The Michael And Ilse Katz Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £107,337 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: Not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: England and Jersey

Contact Details

Email: jonathanazis@parkepartnership.com

Phone: 07770 366930

Registered Address: Westwood Manor, Lower Westwood, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 2AF

Charity Commission: Register entry 263726

Overview

The Michael and Ilse Katz Foundation is a charitable trust established in March 1971 by the late Mr. Michael Katz OBE and his late wife, Mrs. Ilse Katz. Originally registered as the “Ilse and Michael Katz Charitable Trust,” the foundation was formally registered with the Charity Commission on 21 March 1972. The trust operates as a private grant-making foundation with trustees who exercise “absolute discretion” in determining grants to charitable bodies, organizations, institutions, and individuals.

With reserves of over £3 million and annual expenditure exceeding £100,000, the foundation maintains a modest but consistent grant-making program. The foundation operates primarily throughout England, with additional activity in Jersey. The trustees consider applications on their merits but maintain significant discretionary authority over all funding decisions, characteristic of a private family foundation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants to both organizations and individuals for charitable purposes. No specific programs or funding streams are publicly advertised.

Priority Areas

The foundation's governing document provides exceptionally broad charitable objectives: “for the charitable purposes of such charitable bodies organisations and institutions or such other charitable purposes or objects in such proportions and in such manner as the trustees shall in their absolute discretion from time to time think fit.”

This wide-ranging remit means the foundation can support virtually any registered charity or charitable purpose, with no published restrictions on sector, beneficiary group, or type of charitable activity.

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are published. However, as a charitable trust, they are bound by charity law to fund only charitable purposes as defined by UK law.

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Governance and Leadership

Jonathan Giles Ashley Azis (Chair)

• Appointed: 14 April 2016
• Also serves as trustee of The Sanderson Foundation (a Wiltshire-based education-focused grant-making charity)

Lord Rupert Harry Bernard Nathan (Trustee)

• Appointed: 14 April 2016

The foundation operates with just two trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. This small trustee body makes decisions on all grant applications submitted.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. While the foundation states that trustees “consider applications for grants from institutions and individuals on their merits,” there is no public application form, online portal, or published application guidance. Grants are awarded at the trustees' absolute discretion.

Prospective applicants should contact the foundation directly via:

• Email: jonathanazis@parkepartnership.com
• Phone: 07770 366930

Written applications by post can be sent to the registered address at Westwood Manor, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire.

Decision Timeline

No information is publicly available about decision timelines, trustee meeting schedules, or notification procedures.

Success Rates

No data is available on the number of applications received versus grants awarded.

Reapplication Policy

No published policy exists regarding unsuccessful applicants or repeat applications.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information about this foundation, the following factors are likely important based on its structure and governance:

• Trustee Discretion is Paramount: The governing document explicitly grants trustees “absolute discretion” over funding decisions, meaning each application is considered on its individual merits without formulaic criteria
• Broad Charitable Remit: The foundation can fund virtually any charitable purpose, so the charitable benefit and merit of the cause are paramount
• Small-Scale Operation: With just two trustees and no staff, applications should be concise and clear, and direct communication may be more effective than formal submissions
• Connection to Education: With chair Jonathan Azis also serving as trustee of The Sanderson Foundation (education-focused), there may be particular interest in education-related causes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - contact the foundation directly before preparing a detailed proposal
• Trustee discretion is absolute - funding decisions are not governed by published criteria or scoring systems
• Broad charitable purposes - the foundation can fund virtually any charitable cause, both organizations and individuals
• Small trustee board - with only two trustees, building a relationship may be as important as formal applications
• Modest annual giving - at circa £100,000 per year, expect selective grant-making
• Initial inquiry recommended - contact via email or phone to establish whether your cause aligns with current trustee interests

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Morgan Charitable Foundation
• Audrey Earle Charitable Trust
• Wright Family Foundation
• MOSTAFAVI FOUNDATION
• THE AZOUZ FOUNDATION
• The Du Plessis Family Foundation
• THE HAWERBY TRUST
• THE LILI TAPPER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
• The Macfarlane Family Foundation
• MIVA Foundation

References

• UK Charity Commission Register - The Michael and Ilse Katz Foundation (263726). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=263726 []
• UK Charity Commission Full Print - The Michael and Ilse Katz Foundation. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/263726/full-print []
• OpenCharities - The Michael and Ilse Katz Foundation. Available at: http://opencharities.org/charities/263726 []