The Knightland Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £474,003 (FY ending Jan 31, 2025)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: Primarily London and UK, with focus on Jewish community

Contact Details

Address: Unit 1 Guard House, Grosvenor Way, London E5 9XE

Phone: 020 7309 3800

Email: admin@theknightlandfoundation.org

Website: Not available

Note: No pre-application guidance or application process is publicly documented. Direct contact is required.

Overview

The Knightland Foundation was registered with the Charity Commission on July 27, 2011. The foundation operates as an investment-funded grant-maker, with total income of £688,018 in FY 2024/25 (£670,318 from investments, £17,700 from donations) and charitable expenditure of £474,003. The charity underwent significant governance restructuring in 2023 following a Charity Commission inquiry that found “serious mismanagement” by former trustees. Five new independent trustees were appointed in April 2023, and an interim manager oversaw operations until October 2023. The inquiry closed in November 2024, with the regulator noting the charity is now “on a stronger footing to deliver its objects and activities effectively and in compliance with its statutory duties.” The foundation makes grants to Jewish organisations working on education and poverty relief.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

No specific grant programs or funding tiers are publicly documented. Organizations must contact the foundation directly to inquire about funding opportunities.

Priority Areas

Based on the charity's registered objects, the foundation focuses on:

• Relief of Financial Hardship: Supporting elderly individuals or those in conditions of need, hardship and distress, particularly (but not exclusively) within the Jewish community through grants for items, services or facilities
• Orthodox Jewish Religious Advancement: Supporting prayer meetings, study sessions, lectures, and public celebration of religious festivals in accordance with Orthodox Jewish tenets
• Jewish Education: Advancing education of Jewish pupils according to Orthodox Jewish religious principles by providing and assisting in the provision of appropriate educational facilities
• Other Charitable Purposes: General charitable work as determined by trustees

The foundation specifically makes grants to Jewish organisations working on education and poverty issues.

What They Don't Fund

No specific exclusions are publicly documented. Given the charitable objects, funding appears focused primarily (though not exclusively) on Jewish community organizations.

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustee Board

The charity has 5 trustees as of 2024. Five new independent trustees were appointed on April 26, 2023, replacing the previous board following a Charity Commission inquiry. The new trustees are described as “suitably qualified and independent.”

Governance History

The Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry into the foundation in February 2021, investigating concerns around:

• Potential conflicts of interest and connected party transactions
• Financial and resource management
• Transparency in decision-making

Key Inquiry Findings (reported November 2024):

• “Serious mismanagement” by former trustees, including failures to identify and manage conflicts of interest
• Uncontrolled fund transfers to private companies owned by a trustee
• Unsecured, interest-free loans to subsidiaries without proper documentation
• A £1.19 million developer fee obligation accepted without proper trustee deliberation
• Systematic failure in record-keeping

Importantly: The Commission found no misapplication of funds and accepted that former trustees believed they had acted in the charity's best interests.

The charity previously controlled substantial property assets in London and Hartlepool, plus four subsidiaries: Canvey Housing Ltd, Bellview Management Ltd, Rowe Lane Estates Ltd, and Bellview Land Ltd.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

No public application process is documented. Interested organisations must contact the foundation directly:

• Email: admin@theknightlandfoundation.org
• Phone: 020 7309 3800

There is no known website, online application portal, or published application guidelines.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available.

Success Rates

Not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Given the lack of publicly available information about the grant-making process and recent governance restructuring, specific success factors are difficult to determine. However, based on the charity's objects:

• Mission Alignment: Organizations working on poverty relief, elderly support, Orthodox Jewish education, or religious advancement for the Jewish community are most aligned with the foundation's purposes
• Community Focus: The charity's focus is “particularly but not exclusively” within the Jewish community
• Geographic Focus: Based in East London (E5 postcode), though geographic preferences for grant-making are not specified
• Direct Contact: Given the absence of public application procedures, building a direct relationship with the foundation appears necessary

Important Consideration: Prospective applicants should be aware of the charity's recent governance challenges and restructuring. While the Charity Commission has confirmed the charity is now on solid footing with proper governance, the lack of transparency in grant-making procedures may pose challenges for applicants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Limited Public Information: This foundation provides minimal publicly accessible information about its grant-making activities, application processes, or funding priorities beyond broad charitable objects
• Direct Engagement Required: Without published guidelines, prospective applicants must contact the foundation directly to understand current funding availability and application procedures
• Governance Restructuring: The charity underwent complete trustee replacement in 2023 following regulatory intervention; new leadership may be establishing new processes and priorities
• Mission Focus: Funding is concentrated on Jewish community organizations addressing education, poverty, and elderly support, plus Orthodox Jewish religious advancement
• Investment-Funded: The foundation is primarily funded by investment income (97% of income), suggesting potential funding stability
• Regulatory Alert: While the inquiry has closed positively, the charity profile still carries a regulatory alert; prospective applicants should be aware of this history
• No Online Presence: Absence of a website or online application system suggests a traditional, relationship-based approach to grant-making

References

1. UK Charity Commission, “Charity Inquiry: The Knightland Foundation,” November 2024. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charity-inquiry-the-knightland-foundation/charity-inquiry-the-knightland-foundation (Accessed: 2025-11-10)

1. UK Charity Commission Register, “The Knightland Foundation - Charity 1143110,” Charity Overview. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5017334/charity-overview (Accessed: 2025-11-10)

1. Civil Society, “Charity Commission opens statutory inquiry into The Knightland Foundation,” February 2021. Available at: https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/charity-commissions-opens-statutory-inquiry-into-the-knightland-foundation.html (Accessed: 2025-11-10)

1. Third Sector, "'Serious mismanagement' at charity that transferred millions of pounds into a trustee's company," November 2024. Available at: https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/serious-mismanagement-charity-transferred-millions-pounds-trustees-company/governance/article/1896428 (Accessed: 2025-11-10)