The Michael Heller Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 327832
• Annual Giving: £62,377 (2024)
• Annual Income: £272,554 (2024)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Application Process: No public application process (trustee discretion)

Contact Details

Registered Address: 2nd Floor, 12 Little Portland Street, London, W1W 8BJ

Telephone: 020 7415 5000

Charity Commission Registration: 327832

Auditors: Hart Shaw LLP

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or email contact for grant applications.

Overview

The Michael Heller Charitable Foundation (also known as the Michael and Morven Heller Charitable Foundation) was established by Deed of Charitable Settlement on 31 May 1988 by the late Sir Michael Aron Heller and his wife Lady Morven Heller. Sir Michael Heller (1936-2023) was a British business executive who served as Chairman of London & Associated Properties and was knighted in the 2013 New Year Honours for charitable services. The foundation operates as a private grant-making trust supporting general charitable purposes with a focus on funding specific projects relating to medical, scientific and educational research. In the year ending 31 May 2024, the foundation had total income of £272,554 and made grants totalling £62,377 (compared to £175,043 in 2023). The foundation maintains a lean operational structure with no paid staff and operates throughout England and Wales.

Funding Priorities

Grant Focus Areas

The foundation's charitable objects are general charitable purposes supporting funding of specific projects relating to:

• Medical research and advancement of health or saving of lives
• Scientific research
• Educational research and education/training initiatives
• Arts, culture, heritage and science
• Prevention or relief of poverty
• Support for other charities or voluntary bodies

Known Areas of Support

Based on the philanthropic interests of founder Sir Michael Heller, the foundation has historically supported:

• Israeli emergency medical services: Notably Magen David Adom UK Friend Society (donations for Mobile Intensive Care Units and ambulances)
• Jewish cultural and educational institutions: Including the Jewish Museum, Jewish educational network ORT, and the Technion
• Arts and culture: Including Hampstead Theatre, London Jewish Cultural Centre, and the National Portrait Gallery (Save Van Dyck campaign)
• University research: Various universities for research purposes

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly disclose exclusions, but operates with trustee discretion on all grant allocations.

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees (as of 2024)

• Lady Morven Heller (Co-founder): Following the death of Sir Michael Heller in January 2023, Lady Morven Heller holds the power to appoint new trustees
• A Heller: Family trustee (Andrew Heller)
• J Heller: Family trustee (John Heller)
• WS Trustee Company Limited: Corporate trustee

The foundation currently has 4 trustees. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. The foundation has no employees with total benefits over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries.

Related Charitable Interests

Trustees Morven Heller, John Heller and Andrew Heller are also trustees of the related Simon Heller Charitable Settlement.

Founder's Legacy

Sir Michael Heller was described as a “passionate philanthropist” whose charitable work “changed thousands of lives.” He was a committed Zionist whose philanthropy focused on strengthening the State of Israel through education and medical services, alongside support for arts, culture and education in the UK.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The foundation operates through trustee discretion, with grants awarded in such proportions and manner as the trustees think fit. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications through a formal application portal or published guidelines.

According to Charity Commission records, the foundation's disclosure requirements relating to grants in excess of £1,000 do not apply as “the inclusion of such information would, in certain circumstances, be likely to prejudice the furtherance of the purposes of the charitable trust or the recipient.”

This suggests the foundation primarily makes grants:

• Based on trustee identification of suitable projects and organizations
• Through invitation only
• Via pre-existing relationships with charitable organizations
• In alignment with the founding family's philanthropic interests

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed due to the private nature of the grant-making process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's private grant-making approach, direct application is not possible. However, based on the foundation's history and focus areas, organizations that might be considered for support likely share these characteristics:

Alignment with Founder's Interests

The foundation's grant-making appears closely aligned with the late Sir Michael Heller's philanthropic interests, which included:

• Israeli medical and emergency services: Particularly organizations supporting health infrastructure in Israel
• Jewish education and culture: Educational networks and cultural institutions serving Jewish communities
• Medical, scientific and educational research: Projects at universities and research institutions
• Arts and culture: Theatres, museums and cultural preservation initiatives

Types of Projects Previously Supported

• Medical equipment and infrastructure (e.g., Mobile Intensive Care Units, ambulances)
• Capital campaigns for cultural institutions (e.g., art acquisition campaigns)
• Research projects at educational institutions
• Jewish educational and cultural programs

Geographic Considerations

While the foundation operates throughout England and Wales, the founder's support extended to Israeli causes, suggesting an international dimension to certain grant-making, particularly for Jewish and Israeli organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this foundation awards grants at trustee discretion without accepting unsolicited applications
• Family foundation with specific interests - grant-making reflects the philanthropic priorities of the founding Heller family, particularly Jewish causes, medical research, and arts/culture
• Pre-existing relationships appear essential - historical grants suggest trustees identify beneficiaries through their networks and existing knowledge of organizations
• Privacy is emphasized - the foundation does not publicly disclose grant recipients, suggesting a preference for discrete philanthropy
• Focus on Israel and Jewish causes - significant portion of founder's philanthropy supported Israeli medical services and Jewish education/culture
• Research and education priority - stated focus on medical, scientific and educational research projects
• Annual giving has declined - grants fell from £175,043 (2023) to £62,377 (2024), suggesting more selective grant-making or strategic changes following founder's death in 2023

For organizations seeking support: Given the private nature of this foundation, direct application is not possible. Organizations would need to be known to the trustees or identified by them as aligned with the foundation's charitable purposes. Building awareness through sector networks, particularly in Jewish philanthropy, medical research, or arts/culture circles where the Heller family is active, may be the only route to consideration.

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales, “The Michael Heller Charitable Foundation - Charity Overview” (Charity Number 327832), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/327832 (Accessed 29 December 2024)

• Wikipedia, “Michael Heller (businessman)”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Heller_(businessman) (Accessed 29 December 2024)

• Jewish News, "'Passionate philanthropist' and business leader Sir Michael Heller passes away, aged 86", https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/passionate-philanthropist-and-business-leader-sir-michael-heller-passes-away-aged-86/ (Accessed 29 December 2024)

• Technion UK, “Sir Michael Heller”, https://technionuk.org/news-post/sir-michael-heller/ (Accessed 29 December 2024)

• Charity Commission Annual Returns for years ending 31 May 2023 and 31 May 2024 (Accessed 29 December 2024)