The Gertner Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £352,000 (approx.)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: UK (particularly London and surrounding areas) and Israel
• Registered Charity Number: 327380

Contact Details

Address: Fordgate House, 1 Allsop Place, London, NW1 5LF

Telephone: 020 7224 1234

Website: No public website

Contact: Simon Jacobs (Trustee, via Fordgate House address)

Overview

The Gertner Charitable Trust was established in 1986 and registered with the Charity Commission on 12 March 1987. The trust operates as a private grant-making foundation focused exclusively on Jewish charitable purposes, both in the UK and internationally, particularly in Israel. With an income of £493,345 and expenditure of £352,196 in the financial year ending 31 March 2024, the trust makes grants to both organizations and individuals. The trust operates with minimal administrative overhead, having no employees and trustees who receive no remuneration. The trust was once associated with property tycoon Moises Gertner and continues to support Jewish charitable institutions, educational initiatives, and poverty relief within the Jewish community. The trust operates in specific UK areas including Barnet, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Bury, and Salford City, as well as in Israel.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Gertner Charitable Trust does not operate formal grant programs with specified amounts. Grants are made at the discretion of trustees.

Key Areas of Support:

• Jewish educational institutions and programs
• Jewish student outreach and education (known to support organizations like Jewish Student Information Centers)
• Relief of poverty within Jewish communities
• Religious institutions and activities
• General Jewish charitable purposes in the UK and Israel

Priority Areas

• Jewish Education: Supporting Jewish educational initiatives, including student centers and educational programs for young people
• Poverty Relief: Prevention and relief of poverty within Jewish communities
• Religious Activities: Support for synagogues, religious institutions, and faith-based programs
• Community Support: Grants to Jewish charities and voluntary organizations serving the Jewish community

What They Don't Fund

The trust's governing documents specify that funding is exclusively for Jewish charitable purposes. Therefore:

• Non-Jewish causes or organizations
• Secular educational institutions without Jewish focus
• General community projects not specifically benefiting Jewish charitable purposes

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees:

• Mr. Moises Gertner
• Mrs. Michelle Gertner
• Mr. Simon Jacobs
• Mr. Mendi Gertner

The trust is managed by three trustees as of the most recent filing. Simon Jacobs operates from Fordgate Management Limited at the trust's registered address. No trustees receive remuneration or benefits from the charity, and the trust operates without employees.

The trust's governing document is a Trust Deed dated 30 May 1986, which stipulates that trustees have “absolute and uncontrolled discretion” in deciding which Jewish charitable purposes, institutions, or individuals to support.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This trust does not have a public application process.

The Gertner Charitable Trust operates as a private trust with grants awarded at the trustees' discretion. The governing documents specify that trustees adopt “a policy of making regular donations to or for the benefit or in furtherance of such Jewish charitable purposes, charitable institutions or charitable foundations as the trustees may from time to time in their absolute and uncontrolled discretion decide.”

The trust is known to serve as a conduit for UK donations to specific organizations, such as Jewish Student Information Centers, suggesting it may work with established partner organizations rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Organizations seeking support would need to approach the trustees directly through the contact details provided, though there is no guarantee that unsolicited approaches will be considered.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private trust operating at trustees' discretion, decision timelines are likely to vary depending on trustee meeting schedules and the nature of the request.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available. Given the private nature of the trust's grant-making, there is no published policy on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

As this trust operates without a public application process, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on available information:

• Alignment with Jewish Charitable Purposes: The trust's governing documents are explicit that funding is exclusively for Jewish charitable purposes, institutions, or individuals. Any approach must clearly demonstrate this alignment.

• Established Organizations: The trust appears to work with established Jewish charitable organizations rather than new or emerging groups. Evidence suggests relationships with organizations like Jewish Student Information Centers.

• Geographic Focus: Priority appears to be given to organizations operating in specific UK areas (Barnet, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Bury, Salford City) and in Israel.

• Areas of Greatest Need: The trust's stated purposes include poverty relief and religious activities, suggesting projects addressing these areas may align with trustees' priorities.

• Trustee Connections: Given the discretionary nature of grant-making and the “absolute and uncontrolled discretion” granted to trustees, existing relationships with trustees or their networks may be significant.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This trust does not accept general applications and operates entirely at trustee discretion
• Jewish Causes Only: Funding is exclusively for Jewish charitable purposes, institutions, or individuals—this is a strict requirement
• Private Foundation: The trust operates as a private family foundation with grants made based on trustees' discretion rather than competitive application processes
• UK and Israel Focus: Geographic priorities include specific London boroughs and surrounding areas, plus Israel
• Poverty Relief and Education: Known areas of support include poverty relief within Jewish communities and Jewish educational initiatives
• Partnership Approach: Evidence suggests the trust may work as a conduit for established organizations rather than funding multiple independent applicants
• Contact Required: Any interest in funding would require direct contact with trustees via the registered address, likely through Simon Jacobs at Fordgate House

References

• UK Charity Commission Register of Charities: The Gertner Charitable Trust (327380). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=327380&subId=0
• UK Charity Commission: Contact Information for The Gertner Charitable Trust. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/327380/contact-information
• Jewish Student Information Centers: Donation Information. Available at: https://jeffseidel.com/donation-info/
• OpenCharities: The Gertner Charitable Trust. Available at: http://opencharities.org/charities/327380
• Charity Choice: The Gertner Charitable Trust. Available at: https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/the-gertner-charitable-trust-129761