfandi also serves as trustee for:

• The Iranian Jewish Centre
• The British Friends of Migdal Ohr (supporting education for deprived children in northern Israel)
• Dror for the Wounded Foundation UK

The foundation has 5 trustees in total. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Financial Structure

The foundation receives income primarily through donations (approximately £925,000) with minimal investment income. All expenditure goes to charitable activities with no administrative overhead costs reported separately.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Esfandi Charitable Foundation operates as a private discretionary trust where grants are awarded entirely at the trustees' discretion. The Charity Commission records explicitly state: “No policies have been adopted regarding the selection of the recipients of grants from the Trust.”

This means:

• There is no application form or process
• There are no published guidelines or criteria
• The trustees identify and select beneficiaries independently
• Unsolicited applications are not accepted

Grants appear to be made to organizations and causes that align with the trustees' personal philanthropic interests, particularly those connected to the Jewish community and international humanitarian causes.

Application Success Factors

For This Specific Funder:

Given the private nature of this foundation, traditional “application success factors” do not apply. However, organizations that have received support share these characteristics:

• Connection to Jewish community causes: The trustees' other philanthropic activities strongly indicate a focus on Jewish charities and Israeli humanitarian organizations
• Personal relationships with trustees: Grants appear to flow from existing relationships and connections rather than formal application processes
• Established charitable organizations: Known beneficiaries are well-established charities with proven track records
• Alignment with trustee interests: Organizations working in education, disability support, and care for vulnerable populations align with the trustees' broader philanthropic portfolio

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application route: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and has no formal application process
• Trustee-driven decisions: All grants are made at the complete discretion of trustees, with no published selection policies
• Private family foundation model: This operates as a private charitable vehicle for the Esfandi family's philanthropy
• Jewish charitable focus: Evidence suggests strong preference for Jewish community organizations and Israeli causes
• Relationship-based funding: Grants appear to flow from personal connections and trustee knowledge of organizations
• Substantial giving capacity: With annual expenditure around £820,000-£1,028,000, this is a significant funder when they do support organizations
• Not suitable for speculative approaches: Grant writers should not invest time in attempting to solicit grants from this foundation as it operates on an invitation-only basis

References

• The Charity Commission Register of Charities - The Esfandi Charitable Foundation (Charity No. 1103095).. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1103095&subId=0
• OpenCharities - The Esfandi Charitable Foundation.. http://opencharities.org/charities/1103095
• Kisharon - Patrons.. https://www.kisharon.org.uk/about-us-2/about-us/patrons/
• Beit Halochem UK - Supporters.. https://bhuk.org/pages/supporters
• Giving is Great - The Esfandi Charitable Foundation charity factsheet.. https://givingisgreat.org/charitydetail/?regNo=1103095