The Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 244519

Annual Expenditure: £5.4M

Throughout England

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £4.5 million
Success Rate: N/A (Does not accept applications)
Decision Time: N/A (Proactive grantmaking only)
Grant Range: £25,000 - £1,000,000+
Geographic Focus: UK, Israel, and Europe (UK emphasis)

Contact Details

Website: www.wohl.org.uk

Email: info@wohl.org.uk (for enquiries only, not applications)

Phone: 020 7384 3119

IMPORTANT: The Wohl Legacy does not accept applications for funding, nor will they respond to unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation (charity number 244519) was established in 1965 by Maurice Wohl, with the Wohl Legacy fully endowed after Vivienne Wohl's death in 2005 and Maurice's in 2007. Operating under the collective “Wohl Legacy” umbrella (comprising three independent charities), the foundation distributed £4.5 million in grants in 2024, funded primarily by investment income of £1.1 million and investment gains of £6.2 million. With total assets substantially supporting long-term philanthropic work, the foundation is one of the larger funders of the Jewish community in the UK. The foundation operates through proactive grantmaking, with a full-time team working alongside trustees to identify projects aligned with their mission: “to act as a catalyst for sustainable change, and to ensure strong, viable Jewish communities and a healthy society at large.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Wohl Legacy does not operate open grant programs but proactively identifies and funds projects across six priority areas:

Pathways to Employment

Supports organizations enabling individuals to find work opportunities and develop careers
Focuses on sustainable employment outcomes that allow individuals to contribute to their communities

Jewish Education

Funds high-quality Jewish schools and educational initiatives
Range: £25,000 - £500,000+ for major projects
Example: Gesher School (special education for children with mild to moderate special educational needs)
Supports small Jewish communities across Europe through initiatives like “Educating for Impact”

Medical Advancement

Infrastructure funding for cutting-edge research with universal disease impact
Range: £500,000 - £5,000,000+ for major medical facilities
Example: Nearly £9 million awarded to medical science in Israel including Wohl Institutes for Translational Medicine at Hadassah Medical Centre

Care & Welfare

Building and supporting organizations delivering high-quality care services
Range: £1,000,000+ for major infrastructure projects
Example: Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus (£multi-million facility with 54-bed nursing home and 45 independent living apartments, opened 2010)

Arts & Culture

Major institutional grants to cultural organizations
Range: £2,000,000 - £5,000,000 for significant projects
Example: £5 million shared between National Gallery and Royal Academy for 50th anniversary (National Gallery used funds for 19th Century and Impressionist galleries renovation, now named “The Wohl Galleries”)

Jewish & Communal Life

Funds communal projects supporting Jewish life across UK, Europe, and Israel
Includes community centers, synagogues, and communal infrastructure

Priority Areas

Organizations with excellent leadership and strong governance
Projects demonstrating sustainability and long-term viability
Infrastructure development over operational costs
Universal impact initiatives (particularly in medical research)
Jewish community strengthening across UK, Europe, and Israel
Projects that enable individuals to contribute to their communities

What They Don't Fund

Unsolicited applications (proactive grantmaking model only)
Organizations without demonstrated strong governance
Projects lacking sustainability plans
Researcher salaries or direct research costs (except through specific programs like Wohl Clean Growth Alliance)
Organizations outside their geographic focus (UK, Israel, Europe)

Governance and Leadership

CEO: Kate Goldberg

Chair: Prof David S Latchman CBE MA PhD DSc FRCPath FRSA FKC (nephew and heir to Maurice Wohl)

Additional Trustees:

Mrs Ella Latchman
Mr Martin D Paisner CBE MA LLM FKC (specialist in charity law)
Sir Ian Gainsford
Mr Daniel I Dover

Staff: 4 employees (1 earning £90,000-£100,000)

Governance Philosophy

The foundation operates with a distinctive unanimous decision-making philosophy, where each trustee has the right to veto any proposal without providing explanation. This reflects Maurice Wohl's belief that the foundation should operate “in a business-like manner.”

Key Leadership Quotes

Kate Goldberg, CEO:

“We sought organisations that had excellent leadership; strong governance and a plan towards sustainability.”

These three pillars guide all grantmaking decisions.

“We could not demand of our grantees that which we were not willing to undergo ourselves.”

Martin Paisner, CBE (Trustee):

"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."

Maurice Wohl (Founder):

“If you give to twelve and only one is genuine then it is still worthwhile.”

This philosophy reflects the foundation's commitment to taking calculated philanthropic risks.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Wohl Legacy does NOT accept applications for funding. The foundation operates exclusively through proactive grantmaking.

Their Approach:

A full-time team works with trustees to identify suitable projects
The foundation proactively approaches organizations that align with their priorities and values
All funding decisions are made through unanimous trustee agreement
The foundation conducts its own research and due diligence on potential grantees

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation initiates all funding relationships

Success Rates

Not applicable - no open application process

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply

Application Success Factors

While organizations cannot apply directly, understanding what the Wohl Legacy seeks can inform relationship-building strategies:

What They Value

Organizational Excellence:

“Excellent leadership” - strong, visionary leaders who can execute
“Strong governance” - robust board structures and decision-making processes
“Plan towards sustainability” - clear path to long-term viability beyond grant funding

Business-Like Operations:

Maurice Wohl believed in philanthropic investments that demonstrated:

Minimal risk in asset management
Careful evaluation of organizational sustainability
Assessment of leadership quality and governance structures

Transformative Potential:

Projects must have “the potential to change lives”
Universal impact (particularly in medical research)
Infrastructure development that serves communities long-term

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

Jewish Care - Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus (2010):

£multi-million investment in 54-bed nursing and dementia care home
45 independent living apartments
Community center with social activities
Demonstrated: comprehensive solution, long-term infrastructure, quality of life focus

Jewish Care - Wohl Court (2019):

32 additional independent living apartments in Hendon
Demonstrated: building on successful partnership, meeting identified need

National Gallery & Royal Academy (50th Anniversary):

£5 million shared for arts infrastructure
National Gallery used funds for gallery renovation
Demonstrated: institutional excellence, public benefit, lasting legacy (galleries named “The Wohl Galleries”)

Gesher School:

Special education for children with mild/moderate special educational needs
Demonstrated: filling gap in Jewish education provision, inclusive community building

Strategic Approach

The foundation prefers:

Multi-year commitments to organizations
Capital projects and infrastructure over operational funding
Organizations that align wages with London Living Wage (where relevant)
Projects in UK with particular emphasis, plus Israel and Europe
Jewish communal organizations alongside broader medical and cultural institutions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Do not submit unsolicited applications - The foundation will not respond and does not accept applications. Any application process is by invitation only.

Focus on organizational excellence - If your organization has exceptional leadership, strong governance, and a clear sustainability plan, you may come onto the foundation's radar through your demonstrated work and reputation in the Jewish community or relevant sectors.

Build visibility through excellence - The foundation's team actively researches and identifies potential grantees. Excellence in your field, strong outcomes, and strategic relationships within the Jewish community or medical/arts sectors may lead to the foundation approaching you.

Sustainability is paramount - The foundation seeks organizations with long-term viability. One-off projects or those requiring ongoing operational support are less likely to attract interest than infrastructure or capacity-building initiatives.

Alignment with Jewish community - While the foundation funds broader medical and cultural initiatives, their primary emphasis is on causes within the UK Jewish community across education, care, welfare, and communal life.

Infrastructure over operations - Capital projects, building developments, and major organizational infrastructure investments are preferred over operational or program funding.

Network strategically - Given the proactive model, connections within the UK Jewish philanthropic community, particularly with organizations already funded by the Wohl Legacy, may provide visibility. However, networking should be genuine and mission-focused, not grant-seeking.