The Manny And Brigitta Davidson Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 1175058

Annual Expenditure: £0.6M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England And Wales, Israel

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £587,145 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: England, Wales, and Israel

Contact Details

Address: 39 Norrice Lea, London N2 0RD

Phone: 020 8455 1002

Email: davidsoncharitablefoundation@gmail.com

Charity Number: 1175058

Overview

The Manny and Brigitta Davidson Charitable Foundation was registered with the Charity Commission on 10 October 2017 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The foundation was established by Emanuel Wolfe Davidson (1931-2024), a British property billionaire who founded Asda Property in 1964, and his widow Brigitta Davidson. For the financial year ending 31 March 2024, the foundation had total income of £610,000 (entirely from donations and legacies) and charitable expenditure of £587,145. The foundation supports capital and infrastructure projects focused on education, arts, culture and heritage in the United Kingdom and Israel, as well as providing relief to vulnerable populations. Following Manny Davidson's death in December 2024, proceeds from the sale of his art collection at Sotheby's Paris (approximately €15 million/$21.5 million) are designated for the foundation's charitable work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a grant-making charity with two primary charitable objectives:

1. Arts, Culture and Heritage Programme

  • Focus on capital and infrastructure projects
  • Includes holding, maintaining and exhibiting works of art
  • Supports cultural institutions and educational facilities

2. Relief Programme

  • Support for those in need by reason of youth, old age, ill-health, disability or financial hardship
  • Grants made to organisations providing direct services

Priority Areas

The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in:

  • Education and Special Educational Needs: Support for educational institutions and programmes, particularly those serving children and young people with special needs
  • Arts and Culture: Museums, cultural centres, and institutions preserving art and heritage
  • Children and Youth: Organizations supporting at-risk children and educational initiatives, including projects in Israel such as Yemin Orde Youth Village
  • Jewish Community Organizations: Support for Jewish cultural and community institutions, including involvement with organizations that became JW3 (London Jewish Cultural Centre)
  • Health and Medical Research: Support for medical research organizations (Manny Davidson was a patron of Bowel & Cancer Research)
  • Infrastructure Projects: Capital projects that create lasting impact in the UK and Israel

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are published, but the foundation's charitable objects limit funding to:

  • Organizations operating in England, Wales, or Israel only
  • Projects aligned with their two primary objectives (arts/culture/heritage and relief of need)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Emanuel Wolfe Davidson (Chair, deceased December 2024) - Property developer and philanthropist who founded Asda Property. Described by close friends as “the essence of a good Jew – someone who constantly said, what can I do to help?” He served as chair of the Spiro Institute which evolved into the London Jewish Cultural Centre and ultimately JW3.

Brigitta Davidson (Trustee, appointed 2017) - Co-founder of the foundation who continues its charitable mission following her husband's death.

Jeremy Vaughan Sandelson (Trustee, appointed 2023) - Partner at international law firm Clifford Chance, where he was head of the global Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice from 2009-2017. Also serves as Pro-Chancellor of the University for the Creative Arts, Trustee of the Clore Duffield Foundation, and Trustee of Hampstead Theatre and The Bike Project.

Cheryl Brodie (Trustee, appointed 2023)

Gerard Phillip Cohen (Trustee, appointed 2023)

Harry Krais (Trustee, appointed 2023)

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. The foundation has no employees with benefits over £60,000 and operates without trading subsidiaries.

Notable Quote

A close friend described Manny Davidson as someone who “was the essence of a good Jew – someone who constantly said, what can I do to help?” This philosophy appears to guide the foundation's approach to philanthropy.

How to Apply to The Manny And Brigitta Davidson Charitable Foundation

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation appears to operate on a trustee-discretionary basis, identifying and supporting organizations aligned with the founders' philanthropic interests rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Grants are typically awarded to organizations with which the trustees have existing relationships or awareness, particularly in areas of:

  • Jewish community support
  • Arts and cultural preservation
  • Educational institutions serving children with special needs
  • Medical research
  • Capital infrastructure projects

The foundation's grant-making approach appears to be proactive rather than reactive, with trustees identifying causes to support based on the founders' established philanthropic priorities.

Getting on Their Radar

The Davidsons have historically engaged with causes through:

  • Personal relationships and networks: Manny Davidson was actively involved as chair and patron of various organizations before making significant donations (e.g., serving as chair of the Spiro Institute/London Jewish Cultural Centre, becoming patron of Bowel & Cancer Research)
  • Jewish community connections: Strong ties to Jewish cultural and community organizations in London and Israel
  • Arts and collecting community: The Davidsons were “constant presence in the salesrooms and the art world” with a collection of over 500 objects amassed over four decades
  • Major capital projects: Their most significant known grant was $4.5 million for the Manny and Brigitta Davidson Auditorium and Cultural Center at Yemin Orde Youth Village in Israel, demonstrating preference for transformative infrastructure projects

Organizations seeking support may benefit from connections within these spheres, though there is no formal pathway for introducing new causes to the trustees.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation operating at trustee discretion, decision timelines likely vary based on project scope and trustee meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Not available. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, so conventional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the lack of a formal application process, organizations that have successfully received support from the foundation share these characteristics:

Strategic Alignment

  • Projects must align with the foundation's dual focus on arts/culture/heritage AND relief of need, or represent capital infrastructure projects in these areas
  • Geographic restriction to England, Wales, or Israel is absolute
  • Priority for causes related to Jewish community, education, and vulnerable populations

Transformative Impact

  • The Davidson's $4.5 million grant to Yemin Orde Youth Village for an auditorium and cultural center demonstrates preference for substantial, transformative capital projects over small operational grants
  • Projects that create lasting physical infrastructure serving vulnerable populations appear particularly aligned with their interests

Personal Connection

  • Manny Davidson's philanthropy was characterized by personal involvement, often serving as chair, trustee, or patron before or alongside major financial support
  • Organizations where trustees can see direct impact and maintain ongoing relationships appear more likely to receive support

Jewish Values and Community

  • While not exclusively Jewish causes, the foundation's substantial support for Jewish community organizations (JW3, Yemin Orde) and the founders' description as embodying Jewish values of helping others suggests this is a natural alignment area

Excellence in Arts and Culture

  • The Davidsons' sophisticated art collection and “constant presence in the salesrooms and the art world” indicates appreciation for quality and cultural significance
  • Projects involving preservation, exhibition, or education in arts may resonate with their interests

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process exists – this foundation identifies and approaches organizations rather than accepting proposals; traditional grant writing will not be effective
  • Relationship-based giving – the Davidsons' philanthropy was deeply personal, with Manny often serving in leadership roles before major gifts; networking within Jewish community, arts, and education sectors may create awareness
  • Think transformational, not incremental – the $4.5 million Yemin Orde grant suggests preference for major capital projects that create lasting change rather than annual operating support
  • Geographic focus is strict – only organizations operating in England, Wales, or Israel should consider potential alignment
  • Following Manny's death in December 2024, the foundation's future direction will be determined by Brigitta Davidson and fellow trustees, potentially creating a period of strategic review
  • Significant resources incoming – with approximately €15 million from art sale proceeds designated for the foundation, there may be increased grant-making capacity in coming years
  • Jewish values and special needs education appear to be core interests that cross both main charitable objectives

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References

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