The Kennedy Leigh Charitable Trust
Charity Number: 288293
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £610,000 (approximately, based on 2024 expenditure)
- Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
- Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
- Grant Range: £1,000 - £30,000
- Geographic Focus: UK and Israel
Contact Details
- Address: 853 Finchley Road, London NW11 8LX
- Phone: 020 3747 7125
- Email: Naomi@klct.org
- Application Method: Contact the trust directly for application information
Overview
THE KENNEDY LEIGH CHARITABLE TRUST was founded in 1984 as a UK charitable trust. For the year ending March 2024, the trust reported a total income of £629,509 and total expenditure of £610,152, making it a medium-sized grant-making foundation. The trust's mission is to support projects and causes which will improve and enrich the lives of all parts of society. The trust is explicitly non-political and non-religious in nature, though it operates within a broad charitable framework. The trust has the ability to provide several forms of support and will consider funding both capital projects and running costs.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The trust operates a general grant program with awards ranging from £1,000 to £30,000. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis through direct contact with the trust. There is no standardized online application portal publicly available.
Priority Areas
The Kennedy Leigh Charitable Trust supports projects in the following themes:
- Health and Saving Lives: The advancement of health or the saving of lives
- Human Rights and Reconciliation: The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation, or the promotion of religious or racial harmony, equality, or diversity
- Arts, Culture, Heritage, and Science: The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage, or science
- Education: The advancement of education
- Relief of Need: The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill health, disability, financial hardship, or other disadvantage
The trust can operate in the United Kingdom, overseas, and specifically in the State of Israel.
What They Don't Fund
Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. Contact the trust directly to confirm eligibility.

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Governance and Leadership
The Kennedy Leigh Charitable Trust is governed by 7 trustees (as of the financial year ending 31 March 2023). No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust operates from its office in North London and handles grant administration through its staff contact, Naomi.
Application Process and Timeline
How to Apply
Interested organizations should contact the Kennedy Leigh Charitable Trust directly for information on how to apply. There is no publicly available standardized application form or online portal. Initial contact should be made via:
- Email: Naomi@klct.org
- Phone: 020 3747 7125
Important Note: There have been conflicting reports about whether the trust currently accepts applications from UK charities. Some sources suggest the trust primarily or exclusively funds Israeli organizations. It is essential to contact the trust directly to confirm current eligibility criteria before preparing an application.
Decision Timeline
Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Applicants should inquire about expected timeframes when making initial contact.
Success Rates
Success rates and application numbers are not publicly available.
Reapplication Policy
Reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Unsuccessful applicants should contact the trust for guidance on reapplying.
Application Success Factors
Based on the trust's stated priorities, successful applications likely demonstrate:
- Clear alignment with priority themes: Projects should fit squarely within one or more of the trust's five priority areas (health, human rights/reconciliation, arts/culture/science, education, or relief of need)
- Impact on beneficiaries: The trust seeks to “improve and enrich the lives of all parts of society,” suggesting a preference for projects with broad or significant community impact
- Geographic focus: Organizations should be clear about whether they operate in the UK or Israel, as the trust specifically supports both locations
- Flexibility in funding type: The trust considers both capital projects and running costs, so applicants should specify what type of support they need
- Non-political, non-religious approach: While the trust supports religious harmony and diversity work, it describes itself as “non-political and non-religious in nature”
Given the relatively small number of trustees (7) and the direct contact application process, building a relationship with the trust before applying may be beneficial.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Confirm eligibility first: Due to conflicting information about UK charity eligibility, contact the trust directly before investing time in an application
- Broad charitable focus: The trust supports a wide range of causes across five major themes, so many types of charitable work may be eligible
- Medium-sized grants: With typical grants between £1,000-£30,000, this trust is best suited for small to medium-sized projects
- Direct relationship approach: The absence of an online portal suggests the trust values direct communication and relationship-building
- Dual geographic focus: Organizations working in either the UK or Israel may be eligible, which is somewhat unusual for UK trusts
- Flexible funding types: The trust will consider both capital and revenue funding, providing flexibility in what can be requested
- Steady financial position: With over £600,000 in annual income and expenditure, the trust maintains a consistent level of grant-making activity
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References
- Charity Commission for England and Wales Register, THE KENNEDY LEIGH CHARITABLE TRUST, Charity Number 288293. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=288293&subId=0 []
- Charity Commission, Accounts and Annual Returns for Charity 288293, Financial Year Ending March 2024. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/288293/accounts-and-annual-returns []
- Making Music, Kennedy Leigh Charitable Trust Funding Opportunity. Available at: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/funding-opportunity/kennedy-leigh-charitable-trust []
- Funding Eye, Kennedy Leigh Charitable Trust. Available at: https://www.jonmatthews.co.uk/kennedy-leigh-charitable-trust/ []
- Find that Charity, GB-CHC-288293 The Kennedy Leigh Charitable Trust. Available at: https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-288293 []
- Jerusalem Foundation, Kennedy-Leigh Charitable Trust Donor Profile. Available at: https://jerusalemfoundation.org/donor/kennedy-leigh-charitable-trust/ []