The Mikheev Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £471,424 (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Trustee discretion
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £166,000
• Geographic Focus: Primarily UK, with some international support

Contact Details

• Website: No public website
• Phone: 020 7597 6000
• Address: C/O Withers LLP, 20 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7AN
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Mikheev Charitable Trust, established in July 2015 by Lev and Natalia Mikheev, is a private grant-making foundation with assets exceeding £7 million and annual giving of approximately £471,000. Founded by former physicist and hedge fund manager Lev Mikheev, who retired from finance in 2017, the trust reflects the founders' personal interests in education, longevity science, religious institutions, and cultural organisations. The trust operates through trustee discretion rather than public applications, drawing on the Mikheev family's personal connections and research to identify beneficiaries. In 2019, Lev Mikheev also founded the HOOKE centre for longevity research, demonstrating the family's deep commitment to advancing scientific understanding of aging.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust operates through trustee-directed giving with no formal grant programs. Recent grants have ranged from:

• Major multi-year commitments: £100,000+ (University of Chicago longevity research, St Paul's School bursaries)
• Educational institutions: £10,000 - £30,000 (teacher development, school programs)
• Cultural organisations: £1,000 - £12,000 (theatre, arts organisations)
• Religious institutions: £3,000 - £15,000 (synagogues, churches)

Priority Areas

1. Education - Primary focus on teacher professional development, educational bursaries, and academic research
2. Longevity Science and Research - Major commitment to aging and longevity research, particularly through University of Chicago
3. Religious Institutions - Support for Jewish organisations and Russian Orthodox Church in the UK
4. Arts and Culture - Theatre companies and cultural institutions
5. Ukrainian Support - Recent focus on Ukrainian refugee education and support

What They Don't Fund

The trust does not invite donation applications from charities generally and focuses exclusively on organisations identified through trustee research and existing relationships.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Lev Mikheev - Founder, former physicist and hedge fund manager, founded HOOKE longevity research centre (2019)
• Natalia Mikheev - Co-founder, actively involved with supported organisations including The Prince's Teaching Institute
• Dr. Adrian Weller - Also trustee of St. George's House Trust
• Katerina Woolhouse

The trustees explicitly state they “do not invite donation applications from charities generally” and instead draw on their own experience, knowledge, and research to identify organisations.

How to Apply to The Mikheev Charitable Trust

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded entirely at the discretion of the trustees based on their personal research, existing relationships, and strategic interests. The trust explicitly states that they “do not invite donation applications from charities generally.”

Decision Timeline

Decisions are made at trustee meetings throughout the year, with no fixed schedule or public timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable due to the absence of a public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organisations are selected proactively by trustees.

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of their giving patterns:

• Existing relationships matter most - The trust primarily supports organisations with which the Mikheev family has established connections, such as their long-standing association with St Paul's School
• Academic and research excellence - Strong preference for prestigious institutions like University of Cambridge, University of Chicago, and established research centres
• Teacher development focus - Consistent support for The Prince's Teaching Institute shows commitment to improving education through teacher training
• Multi-year sustainability - The trust makes substantial multi-year commitments to key beneficiaries, suggesting they value long-term impact over one-off grants
• Personal trustee involvement - Organisations where trustees can be actively involved (Lev and Natalia remain engaged with PTI) appear more likely to receive support
• Alignment with specific interests - Clear alignment with longevity science, Jewish/Russian Orthodox faith communities, or Ukrainian support increases relevance

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a relationship-based funder with no public application process - cold approaches are unlikely to succeed
• Focus areas are highly specific to the Mikheev family's personal interests: education (especially teacher development), longevity science, specific faith communities, and Ukrainian support
• The trust makes both small (£1,000) and substantial (£166,000+) grants, with multi-year commitments for strategic partners
• Academic institutions and research organisations feature prominently in their giving, particularly Cambridge and Chicago universities
• Recent giving shows responsiveness to current events (Ukrainian crisis support) while maintaining core education focus
• Professional connections through the financial sector (Lev's hedge fund background) and academic networks may provide introduction pathways
• Organisations should note the trust's preference for established, prestigious institutions rather than grassroots organisations

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Phillips And Rubens Charitable Trust
• The Millennium Trust
• The John Hemingway Charitable Trust
• B K Charitable Trust
• The Rehabilitation Trust
• Yemin Charitable Trust Ltd
• The Andor Charitable Trust
• The Sybil Shine Memorial Trust
• J E Posnansky Charitable Trust
• The Radford Educational Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register. “THE MIKHEEV CHARITABLE TRUST (1162591)”. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5063555/full-print..
• The Mikheev Charitable Trust. “Annual Report and Financial Statements 2024”. Charity Commission. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5063555/accounts-and-annual-returns..
• Charitable Sentiments. “The Mikheev Charitable Trust – an update”. June 12, 2019. https://charitablesentiments.wordpress.com/2019/06/12/the-mikheev-charitable-trust-an-update/..