The Manny Cussins Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £300,270 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: Leeds/Yorkshire region (UK) and Malawi

Contact Details

Email: acussins@aol.com

Phone: 01798 865337

Registered Office: 33 Park Place, C/O Ford Campbell Freedman Limited, 2nd Floor, Leeds, England, LS1 2RY

Charity Number: 1155281 (also linked to historical charity 219661)

Company Number: 08542451

Note: The foundation does not have a public website

Overview

The Manny Cussins Foundation was established in 2014 as a charitable company to continue the philanthropic legacy of Manny Cussins (1905-1987), a prominent Leeds businessman and former chairman of Leeds United F.C. In the 1970s, Cussins identified a critical need within the Leeds Jewish community for vulnerable children at risk and established The Manny Cussins House children's home. Following changes to social care legislation in 2004, the children's home closed, but the vision continued through the Manny Cussins Family Project at Leeds Jewish Welfare Board. The foundation received funds from the original Manny Cussins Foundation settlement (charity 219661, dating from 1962) in December 2015. The foundation reported income of £62,988 and expenditure of £300,270 for the financial year ending 31 May 2024, supporting charitable causes local to Leeds with Jewish and medical content. The foundation operates with eight trustees, none of whom receive remuneration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with public application processes. Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees to organizations that align with the foundation's charitable objectives.

Priority Areas

The foundation supports charities that meet specific criteria:

• Welfare and care of children at risk: Supporting vulnerable children and families, particularly within the Jewish community
• Jewish communities (UK and abroad): Charitable needs amongst Jewish communities both in the United Kingdom and internationally
• Healthcare provision: Medical and health services in the Yorkshire region and abroad (including Malawi)
• Education and training: Programs that support young people's educational development

Geographic Focus: Primarily Leeds and Yorkshire region, with international support in Malawi

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not published a specific exclusions list, but grants are restricted to causes that align with their three core criteria (children at risk, Jewish communities, and healthcare in Yorkshire/abroad) and have connections to the Leeds area.

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is managed by eight trustees, primarily from the Cussins family:

Active Trustees/Directors:

• Andrew James Cussins (appointed 23 May 2013)
• Benjamin Michael Cussins (appointed 23 May 2013)
• Adrian Cussins (appointed 30 July 2015) - resident in Colombia
• Emily Cussins (appointed 30 July 2015)
• Thomas Cussins (appointed 30 July 2015) - resident in United States
• Jodie Melissa Barwick-Bell (appointed 30 April 2019)
• Andrew Marc Sacks (appointed 30 April 2019)
• Christopher Peter Easton (appointed 30 April 2019)
• Nicholas Oliver Cussins (appointed 26 February 2020)

The foundation operates from its registered office in Leeds, with administrative support provided by Ford Campbell Freedman Limited. No trustees receive remuneration or benefits from the charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees, typically to organizations with which they have existing relationships or that have been identified through the trustees' networks and involvement in the Leeds Jewish community and Yorkshire healthcare sectors.

The foundation appears to award grants through:

• Trustee discretion: Trustees identify beneficiaries based on their strategic priorities
• Ongoing partnerships: Long-term relationships with key organizations like The Zone and IntoUniversity
• Pre-existing relationships: Organizations known to the Cussins family or within the Leeds Jewish community

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation has a strong connection to The Zone, with which it maintains an “ongoing partnership” to support young people and families in Leeds and beyond. The foundation was also instrumental in funding The Zone to create a resilient youth support network, and the Manny Cussins Family Project has transitioned fully to The Zone.

Organizations operating in the Leeds area, particularly those serving the Jewish community or providing healthcare services in Yorkshire, may wish to build relationships with:

• Leeds Jewish Welfare Board (LJWB), which has historical connections to the Cussins legacy
• The Zone, a key partner organization
• The trustees may be contactable via the email address provided: acussins@aol.com

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. The foundation does not operate on a fixed grant cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not have a public application process, success in securing funding appears to depend on:

• Alignment with core criteria: Organizations must clearly fit within the three priority areas (children at risk, Jewish communities, healthcare in Yorkshire/abroad)
• Leeds/Yorkshire connection: Strong preference for causes local to the Leeds area
• Jewish community links: Many supported causes have connections to the Jewish community in Leeds
• Long-term partnerships: The foundation's approach appears to favor ongoing relationships rather than one-off grants (as evidenced by their “ongoing partnership” with The Zone)
• Trustee awareness: Organizations known to the Cussins family or within their networks are more likely to receive support
• Perpetuating Manny Cussins's legacy: Projects that continue the vision established by Manny Cussins in supporting vulnerable children and the Leeds community

Known Recent Beneficiaries:

• The Zone (youth support services) - ongoing partnership
• IntoUniversity (educational support) - listed as a supporter
• Leeds Jewish Welfare Board (via the Manny Cussins Family Project, which has now transitioned to The Zone)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only funder - there is no public application portal or process for unsolicited applications
• Leeds and Jewish community connections are essential - the foundation prioritizes causes local to Leeds with Jewish and medical content
• Three core criteria must be met: welfare of children at risk, Jewish communities (UK and abroad), or healthcare in Yorkshire/abroad
• Long-term relationships matter more than one-off grants - the foundation maintains “ongoing partnerships” with key organizations
• Small but focused giving - with £300,270 in annual expenditure, this is a modest foundation with specific priorities
• Family-led governance - the Cussins family maintains active involvement through trustee positions
• Contact may be possible - while there's no formal application process, initial inquiries could potentially be made via the email address acussins@aol.com

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Keith Howard Foundation
• The Ken and Edna Morrison Charitable Trust
• Community Foundation for Leeds
• The Dashlight Foundation
• Park Lane Foundation
• Ganco Charitable Foundation
• THE CHERIDAN RAITHBY CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE MARJORIE & ARNOLD ZIFF CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
• Bearder Charity
• THE HARRY & MARY FOUNDATION

References

• UK Charity Commission Register, The Manny Cussins Foundation (Charity 1155281), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1155281&subid=0
• UK Companies House, The Manny Cussins Foundation (Company 08542451), https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08542451
• UK Charity Commission Register, The Manny Cussins Foundation (Historical Charity 219661), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/219661/full-print
• IntoUniversity, “The Manny Cussins Foundation,” https://intouniversity.org/supporter/the-manny-cussins-foundation/
• Leeds Jewish Welfare Board, “Manny Cussins Family Support,” https://ljwb.co.uk/community-support-3/manny-cussins-family-project/
• JLife Magazine, “Supportive Future,” https://jlifemagazine.co.uk/news-leeds/supportive-future
• Manny Cussins, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manny_Cussins