The Maurice And Vivienne Wohl Philanthropic Foundation

Charity Number: 1177003

Annual Expenditure: £5.6M
Germany, Israel, United States

Contact Info

Website:www.wohl.org.uk

Phone:020 7384 1915

Email:info@wohl.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £4.9 million (charitable activities, 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (unsolicited applications not accepted)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (proactive grant-making only)
  • Grant Range: £20,000 - £1,000,000+ (from major infrastructure to strategic programs)
  • Geographic Focus: UK, Israel, and Europe

Contact Details

Website: www.wohl.org.uk

Email: info@wohl.org.uk (general enquiries only, NOT for funding applications)

Phone: 020 7384 1915

IMPORTANT: The Wohl Legacy does not accept applications for funding and will not respond to unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Philanthropic Foundation (Charity No. 1177003) was established in 2017 as part of the Wohl Legacy, which comprises three independent charities founded by the late Maurice and Vivienne Wohl. The Wohl Legacy began with the founding of the Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation in 1965. With combined annual charitable expenditure of approximately £9.5 million and net assets exceeding £138 million, the foundation operates with a proactive grant-making approach, identifying and supporting strategic projects rather than accepting open applications. Their mission is “to act as a catalyst for sustainable change, and to ensure strong, viable Jewish communities and a healthy society at large.” The foundation focuses on building projects and infrastructure, particularly in Israel and Europe, across health and medical sciences, needy populations, and improving the quality of Jewish life.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Wohl Legacy does not operate traditional grant programs with application deadlines. Instead, they proactively identify projects aligned with their strategic priorities. Notable funding initiatives include:

  • Major Infrastructure Projects: £1 million - £37 million (e.g., Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute at King's College London - £37 million; British Academy headquarters redevelopment - £1 million)
  • Wohl Clean Growth Alliance: Up to $20,000 for UK-Israel collaborative research (managed by British Council)
  • Strategic Institutional Grants: £500,000 - £6.5 million (e.g., Hadassah Medical Centre - $6.5 million for translational medicine institute)

Priority Areas

Medical Advancement: Infrastructure for cutting-edge research and pioneering projects with universal impact on disease, including neuroscience, drug discovery, and translational medicine.

Jewish Education: High-quality Jewish education and schools to secure and strengthen Jewish communities across the UK and Europe; includes curriculum development and professional training.

Pathways to Employment: Organizations and projects enabling individuals to find work opportunities and develop careers.

Care & Welfare: Critical delivery of high-calibre care and welfare services; building and support of organizations serving needy populations within the Jewish community and beyond.

Arts & Culture: Cultural enrichment projects, particularly those marking significant anniversaries or milestones.

Jewish & Communal Life: Communal projects and bodies that support and sustain Jewish life across the UK, Europe, and Israel.

What They Don't Fund

  • Unsolicited applications from any organization
  • Projects outside their geographic focus (UK, Israel, Europe)
  • General operating costs without strategic infrastructure component
  • Projects not aligned with their core mission of sustainable community building

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Prof David S Latchman CBE MA PhD DSc FRCPath FRSA FKC
  • Mrs Ella Latchman
  • Mr Martin D Paisner CBE MA LLM FKC
  • Sir Ian Gainsford DDS FDSRCS Hon FRCS Edin FKC
  • Mr Daniel I Dover BA(Hons) FCA TEP

Executive Leadership Team

  • Chief Executive Officer: Kate Goldberg
  • Israel Director: Joanne Cohen
  • Director of Programmes: Pam Goldsmith
  • Finance Director: Hannah Greenfield
  • Executive Assistant & Grant Administrator: Sarah O'Donoghue

Leadership Philosophy

Martin Paisner CBE states: "It is said, that the good that people do lives after them. So it will be with Maurice & Vivienne... in the philanthropic ventures which will flow over the years from the Wohl Legacy."

The trustees use a philosophy of unanimous decision-making, with a full-time team working alongside trustees to identify strategic opportunities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Wohl Legacy DOES NOT accept applications for funding. Organizations cannot apply through any portal or submit unsolicited proposals. The foundation operates digitally and receives no physical mail.

Decision-Making Approach

The foundation proactively identifies projects aligned with their priorities and values. Their team and trustees work together to seek out strategic opportunities that have the potential to change lives and create sustainable impact.

Relationship Building

While direct applications are not accepted, organizations should focus on:

  • Building visibility for innovative projects in the foundation's priority areas
  • Demonstrating sustainable, transformational impact
  • Establishing strong governance and professional leadership
  • Creating opportunities for trustees to become aware of your work through sector networks

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation does not accept applications, “success” means being identified by the foundation as a strategic partner. Organizations funded by the Wohl Legacy typically demonstrate:

Transformational Impact: Projects must have the potential to “change lives” — the central principle of Maurice and Vivienne Wohl's philanthropy. The foundation seeks game-changing initiatives, not incremental improvements.

Infrastructure and Sustainability: Strong preference for building projects and infrastructure that creates lasting impact. Examples include the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute (£37 million) and the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus for Jewish Care.

Strategic Alignment: Projects must align with the foundation's focus on health, education, employment, welfare, arts, and Jewish communal life within the UK, Israel, and Europe.

Professional Excellence: Funded organizations demonstrate high-quality leadership, robust governance, and professional delivery of services.

Community Building: Projects that “build, support and grow sustainable communities and organisations” receive priority consideration.

Examples of Funded Projects

  • King's College London: Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute — Europe's largest centre for interdisciplinary neuroscience excellence (£37 million, opened 2015)
  • Weizmann Institute of Science: Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery and Biology Endowment
  • Jewish Care: Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus in Golders Green (opened 2010) plus Wohl Court apartments in Hendon
  • Gesher School: Seed funding and ongoing support for special education in London
  • Hadassah Medical Centre: $6.5 million for Wohl Institute for Translational Medical Research
  • British Academy: £1 million for headquarters redevelopment at Carlton House Terrace

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No open applications: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant-writing. Do not send proposals.
  • Focus on visibility: Build your organization's reputation and visibility within the UK, Israeli, and European Jewish community and healthcare/education sectors.
  • Think big and strategic: The Wohl Legacy funds major, transformational infrastructure projects, not small grants or operating costs.
  • Infrastructure matters: Show how capital investment in buildings or systems will create lasting, sustainable change.
  • Jewish connection: While the foundation supports universal causes (like neuroscience research), there is a clear preference for projects that strengthen Jewish communities or have Jewish leadership/connection.
  • Build networks: Connect with trustees and executives through sector events, professional networks, and community leadership forums.
  • Demonstrate excellence: Only organizations with exceptional leadership, governance, and track records will be considered.

References